Game time

’Birds record shutout to open season

By DAVID DeMILLE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

For the sixth time in as many years under head coach C. Ray Gregory, the SUU football squad won its opener, a 7-0 shutout of Mesa State that was more one-sided than the score indicated.
The vaunted SUU ground game went for 198 yards in the game, and the defense was dominant, holding the Mustangs to only 192 total yards.
Only the loss of preseason all-American defensive end Josh Bingham to a leg injury kept the game from being a great opening night for the ’Birds.
Bingham was on the bottom of the pile after a tackle and was taken off the field with what was reported to be a multiple fracture of the left leg.
“Josh told me to just go out and win the game,” Gregory said. “That shows that he still has his competitiveness. It’s tough, but we’ll just have to deal with it.”
The SUU defense recorded its first shutout since 1998, and Mesa State had trouble getting anything to go on the ground or in the air.
Linebackers Bart Amundsen and Donny Allred combined for 13.5 tackles, and defensive back Travis Armitstead intercepted a pass before the half to stop a Mustang drive.
The defensive front, playing without Tonga Mounga, who was out with a sprained knee, and Bingham after the injury, still dominated behind Brett Johnson, Paul Esera and Asomoe Amosa.
“It feels good to be back winning,” Esera said. “We missed the guys who were out, but we feel like no matter who’s out there, we can get the job done. We need guys to step up and play, and everyone’s capable of doing that. We expect more shutouts with this new defense and new coaching.”
The Thunderbirds stint with new defensive coordinator Steve Fex and his 4-3 scheme was successful from the outset, keeping the “0” on the board for Mesa and providing the offense with opportunities.
Offensively, SUU didn’t impress on the scoreboard, but did move the ball for most of the game.
Running back Jay Gaynor ran for 118 yards on 17 carries, including the game’s only score, pounding it in from 2 yards out late in the second period.
The PAT was made interesting when the T-Birds were flagged for two consecutive penalties, forcing Dave Pretzer into a 40-yard attempt.
The senior nailed it, and moved within three of SUU’s all-time record for PATs.
Gaynor and quarterback Dustin Randolph, who gained 90 positive yards, helped the ’Birds to control the ball and the clock.
Only two fumbles late in drives kept SUU from blowing the game open.
“I thought we moved the ball pretty well,” Gaynor said. “We just need to execute a little better on our assignments. It was our first game, and we had some trouble doing little things. Next week we should be better, and feel more comfortable with the offense.”
SUU was gathering yards in a hurry to start the game. Randolph
hit Chuck Henderson for a 40-yard pass in the first quarter, and the team entered Mesa State territory on several occasions, but were unable to capitalize.
“You have to give credit to Mesa State,” Gregory said. “The had a good game plan and they play hard.” “Our offense will get better,” he added. “It got better during the