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Utah Tech University Athletics

2019 FB - Lauago vs. CMU
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
32
Colorado Mesa CMU 4-5 , 4-4
42
Winner Dixie State DSFB 7-2 , 6-2
Colorado Mesa CMU
4-5 , 4-4
32
Final
42
Dixie State DSFB
7-2 , 6-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CMU Colorado Mesa 7 14 0 11 32
DSFB Dixie State 0 7 13 22 42

Game Recap: Football | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Trailblazers use second-half surge to rally past Colorado Mesa Saturday, 42-32

DSU earns fourth win after trailing at halftime during the 2019 season

The Dixie State football team has developed a habit of making second-half comebacks during the 2019 season.
 
That habit was on full display on Saturday at Trailblazer Stadium, as the Trailblazers (7-2, 6-2 RMAC) overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to rally for a 42-32 win over Colorado Mesa. The win marked the fourth time this season Dixie State has emerged victorious after trailing at halftime.
 
After a first half that saw the Trailblazers concede a punt-block touchdown and another score after a tip-drill interception, the home squad faced a two-touchdown deficit at the break. But DSU quickly put the first half in the rearview mirror and played a nearly flawless second half, scoring 35 points while exploding for 361 yards of total offense.

"I'm proud of the way the boys fought back," head coach Paul Peterson said. "We had some adversity and they exhibited great toughness. They played a great second half, and it's great to be able to come back to win, but now we've got to learn how to keep pace early on."

Dixie State received the second-half kickoff and immediately went to work, as Keaton Mott directed the offense on a 9-play, 79-yard drive to cut the lead to 21-14. Mott and Sei-J Lauago combined for 24 yards rushing on the drive, while Mott connected with Jalen Powell for a 10-yard pass to help set up a 38-yard strike to a diving Kasey Allison in the end zone.
 
After the DSU defense forced two CMU three-and-outs, the Trailblazer offense did it again, this time marching 80 yards in eight plays to pull to within 21-20 midway through the third quarter. The Trailblazers went to work on the ground during the drive, as Mott and D'Arman Notoa combined for 41 yards rushing before Mott found Blake Kilgore in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive.
 
The Mavericks looked to add to their lead on the ensuing drive, marching to the DSU 24-yard line with a fresh set of downs. But the DSU defense rose to the occasion, forcing a CMU field attempt. The Trailblazers blocked the 44-yard attempt and survived the drive unscathed.
 
Dixie State immediately responded to the blocked field goal, marching 67 yards in five plays to take its first lead of the game. Mott completed two passes to Jalen Powell for 42 yards on the drive, including a 30-yard catch-and-run across the middle that saw Powell outrun multiple CMU defenders to the end zone. Powell caught a third pass on the ensuing 2-point try to push the lead to 28-21 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Colorado Mesa countered with another drive into DSU territory, but the Trailblazer defense held the visitors to another field goal try, and this time, CMU converted the attempt to cut the lead to 28-24.
 
However, any momentum the Mavericks gained from the scoring drive was quickly erased when the Trailblazer offense returned to the field. Lauago took a handoff from Mott on the first play of the drive and raced 81 yards to the end zone to become DSU's career rushing touchdowns leader (18 career rushing touchdowns) and push the Trailblazers lead back to 35-24.
 
The Mavericks answered with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, striking on a 21-yard pass and a 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 35-32 midway through the fourth quarter. But the visitors wouldn't get any closer.
 
The Trailblazers responded with its longest scoring drive of the game to push their advantage back to two scores, taking more than five minutes off the clock on a 12-play, 97-yard touchdown drive. Dixie State rushed for 56 yards on the drive before Tanner Hammond, who entered after Mott was forced out with an injury, connected with Chase Hess for a 20-yard touchdown to push the score to the final tally of 42-32.
 
The DSU defense then sealed the victory with one of the most electric plays of the season. After forcing the Mavericks into a third down situation, the Trailblazers forced CMU quarterback Hayden Bollinger out of the pocket. Bollinger rolled to his right and tried to throw the ball away, but Kaejin Smith-Bejgrowicz made sure the Mavericks wouldn't get another snap.
 
Smith-Bejgrowicz made a leaping catch out of bounds and threw the ball back to J.T. Anderson in the field of play before touching the ground. Anderson made the catch to complete the interception and officially clinch the DSU win.
 
Dixie State finished with 591 yards of total offense, including a season-high 323 yards rushing. Lauago led the rushing attack with 185 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries, marking the Trailblazers' first 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
 
Mott completed 17-of-28 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for another 46 yards on 10 attempts. Powell led all DSU receivers with eight catches for a career-high 127 yards and two touchdowns, marking the Trailblazers' third consecutive game with a 100-yard receiver. Allison added five catches for 93 yards and one touchdown.
 
Defensively, the Trailblazers conceded a season-low 285 yards of total offense, finishing with four sacks to push its RMAC-best tally to 36 total sacks. Syrr Barnes led the way with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, for his third double-digit tackle mark of the season. Will Yamasaki and Anderson chipped in eight tackles each, while Alex Lilliard finished with six tackles and forced one fumble.
 
Dixie State now heads to Golden, Colorado, next Saturday for an RMAC battle against No. 9 Colorado School of Mines in its 2019 road finale. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon.
 
 

 
NOTES: After Saturday's win, Dixie State is now 4-2 after trailing at halftime during the 2019 season.
 
Saturday's win marked the first DSU win over Colorado Mesa at home since Oct. 7, 2006.  
 
Sei-J Lauago rushed for his 18th career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to become DSU's career rushing touchdowns leader.
 
James Baird was a perfect 4-for-4 on point-after attempts to set a new DSU single-season PAT record with 37 successful point-after tries.
 
Chess Hess and Blake Kilgore both caught a touchdown pass in DSU's 42-32 win over CMU, marking the second time this season both tight ends have caught a touchdown pass in the same game. Prior to the 2019 season, multiple DSU tight ends had never caught a touchdown pass in the same game or the same season.
 
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