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GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The Southern Utah (2-4, 1-0 Great West) offense dominated Great West Conference rival North Dakota (2-4, 0-2) in its homecoming game with 31 unanswered points on its way to an impressive 31-21 victory Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D.
"We were able to get man-to-man coverage today, and anytime this happens we'll take it," Offensive Coordinator Steve Clark said in an interview with Art Challis with Power 91. "I just don't think any team can be man-to-man with our receivers and be successful against them."
Sophomore quarterback Brad Sorensen led the offense with a career-high 413 yards passing and two touchdowns on 35-of-46 passing. He also threw one interception in the game.
Those 35 completions tied Sorensen with last year's quarterback Cade Cooper for most completions in a game by an SUU quarterback.
Senior wide receiver Tysson Poots caught 13 catches for 210 yards and one touchdown. This moves Poots up to the fifth in total receiving yards in SUU history.
Senior wide receiver Fesi Sitake had 12 receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown in the game.
The T-Bird offense had 509 total yards and controlled the ball for two-thirds of the game (39 minutes).
After a slow start and an early deficit, the T-Birds tied the game 14-14 before halftime with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Sorensen to Sitake.
Momentum shifted SUU's way with a roughing the kicker penalty on fourth down by Jarrel Davis to give the T-Birds a first down and another chance to drive down the field early in the third quarter. The T-Birds took advantage of the penalty with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Sorensen to Poots to give SUU its first lead of 21-14, a lead the T-Birds would never relinquish.
Junior running back Austin Minefee brought the T-Bird lead to 31-14 with a 12-yard touchdown run with 7:48 left in the game.
UND started to come back into the game bringing the score to 31-21 late in the fourth quarter, but the clock cut it short.
The T-Bird defense held the Fighting Sioux to 173 total yards. Senior quarterback Jake Landry completed 13-of-25 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one interception.
Junior running back Josh Murray and freshman wide receiver Greg Hardin combined for 10 receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior linebacker Blake Fenn led the T-Bird defense with nine tackles.
Next week, SUU hosts Cal Poly in its homecoming game Saturday at 3 p.m. in Eccles Coliseum.
(Photo courtesy Kory Wallen/North Dakota Athletics)
