BURNABY, B.C. – An impressive second-half showing wasn't enough to pull the Simon Fraser Red Leafs football team out of an early hole on Saturday night, as they dropped a 38-21 decision to the Western New Mexico Mustangs, falling to 0-6 in Lone Star Conference play.

Quarterback Justin Seiber completed 15 of 29 passes for 171 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Aidan Pearce (five catches for a career-high 70 yards and a TD) and Sam Davenport (4-53-1) were Seiber's favourite weapons on the day, while tailback Somto Anyadike had a solid outing with 79 yards on 16 carries.

WNMU rode a dominant opening frame to victory, as they put up three touchdowns as part of a 31-0 run to start the game. Devin Larsen was electric, as the Mustangs' QB went 21-of-30 for 211 yards, and two TDs through the air while adding 81 yards and another score with his legs. He also threw an interception.

"We're trying to focus on being consistent and starting the game off fast, not shooting ourselves in the foot and digging a hole before we finally try and climb out," said SFU head coach Mike Rigell. "We're dealing with a young team that's learning how to get over the obstacles of what big games are, what they look like from the start, and playing from the standpoint of a full 60 minutes. We didn't quit, and the players continued to fight, and kept working to get better. We have some highlights when you see some of our younger players like Key'Shaun Dorsey, Reggie Elie and Tomo Hursthouse doing the things they did tonight."
 

SFU's first score of the contest came in the waning moments of the first half, with Anyadike carrying the load early for the Red Leafs. The University of Manitoba transfer reeled off five straight runs to move SFU past the midfield mark from deep in their own territory.

After a penalty call put SFU on the 35-yard-line, Seiber sandwiched a sack with two quick strikes of 11 and 18 yards to receivers Tomo Hursthouse and Davenport. On second-and-goal from the 4-yard-line, Seiber hit big man Dakota Lepine to take it down to the 1. The junior QB then hit Davenport right on the money, and the sophomore receiver got SFU on the board.
 

Down 38-6, SFU's defence made its impact felt again. With Larsen on the move once more, Ishmael Togi crashed down on the signal caller and popped the ball loose, SFU's second forced fumble of the second half. Gideone Kremler was in the right place at the right time to scoop it up for the Red Leafs.

Seiber would only need a few plays to cash in after taking over at the Mustangs' 32-yard line. Starting with an excellent completion to Robert Meadors for 23 yards, and after a penalty knocked SFU back five yards, Seiber hit senior wideout Pearce on back-to-back plays, culminating in a four-yard TD toss right in the middle of the Mustangs' defence.

With the visitors taking the ensuing drive from their own 37-yard line all the way down inside SFU's five, the Red Leafs defence refused to break. With running back Eric Tillman barrelling towards the endzone, sophomore defensive lineman Tank Brewster made a desperation tackle at the goal line, punching the ball out and allowing Damon Lynch to recover for SFU.
 

Backed up in the shadow of his own goal post, Rigell allowed backup quarterback Key'Shaun Dorsey to get some snaps, and it was an impressive showing for the rookie pivot. With the freshman at the helm, SFU marched down the field amidst a slew of penalties and eventually wound up in the end zone for the final score of the contest. The drive was capped by an athletic four-yard Dorsey touchdown scramble. The rookie rushed four times, totalling 32 yards, on his lone drive of the afternoon.
 
"There was no high school season in my senior year in 2020, and I red-shirted here in 2021," said Dorsey. "I haven't gotten any game action as a quarterback in two years, so to score on my first drive is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more."
 
He also contributed 120 yards on a half-dozen kickoff returns.
 
"Returning kicks has allowed me to get the feel and speed of the game at the NCAA level," he said. "It wasn't too much of a change for me out there because I've already been getting hit as a returner so that has helped me in the long run."
 

Junior defensive back Ryan Barthelson recorded six solo tackles and five assisted tackles including one for a loss. He also forced a fumble in the third quarter. It was one of three fumbles caused by the Red Leafs in the game. Junior defensive back Jerrell Cummings made SFU's lone interception of the game early in the fourth quarter. He had two tackles for loss, three solo tackles and an assisted one.
 
Western New Mexico was penalized 141 yards on 14 infractions, while the Red Leafs had 10 penalties for 92 yards.

SFU will need every ounce of Saturday's second-half momentum in its next contest, as the Red Leafs are set to host the conference-leading Angelo State (Texas) Rams (8-0, 6-0 LSC) at Blaine High School in Blaine, Washington. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 29.

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.

#RepTheLeaf