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DAVID, CALIF. -- The Thunderbird football team finished a perfect 4-0 in conference and won its first Great West Conference championship in a 55-24 victory over defending champions UC Davis Saturday.
"It feels great, but it was all about the players and the work they put in along with the coaching staff, administration and so many others who put their hearts into this season," football Head Coach Ed Lamb said.
Sophomore quarterback Brad Sorensen led the T-Birds with 30-for-36 in passing for 397 total yards and six touchdowns, which one he took in himself. Southern Utah had a total of 525 yards on the night.
Senior wide receiver Tysson Poots made 12 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns, and senior wide receiver Fesi Sitake caught seven passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Lamb said the offense has continued to build every week and it showed against the Aggies.
"Brad's been on fire recently, and I have to credit his development," he said. "I wouldn't trade Tysson and Fesi for any two receivers on any team. Those guys are so good at what they do, and they bring so much leadership to this team."
He said the defense made some big plays and kept playing hard throughout the game despite senior cornerback Colin Pretlow getting injured in the first half.
"Our secondary played really hard," Lamb said. "After allowing their offense to score they kept coming back and continue to battle. They all played with the heart of a champion."
Pretlow stretched a ligament in his ankle and is expected to play next weekend.
Junior defensive back Marlon Hogains led the defense with nine tackles on the night.
The T-Bird defense set the tone early in the game when Blake Fenn made a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown from freshman quarterback Randy Wright on the Aggie's first drive.
SUU earned the 7-0 lead and never gave up its lead.
UC Davis got on the board late in the first quarter with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Wright to senior wide receiver Sean Creadick to make the score 10-7.
Poots caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Sorensen to bring the T-Bird lead to 17-7 early in the second quarter.
The T-Birds continued to build its lead with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sorensen to senior wide receiver Fesi Sitake.
Sorensen ran into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run to give SUU a 31-10 lead at the end of the first half.
UC Davis came out strong in the third quarter and scored a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Nick Aprile to lessen the Aggie deficit to 34-7.
Junior cornerback Erron Vonner saved an Aggie touchdown when he hit Creadick and forced a fumble. The T-Birds recovered the ball at the UC Davis two-yard line.
Sorensen took advantage of the turnover with a 13-yard touchdown reception to Poots to bring the T-Bird lead to 48-17 late in the third quarter.
Poots scored his third touchdown on the night with a 42-yard reception from Sorensen to bring the score its final 55-24.
With the conference schedule behind them, the T-Birds play Dixie State Saturday at 1 p.m. at Eccles Coliseum.
