Dixie State could not overcome several Azusa Pacific big plays as the Storm dropped a non-conference decision to the Cougars, 61-14, Saturday night in Glendora, Calif. With the loss, DSU fell to 2-5 on the season, while APU improved to 4-3 overall.

After APU forced a three-and-out on Dixie's opening possession of the game, the Cougars drove 29 yards in nine plays to the DSU 28-yard line, but the Storm defense came up with the game's first turnover as junior defensive back Darchon Taggart (Portland, Ore./Woods Cross (UT) HS) intercepted an Andrew Eiffers pass in the end zone to keep APU off the scoreboard.

The Cougars returned the favor on DSU's next possession as Storm quarterback Tyson Blackner (Draper, Utah/Alta HS) was picked off at the Storm 42-yard line by Tyree Davis, who returned the ball nine yards to the DSU 33-yard line. APU then scored the game's first touchdown on the very next play as Cougar tailback Kurt Scoby ran nearly untouched to the end zone to give APU a 7-0.

APU forced another Storm three-and-out on DSU's next possession, and the Cougars quickly capitalized again as Tarik Myles fielded the DSU punt at the APU 43 and returned it 57 yards to the end zone to extend the Cougar advantage to 14-0. Azusa Pacific tacked on a pair of scores early in the second quarter, the first coming on a Eiffers to Ethan Zeidler 46-yard touchdown pass, followed by a Scoby 24-yard TD scamper, to push the lead to 28-0.

Dixie State got on the board just before halftime as Blackner scored on a 7-yard keeper to cut the deficit to 28-7 with 40 seconds to play until intermission. The Storm drove 48 yards in six plays, as Blackner found senior receiver Nate Stephens (Redding, Calif./Shasta HS) three times on the drive, including a 29-yard reception which set DSU up with first and goal at the APU 9-yard line.

Following the score, Dixie State tried an onside kick, but the Cougars were able to recover and take advantage of the short field as APU punched in another touchdown as Eiffers connected with Blake Robertson for a 26-yard TD completion with seven ticks on the clock to give Azusa a commanding 35-7 lead heading into the locker room.

APU did not lose any momentum during the halftime break as the Cougars marched 82 yards in eight plays on its opening drive of the second half, which culminated with Scoby's third rushing touchdown of the game from 7-yards out to push the lead to 42-7.

Dixie State could not come up with an answer in its first possession of the second stanza as the Storm was forced to punt. However DSU could not come up with the long snap exchange as the ball bounded into the end zone for a safety. Azusa Pacific got the ball back on the free kick and covered 50 yards in just three plays, including Scoby's fourth TD run, this one a 14-yard scamper, which extended the Cougar lead to 51-7 and APU never looked back.

Dixie State finished with 275 yards of total offense, with 162 of those yards coming on the ground, led by senior DeJon Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif./Arleta HS) who tallied 40 yards on 11 carries. Blackner had 113 yards through the air on 11-of-23 passing to go with 33 yards rushing and a touchdown. Freshman Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City, Calif./Cathedral City HS) finished with 33 yards rushing and his first collegiate touchdown late in the game, and Stephens led all Storm receivers with six catches for 61 yards.

Sophomore safety Colton Olson (Spanish Fork, Utah/Spanish Fork HS) led DSU defensively with 18 total tackles with seven solo stops and senior linebacker Robert Metz (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro HS) added 10 tackles (seven solo).

Scoby wound up with 146 yards on the ground on 17 carries to go with those four rushing touchdowns, while Eiffers threw for 184 yards on 9-of-13 passing with two TDs.

After a bye week next weekend, Dixie State will continue its road swing with a GNAC matchup at South Dakota Mines on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. (CT), in Rapid City. S.D.