FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The Simon Fraser University Clan football team opened up the 2012 season against the Pacific University Boxers Thursday evening with a 51-14 victory.

Bo Palmer (North Vancouver, BC) rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Sophomore Clan quarterback Trey Wheeler (Seattle, WA) finished the game completing 17 of 21 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns.  

The Clan defence looked impressive, holding the Pacific offence to 14 points and just 40 yards rushing.

"It was an interesting opener in a pretty hostile environment," said head coach Dave Johnson.  "School just started here and the student section was packed, it's a tough place to play.  The environment is really exciting and our kids intensity matched the situation. I was pleased with how physical we were."

Pacific threatened early on when, on the opening drive, Boxer quarterback T.C. Campbell hit Jordan Fukumoto with a 62-yard strike to put Pacific into the SFU redzone.

The Clan defence came up with a big goal line stand, and a missed 24-yard field goal attempt by Pacific kept the score at 0-0.

Trey Wheeler (Seattle, WA) then led the Clan on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Bo Palmer (North Vancouver, BC), to open the scoring and give SFU a 7-0 lead early on.

Clan special teams then made their first of many big plays on the evening with a blocked punt by Adam Berger (Surrey, BC) which SFU recovered; eventually leading to a Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC) touchdown. Durant's score made it 14-0.

In the second quarter it was Durant with another touchdown when Wheeler found him with an eight-yard pass to make it 21-0, after a five play, 57-yard drive.

On the subsequent drive, Pacific marched into SFU territory but the Clan defence shut them down, and the Boxers were forced to punt.  Bobby Pospischil (Coquitlam, BC) returned that punt 84-yards for the touchdown, making the score 28-0 and putting the Clan in the drivers seat.

The two teams traded majors late in the half, with another touchdown from Palmer and a Pacific touchdown from Fukumoto as the first half ended with the Clan ahead 34-7.

Pacific was not able to mount a comeback in the second half, as the Clan cruised to a 51-14 victory to open the season.

"Last year we had to fight and claw to get a win here.  I think, in that game, they thought we got out of here with a win we didn't deserve.  I think this win shows we've come a long way.  It shows the commitment of our players and that commitment is starting to pay off," finished Johnson.

The season opening win in Forest Grove, Oregon, is the second in as many years for SFU over Pacific, as the Clan start the 2012 season 1-0.

SFU will head back to Burnaby Mountain for their home opener on Saturday, September 8 at Terry Fox Field  when they host the Central Washington Wildcats at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate, an hour before game time, or order your season tickets for just $35.00 by emailing tickets@sfu.ca.