CEDAR CITY, Utah -- In front of 10,424 fans, the Thunderbird football team knocked off the Sacramento State Hornets 48-27 picking up their first win of the season on Homecoming.
"I just want to thank Cedar City and southern Utah," SUU head coach Demario Warren said. "The crowd out there was amazing. We've struggled this year but the fans showed out, they were incredible today and really pulled us through this victory."
The contest got off to an incredibly fast start, as the Hornets scored on their opening drive, and the Thunderbirds responded with a Judd Cockett kick return for a touchdown that quickly tied the contest up at 7-7. Unfortunately for the T-Birds, the Hornets added two more touchdowns before the end of the first quarter and held a 21-7 lead after 15 minutes.
The second quarter, however, was all SUU. Karris Davis scored back-to-back touchdowns on back-to-back drives for the Thunderbirds, which also were the first two of his career. He finished the game with 84 yards on the ground.
SUU capped off the second quarter for themselves with a trick play that resulted in Lance Lawson hitting Austin Ewing for a touchdown. After a Hornet field goal to end the quarter, the T-Birds held a 27-24 lead heading into the break.
The T-Birds were the only offense to score in the third quarter, as Jay Green Jr. scored his first touchdown of the night and Austin Ewing snuck into the endzone on the ground to put SUU up 41-24 after three quarters of play.
The Hornets scored to start the fourth quarter, but the T-Birds quickly responded as Green Jr. scored his 19th career touchdown to put SUU up 48-27, which would ultimately be the final score.
Aaron Zwahlen finished the game 22-of-31 through the air for 153 yards. Zwahlen, Lawson and Ty Rutledge all completed a pass for SUU on Saturday.
Green Jr. finished the game with 107 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Landen Measom had eight catches for 73 yards.
AJ Stanley led the team in tackles with seven. The T-Birds had eight tackles for loss, five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries.
The Thunderbirds will hit the road next as they travel to Moscow, Idaho to take on the Idaho Vandals.
Keep tabs on the Thunderbirds by following @SUUFB on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the Southern Utah Football page on Facebook.
Single game tickets for the 2018 season can be purchased online at
www.tbirdtickets.com or at the America First Event Center Ticket Office.
