BURNABY, B.C. – The Simon Fraser Clan made a valiant effort in the fourth quarter against the Dixie State Red Storm, but came up just short losing 42-35 on Terry Fox Field Saturday afternoon in an exciting game.
Trailing 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter, the Clan scored two unanswered touchdowns to tie the game at 28.
Facing third-and-six near midfield, quarterback
Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ – 20/29 232-yards 2 TD 2 INT) hit a crossing
Bobby Pospischil (Coquitlam, BC – 4 rec. 73-yards) for a 22-yard gain and first down.
Getting down to the Dixie State three yard line and on fourth down, Stanford found wide receiver
Kyle Kawamoto (North Vancouver, BC – 5 rec. 82-yards 2 TD) in the back of the end zone for the touchdown threading it between multiple defenders to make the score 28-21.
The Clan defence would hold on the ensuing Red Storm drive forcing a punt to kick returner
Earl Anderson (99 all-purpose yards) standing at his 30 yard line. Anderson would then take the ball and turn to his right before cutting up field weaving his way through oncoming tacklers. Finding a seam, Anderson would ultimately take the ball 70-yards for the touchdown midway through the fourth quarter tying the game at 28.
"As soon as I looked around the corner, I saw the blockers perfectly and saw an opening so I cut it back," Anderson said on the play.
Dixie State would respond with a touchdown on the next drive putting the Red Storm back ahead 35-28. Then with the Clan being forced to punt, the snap sailed over the hands of punter
Nikolai Karpun (Delta, BC – 44 avg) which resulted in Dixie State taking over at the four yard line leading to another touchdown.
Down by 14, SFU marched back down the field starting off with a 24-yard pass from Stanford to Pospischil. Then facing fourth-and-six from the DSU 30 yard line, Stanford completed a pass to Kawamoto who was able to turn up field for an 11-yard gain and first down. Stanford again went back to Kawamoto for a 19-yard touchdown to make the score 42-35 with 1:12 remaining in the game.
Adding to the excitement was Kawamoto grabbing the ensuing onside kick giving the Clan life to try and tie. However, on SFU's first play following the onside kick recovery, Stanford was intercepted by Zac Christian ending the Clan's comeback bid.
"We practice that every week and get use to the kickers bounces," Kawamoto explained on the onside kick. "It was a great kick, anyone can get the ball on that play but my mindset, I'm going to get that ball. I felt good, but obviously when you don't win you're not too happy with the results."
Opening the game with a punt on offence, the Clan defence continued to show improvement coming off a good showing last week by sacking Dixie State quarterback Griff Robles and forcing a fumble. Defensive end
Keenan North (Bellingham, WA – 4 TKL 1 FF 1 sack) was able to bring down Robles forcing the fumble and defensive end
Dylan Roper (North Vancouver, BC) was there to scoop it up. SFU drove the ball down to the the DSU 23 yard line but the Clan were not able to capitalize.
Down 14-0 the Clan ground game went to work running 11 straight times for 57-yards which ended with runningback
Chris Tolbert (Silver Springs, MD – 27-105-yards 2 TD – 4 rec. 31-yards) punching the ball in from a yard out. The Red Storm would answer back though, restoring the 14 point lead, 21-7 on a Robles touchdown pass.
After forcing a fourth down with six minutes left in the third quarter, the Clan were able to sniff out a fake punt attempt as Ante Litre (Vancouver, BC) tackled Alshondre Smith well short of the first down.
That seemed to spark the team as the offence again pounded the ball on the ground ending with Tolbert scoring from 2-yards out and making the score 21-14 as the half.
In the third quarter the Clan had two opportunities to kick field goals, but both attempts went wide which led to Robles throwing his fourth of five touchdown passes on the day to make the score 28-14.
The Clan welcomed back All-American wide receiver
Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC – 7 rec. 46-yards) on Saturday who had been out since September 7 after being injured against Humboldt State.
Simon Fraser (2-6) will play host to Humboldt State next Saturday, November 9, at 6 p.m. on Terry Fox Field.
