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Utah Tech University Athletics

Aubrey Reed TD vs. WSCU
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
20
Western State WESTERN 3-2 , 3-2
28
Winner Dixie State DX 2-3 , 2-2
Western State WESTERN
3-2 , 3-2
20
Final
28
Dixie State DX
2-3 , 2-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WESTERN Western State 0 14 0 6 20
DX Dixie State 0 13 8 7 28

Game Recap: Football | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Football runs past Western State Saturday, 28-20

Sophomore quarterback Blake Barney makes 2016 debut in the win

The Dixie State football team used a steady rushing attack to earn a 28-20 victory over Western State Colorado on Saturday at Legend Solar Stadium.

The Trailblazers (2-3, 2-2 RMAC) rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns as sophomore quarterback Blake Barney (St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) made his 2016 debut after missing the first four games due to injury. Defensively, DSU held the Mountaineers (3-2, 3-2 RMAC) under 200 yards rushing for just the second time this season.

After a scoreless first quarter, Dixie State struck first 10 seconds into the second quarter when senior running back DeJon Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif./Arleta HS) burst through a hole created by the offensive line and ran 33 yards untouched for a touchdown. The run capped a four-play, 45-yard drive for the Trailblazers.

Western State matched the touchdown on the ensuing drive, driving quickly to the DSU 1-yard line. Former Dixie State quarterback Cameron Shumway capped the drive on a read option run into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Dixie State regained the lead late in the second quarter after forcing a short WSCU punt to regain possession at the Mountaineer 45-yard line. After a Barney rush for no gain, redshirt freshman running back Clifford Simms (Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco HS) exploded out of the backfield on the next play for a 45-yard touchdown run. The point-after try clanged off the right upright to keep the DSU lead at 13-7 with 3:03 remaining until halftime.

The Mountaineers answered quickly for a second time, using a 20-yard pass to set up an Austin Ekeler 47-yard touchdown run to take a 14-13 lead heading into the halftime break.

The teams traded punts to open the second half, and the Trailblazers took over at their own 20-yard line following a WSCU touchback. Simms opened the drive with a six-yard run, and DSU embarked on 13-play, 80-yard drive that saw Barney convert two key third down plays (one pass, one run) to keep the drive alive. Coleman eventually capped the drive with a three-yard plunge into the end zone to pull to within 19-14 with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter. DSU opted to go for two points, and Barney found sophomore running back Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City, Calif./Cathedral City HS) in the end zone to push the lead to 21-14.

Dixie State forced what appeared to be the game's first turnover on the ensuing kickoff when senior defensive back Cesar Fermin (Pacoima, Calif./Arleta HS) jarred the ball loose with a big hit. Redshirt junior defensive back Noe Perez (Santa Ana, Calif./Los Amigo HS) recovered the fumble but Fermin was hit with a kick catch interference penalty, negating the play and awarding possession to WSCU.

DSU eventually forced a Western State punt on the ensuing drive, but was forced to punt just four plays later. The Mountaineers marched 80 yards in 12 plays on their next drive and pulled to within 21-20 on a quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line. But, like the DSU point-after try in the second quarter, the ensuing PAT clanged off the upright to keep the score at 21-20 with 6:58 to remaining in the game.

The Trailblazers added to the lead on their next drive, when Barney lobbed a pass to the left corner of the end zone and redshirt senior receiver Aubrey Reed (Tacoma, Wash./Woodland Hills HS) made a spectacular catch for a 13-yard touchdown. The catch capped a nine-play, 69-yard drive that also saw Barney connect with Reed for 26 yards earlier in the drive. With 2:32 remaining, DSU led 28-20.

Western State drove to its own 49-yard line on the ensuing drive, converting once on fourth down, and looked to continue its pursuit to tie the game. But the DSU defense had others plans. Sophomore defensive end Remington Kelly (Bountiful, Utah/Bountiful HS) forced and recovered a fumble on the next play to seal the victory for the Trailblazers.

Dixie State secured its second victory of the season despite being outgained by Western State. DSU amassed 378 yards of total offense (277 rush, 101 pass), while the Mountaineers finished the game with 394 yards of total offense.

Barney completed 10-of-18 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, while adding 75 yards rushing. Simms rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Coleman added another 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Reed led all receivers with 4 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Senior linebacker Garret Hutnick (San Mateo, Calif./Hillsdale HS) led the defense with a team-high nine tackles, while junior safety Colton Olson (Spanish Fork, Utah/Spanish Fork HS), junior defensive back Tyneil Cooper (Providence, R.I./Hope HS), and junior linebacker Shiloh Pritchard (American Samoa/Leone HS) each added seven tackles.

The Trailblazers now head to Chadron, Nebraska, for their first meeting with Chadron State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
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