Tyler Tuiasosopo and the APU Cougars upended in their home opener.
(Glendora)- Dixie State scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes to defeat Azusa Pacific 24-22 on Saturday night at Citrus College.
The Cougars built a 22-12 fourth quarter lead thanks to the leg of freshman kicker Jamie Cacciatore, before the Red Storm rallied.
Dixie State back up quarterback Kaleo Nawahine completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Zack Fox with 5:00 to play.
On APU’s next possession, quarterback Tyler Tuiasosopo, fighting for extra yardage, lost the ball and it was recovered by Dixie State’s Ray Chapman. Chapman covered the next 32-yards to paydirt to give his team a 24-22 advantage.
“We got to be able to finish a game like that. You’re up two scores and young guys are celebrating,” said APU HC Victor Santa Cruz. “We got too many people in leadership positions on this football team and it’s all brand new to them. So hopefully they learn, were going to to watch film and we’re going to get this thing fixed.”
The Cougars final drive began at their own 40 with 3:48 left in the contest. Key runs by Terrell Watson and Oliver Petty moved the ball into Red Storm territory before stalling at the 32.
On fourth down Cacciatore’s 49-yard field goal attempt to win the game was blocked.
Dixie State improved to 2-1 overall, 2-0 in the Great Northwest Conference, while APU dropped to 0-3 on the season.
Cougar defense harassed Red Storm quarterbacks all night!
In the first half the lead changed hands five times before the Cougars took a 16-12 lead into the break. The third quarter was scoreless.
Cacciatore kicked a 32-yard field goal at 8:41 in first to give Azusa an initial lead.
Dixie State came back six minutes later when quarterback Griff Robles scored on a 39-yard run on a third down and nine. Red Storm kicker Michael Myers missed the first of all four extra-point attempts on the evening.
APU retook the lead on a 25-yard scoring pass from Tuiasosopo to Petty in the second quarter. Cacciatore’s extra-point attempt failed.
The Cougar advantage was short-lived as Dixie State’s Cache Morgan returned the following kick-off 100-yards for a touchdown. The point after failed, and it was 12-9 in favor of the visitors from St. George.
With the first half winding down APU strung together a 49-yard drive, that was keyed by Petty’s 31-yard run on a third and 13 that brought the ball to the Red Storm 11. Two plays later Watson smashed in from 5-yards for the go ahead score.
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