CEDAR CITY, Utah, Aug. 21 ? Southern Utah wrapped up the two-a-day portion of its 2008 fall football camp with its final pre-season scrimmage Thursday afternoon and, with a few exceptions, things went exactly as planned.

“When the offense was supposed to shine the offense shined, and when the defense was supposed to step up the defense stepped up,” SUU first-year head coach Ed Lamb said after the 90 minute scrimmage.

For much of the scrimmage the Thunderbirds pitted the first offense against a scout defense and the first defense against a scout offense and both first-units dominated.

“With just a few exceptions the first units did very well,” Lamb said. “And that's important. I don't think the [first] defense could have given up much more than 75 yards all day.

“Defense is really about effort and these guys have worked very hard for the last eight months,” he pointed out. “They've worked super-hard on the field and they've worked super-hard in the classroom. We don't have any returning all-Americans, we really don't have many returning all-conference players. We're not a team of superstars, but we have a lot of dedicated guys who are very capable of being all-conference players.”

No first-unit defender tallied more than three tackles, but a handful finished with three, including ends Chad Westwood and Cody Heinreich, who each had a pair of sacks among their three stops. Linebacker Robert Takeno also had three stops, including one which forced a fumble which he recovered and returned 14 yards. Defensive tackles Aaron Fernandez and Austin Curtis also had three stops, as did defensive backs Tui Siliva and Tico Pringle.

For the second straight scrimmage second-team linebacker Troy Bunting, a freshman transfer from Utah, led the team with five tackles, and he also had the only interception of the day. Erron Vonner, another freshman, co-led the team with five tackles, while Myles Crawford-Harris tallied four. Mike Kaniho and D.J. Lucchesi also had sacks.

Offensively, Cody Stone completed 7-of-10 passes for 53 yards and one touchdown, a five-yard hookup with tight end Joel Johnson, although he did throw the one interception.

Stone spread the passes around, as only one player, Fesi Sitake, had more than one catch but 10 players logged receptions, seven of those with the first team. Sitake had two catches for 24 yards, including a 14-yarder.

The offense also did well on the ground, with Kennie Apilli, Deckar Alexander and Brandon Godfrey all running with the first team and doing well. Godfrey led the way with 67 yards on nine carries, but on a sobering note he was knocked from the scrimmage when he hurdled a defender and landed awkwardly. Alexander finished with 48 yards on four carries, while Apilli had 36 yards on five attempts. Fullback Johan Rauge had just two carries but made the most ot them, scoring touchdowns on two-and three-yard runs.

Major Grey and Austin Minefee had the most success against the first defense. Grey rushed for 40 yards on five carries, including an 18-yard burst, while Minefee scored the lone touchdown against the number one defense, on a 14-yard burst up the middle, and finished with 26 yards on four carries.