BURNABY, B.C. -- The Simon Fraser football team lost 24-7 in its 2021 home finale to Western Oregon, Saturday at the SFU Stadium at Terry Fox Field.

Head coach Mike Rigell gave his assessment of his team's progress.

"We're starting to be in games, and the players are starting to understand what that tastes like. But now, we've got to learn how to finish," he said. "We have to learn to get over that hurdle. It's just going to take some time. Everybody knew things wouldn't change overnight, but I think people can see we're playing better ball. We're a lot more detailed and a lot more physical. We are going in the right direction but it is going to take time."

A dozen players and their loved ones were honoured in a pre-game Senior Night ceremony for their outstanding years of service and contribution to the SFU football program. The players moving onto the proud ranks of SFU football alumni after this season are (in alphabetical order):

Linebacker Griffin Barrett (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
Defensive back Kolby Buljevic (Burnaby, B.C.)
Wide receiver Dallas Dixon (Sherwood Park, Alta.)
Defensive lineman Isaac Evans (Coquitlam, B.C.)
Linebacker Nicolas Klingshirn (Munich, Germany)
Linebacker Justice Kremler, (Victoria, B.C.)
Linenbacker Brendan Lowry (Okotoks, Alta.)
Running back Paolo Lujan (Surrey, B.C.)
Offensive lineman Scott Maki (Yakima, Wash.)
Punter/kicker Kees Metselaar (Port Orchard, Wash.)
Linebacker Jvalin Shah (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Running back Paul Thomas (Selma, Calif.)

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Evans, who has played his entire career at SFU, reflected on his last home game.

"There were a lot of emotions at first," he said. "I'm definitely glad this was the way it turned out. We went out there and played as hard as we could so I can't really hang my head about the loss. But it was good to be in front of a crowd at the stadium. Everybody seemed to be having a good time, I was having a good time. I don't think I would have had it any other way.

Thank you to everyone at SFU. This Senior Night was a great experience. I have to say 'Thank you so much' to our alumni for all the support. They've really helped us change the program and they've been a major part of our success."

Rigell said he could not be prouder of his team's seniors.

"What they've done is, even through the year of COVID, hold everybody together," he said. "They kept everyone included, they kept the team bonding going. You can't ask for anything more. They're giving everything they've got, whether they're injured or not, they're showing up and keeping this team locked in.

I love them. They're always going to have a place in this building, and they're always welcome around here. But we still have four more games, and we're going to finish those games strong. We're going to continue to grind and get better every day, and they're going to lead that process."

On their senior night, both Barrett and Buljevic starred on the SFU defence. Barrett recorded four solo tackles and 13 assisted ones to lead his team, while Buljevic, last week's GNAC Football Defensive Player of the Week, had 14 tackles (nine solo and five assisted). Sophomore linebacker Drew Nicholson recorded 11 (five solo and six assisted).
 

SFU sophomore quarterback Justin Seiber completed 19 of 33 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown, which went to Dixon, who finished with 60 receiving yards on two receptions. Seiber also rushed for 18 yards.

WOU's offence was heavily run-focused, as it gained 330 yards on 47 rushes. Omari Land ran the ball 25 times to rack up 209 yards, and two touchdowns. Andrew Valladares added another 74 on 13 rushes. Quarterback Ryan Worthley was 14-of-27 for 87 yards passing. On defence, Curtis Anderson and Ryan Minniti both had six tackles to top the WOU roster.

The bulk of the game's scoring took place in the second half.

Land took the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter 42 yards into the end zone to make it 14-0 for WOU.

The reply came just as quickly. SFU started the ensuing drive on the WOU 45-yard line. On the opening play, Seiber lobbed a pass down the far sideline to Dixon, who caught the ball at around the WOU 22, fought off his defender, and then outran another to get to the end zone. The SFU Stadium at Terry Fox Field crowd of 1,296 delivered a huge roar to celebrate Dixon's first career touchdown reception.

SFU didn't score again but did threaten to several times. The team drove to the Western Oregon 28 but turned the ball over on downs with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.

A strong defensive stand on the Wolves' first possession of the fourth kept WOU to a field goal after the visitors got the ball to the SFU 7.

With about nine and a half minutes left in the game, the home side was down 17-7 and had to punt the ball away. Luis Vicino of Western Oregon fumbled the catch, and SFU's Robert Meadors recovered the loose ball to give his team possession at the Wolves' 20. However, the drive ended in a blocked field goal and the hosts didn't cut into their deficit.

The Wolves added a touchdown after that to round out the scoring.

At halftime, the scoreline was a slim 7-0 margin in favour of WOU, as the SFU defence came up with two big fourth-down stops.

The Wolves got into the red zone on their first drive but was turned away when SFU successfully broke up a fourth-down pass that landed at about the 10-yard line.

SFU got another turnover-on-downs to begin the second quarter. WOU advanced the ball to the opposition 29 but failed to convert after an incomplete pass.

The next game for SFU (0-4, 0-2 GNAC) will be a non-conference contest on Oct. 16 at Montana State-Northern of the NAIA. The kickoff in Havre, Mont., is scheduled for 12 noon PT.

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