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Utah Tech University Athletics

2019 FB - NMHU Recap Photo
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
55
Winner Dixie State DSFB 2-1 , 2-1
0
New Mexico Highlands NMHU 0-3 , 0-3
Winner
Dixie State DSFB
2-1 , 2-1
55
Final
0
New Mexico Highlands NMHU
0-3 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
DSFB Dixie State 10 10 14 21 55
NMHU New Mexico Highlands 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Football | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Trailblazers blank New Mexico Highlands Saturday, 55-0

Trailblazers earn first shutout of NCAA era

Dixie State football made history on Saturday with an impressive 55-0 victory over New Mexico Highlands at Sanchez Stadium in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
 
The Trailblazers (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) set four school records and tied another in Las Vegas, earning the team's first complete shutout of its 14-year NCAA era, while posting the largest margin of victory in program history. Dixie State also recorded its first blocked-punt touchdown in the third quarter, while tying its single-game record with two interceptions returned for a touchdown.
 
The DSU defense ruled the day, snagging four interceptions while holding the Cowboys offense to just 113 yards of total offense, the lowest total offense output for an opponent since 2008. Additionally, the Trailblazers held the Cowboys to just 33 yards through the air, the fewest passing yards allowed in the DSU NCAA era.
 
"Our defense really set the tone early," head coach Paul Peterson said. "New Mexico Highlands wanted to run the ball, but we were forcing them to throw it. Our guys defended lights outs and made big plays. Anytime you get a defensive touchdown or special teams touchdown it propels you."  
 
Two of those interceptions came in the first quarter to help the Trailblazer offense jump out to a 10-0 lead.
 
Darrius Nash snagged the first interception on the first play of the Cowboys' second drive, making an over-the-shoulder catch on the run. Nash returned the interception 57 yards to the NMHU 10-yard line to set up the DSU offense. But the NMHU defense stymied the Trailblazers on three straight plays, and James Baird connected on a 28-yard field goal to give DSU a 3-0 lead.
 
Two drives later, after forcing an NMHU punt, the Trailblazer offense came to life, marching 72 yards in nine plays to push the lead to 10-0. DSU converted three times on third down on the drive, highlighted by Kody Wilstead completions to Kasey Allison and Rickie Johnson. D'Arman Notoa capped the drive with an 8-yard run, the first DSU rushing touchdown of the season.
 
DSU wasted no time getting the ball back after the ensuing kickoff, as Aaron Simpson picked off an NMHU pass and raced back to the Cowboys' 46-yard line on the first NMHU play.
 
After the teams traded punts, Dixie State would tack on three more points on a 34-yard field goal by Baird to push the lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter. Wilstead found Jalen Powell on a short pass to the sideline early in the drive, and Powell made multiple NMHU defenders miss before racing down the sideline to help set up the field goal attempt.
 
The Trailblazers offense continued to build on the momentum sparked by the defense to push the lead to 20-0 with 6:51 remaining until halftime. Sei-J Lauago broke free for a 39-yard run during the drive to help set up Wilstead's 12-yard touchdown strike to Powell.
 
The Dixie State shutout bid appeared to be in jeopardy early in the third quarter when the Cowboys picked off a DSU pass on the first drive of the second half. NMHU was set up inside the DSU 10-yard line, but the Trailblazer defense would not budge, stopping the Cowboys on four consecutive plays to force a turnover-on-downs.
 
NMHU looked to get the ball back quickly, forcing a DSU punt on the ensuing possession. But the Cowboys didn't keep the ball long. Simpson jumped in front of a Cowboys pass for his second interception of the day and raced 60 yards the other way to push the Trailblazer lead to 27-0.
 
The Trailblazers added another third-quarter touchdown later in the frame when Lauago broke three NMHU tackle attempts, found the sideline, and rumbled 48 yards to the end zone to extend the lead to 34-0.
 
Dixie State added three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and once again, the defense was at the forefront.
 
After forcing a NMHU punt deep in its own territory, Conner Miller broke free and blocked the attempt into the end zone. Simote Lokotui scooped up the loose ball for a Trailblazer touchdown to build a 41-0 advantage.
 
The DSU offense then took over, handing the ball over to Andrew Kannely-Robles on its final extended drive of the game. Kannely-Robles and the Trailblazers worked their way down the field, until the freshman running back dove into the end zone from one yard out for his first DSU touchdown to push the lead to 48-0 with 6:38 to play.
 
The Trailblazers capped the scoring on the ensuing NMHU drive when Augustus Fraser returned a tip-drill interception 34 yards to the end zone for his second career pick-six to tally the final score of 55-0.
 
Dixie State finished with 416 yards of total offense, including 269 yards on the ground as the Trailblazers tallied their highest rushing output of the season. Lauago led the charge with a season-high 87 yards rushing and one touchdown on nine carries, while Wilstead added 72 yards on three carries. Kannely-Robles finished with 48 yards and one touchdown, while Notoa added 33 yards and a touchdown.
 
"We've known we have to be patient with the run game," Peterson said. "Today we were able to create a good tempo and get NMHU on its heels a little bit. Our guys were able to make some great runs and force some missed tackles to turn some of the shorter runs we have been getting into longer runs."
 
Powell finished with a team-high three catches for 43 yards receiving and one touchdown.  
 
Baird posted a perfect special-teams performance, connecting on 2-of-2 field goal attempts and 7-of-7 point-after tries.
 
Will Yamasaki lead the dominant DSU defense with seven tackles, while Lovelace Rufus finished with five tackles, and Nash chipped in four tackles and an interception. Simpson finished with three solo tackles to go with his two interceptions and set a new DSU single-game record with 82 interception-return yards.
 
The Trailblazers wrap up their three-game road swing next week with a Saturday evening matchup at South Dakota Mines. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
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