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Utah Tech University Athletics

DeJon FLC Story Photo
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
14
Fort Lewis FLC 4-7 , 3-7
16
Winner Dixie State DX 6-5 , 6-4
Fort Lewis FLC
4-7 , 3-7
14
Final
16
Dixie State DX
6-5 , 6-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FLC Fort Lewis 0 8 0 6 14
DX Dixie State 7 9 0 0 16

Game Recap: Football | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Football outlasts Fort Lewis to clinch first D2 winning season

Trailblazers set four new program records in the win

The Dixie State football team clinched its first winning season in the Division II era on Saturday with a 16-14 win over Fort Lewis on Senior Day at Legend Solar Stadium.

The Trailblazers (6-5, 6-4 RMAC) honored 12 seniors prior to kickoff, then used 16 first-half points and a stingy defensive effort throughout the game to seal the victory as four DSU records fell in the game.

"This victory is about the players," head coach Shay McClure said. "It's not about us as coaches, it's not about me as the head coach, it's about them. It always will be. You couldn't ask for more of a team effort. This team really grew this year. I'm proud of that as a coach. These players were all in it for each other. There were no individuals out here. That really excites me for the future."

Dixie State struck first early in the first quarter after junior safety Colton Olson (Spanish Fork, Utah/Spanish Fork HS) forced a Fort Lewis fumble as the quarterback tried to scramble after the pocket collapsed. Redshirt junior linebacker Noe Perez (Santa Ana, Calif./Los Amigo HS) fell on the loose ball and secured possession for the Trailblazers. Senior running back DeJon Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif./Arleta HS) took a handoff on the next play and burst through a hole up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown run to give DSU a 7-0 lead with 13:28 remaining in the first quarter.

The Trailblazers added to the lead early in the second quarter, scoring on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Coleman for his second touchdown of the game to push the lead to 14-0. The touchdown capped a 14-play, 87-yard drive and took 6:40 off the clock. But the touchdown almost didn't happen. Facing a 3rd-and-1 two plays earlier from the FLC 11-yard line, freshman quarterback Josh Thompson (Ontario, Calif./Colony HS) attempted a pitch to the left side, but missed Coleman and the ball fell to the turf. Unfazed, Coleman scooped up the loose ball, made two FLC defenders miss, and ran 22 yards to the FLC 2-yard line for a first down.

DSU scored its final points of the game on the ensuing Fort Lewis drive. After forcing a three-and-out, sophomore running back Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City, Calif./Cathedral City HS) blocked the FLC punt attempt, sending the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety to extend the lead to 16-0.

Fort Lewis answered two drives later, marching 75 yards in nine plays to score on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The Skyhawks converted a 2-point attempt to cut the lead to 16-8 at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Fort Lewis pulled to within two points and the eventual final score of 16-14 after a 67-yard touchdown pass. The DSU defense then stiffened and stopped the Skyhawks 2-point attempt at the goal line to preserve the lead with 9:16 to play.

The teams traded punts until Fort Lewis threatened to take the lead with a drive to the DSU 25-yard line late in the fourth quarter. But the Trailblazer defense answered the call and sophomore linebacker Peter Brown (St. George, Utah/Desert Hills HS) sacked the FLC quarterback on the next play to force a 49-yard field goal attempt. With 1:16 remaining and the Skyhawks with an opportunity to take a late lead, McClure opted not to call a timeout to ice the FLC kicker. The kick fell just short of the uprights, and the Trailblazers escaped unscathed.

Dixie State was forced to punt with 11 seconds remaining on the ensuing drive and junior punter Corey Stens (Corona, Calif./Santiago HS) pinned the Skyhawks at the 1-yard line with a 58-yard punt. With three seconds remaining, Fort Lewis faced a 99-yard field on the final play of the game. The Trailblazers sealed the victory on the play, batting down a pass attempt at midfield.

The Trailblazers earned the victory despite being outgained by the Skyhawks, 340-255.  The 255 (200 rush, 55 pass) yards of total offense marked the fewest yards gained by DSU this season. With 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns as a team in the game, the 2016 squad set new DSU records in team single-season rushing yards (2,396) and single-season rushing touchdowns (24), passing the 2015 team on both lists.

Coleman led the way with 145 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 25 carries, his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the ninth of his career. Coleman also broke his own DSU single-season rushing record and finished the season with 873 yards rushing, 25 yards better than last year's record-setting mark of 848. Coleman ends his career as the DSU career rushing (1,721 yards) career rushing touchdown (17), single-season rushing (873 yards) and single-season rushing touchdown (10) leader.

Defensively, the Trailblazers allowed 340 yards of total offense (196 rush, 144 pass). Brown led the attack with a game-high 12 tackles and one sack, while senior defensive lineman Keanu Foki (Honolulu, Hawai'i/Farrington HS) ended his DSU career on a high note with eight tackles. Foki also recorded two sacks and set the new DSU single-season sack record with 7.5 sacks this season. Perez finished the game with seven tackles and two sacks to round out the DSU team sack total at five sacks.
 
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