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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Austin Minefee ran for two touchdowns while his teammates had three interceptions for scores, propelling Southern Utah to a stunning 41-16 victory over UNLV on Saturday night.
Nick Witzmann, Blake Fenn, and Erron Vonner each had interception returns for touchdowns as the Thunderbirds (3-1) outscored UNLV 31-0 during a second half barrage.
The Rebels (1-3) turned the ball over five times as Caleb Herring threw those three picks that were returned for scores. UNLV's Phillip Payne caught career-highs of 175 yards and 13 receptions. He also had a late 19-yard fourth-quarter touchdown reception.
Brad Sorensen completed 16 of 34 for 178 yards and two interceptions for Southern Utah.
Minefee had six and two-yard scoring runs in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
On the second half's first play from scrimmage, Herring threw his second interception as Fenn ran untouched 22 yards down the right side, breaking a 10-10 tie.
Later, Minefee's first score made it 24-10. After a Colton Cook 40-yard field goal, Minefee's second run made it 34-10.
Vonner's 74-yard interception untouched touchdown run concluded the Thunderbird scoring in stunning fashion.
This was the team's first meeting since 1970.
Entering the game, UNLV had come off an impressive 40-20 win over Hawaii last Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Rebels scored first on a fake field goal as the holder Mike Clausen found Austin Harrington from 23 yards out in the right side of the endzone with 9:58 left in the first quarter.
The Thunderbirds scored the next 10 points, highlighted by Witzmann 35-yard interception touchdown return down the left side to make it 10-7. The Rebels tied it by halftime on a Nolan Kohorst 45-yard field goal with 56 seconds left in the second quarter.
Southern Utah has now played a Mountain West team for a fourth straight year. It plays North Dakota next Saturday in Cedar City, Utah.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
