By Tim Peterson
(St. George, Utah) – Chad Jeffries hit Tarik Myles with a pair of touchdown passes to give the Cougars a 14-0 halftime lead and the Cougars went on to beat Dixie State 34-5 Saturday night in Utah.
The first quarter was scoreless as the Cougars turned the ball over and struggled to move the ball. But in the second Tyree Davis picked off a pass to set up a 21-yard TD strike from Jeffries. Later in the half the pair hooked up again for a 17-yard connection for a 14-0 lead.
The Red Storm had only 108 total yards of offense in the first half with Blake Barney completing just 2 of 10 for 10 yards and two interceptions. Paul Walker also intercepted Barney in the first quarter.
Kurt Scoby had seven carries for 32 yards in the first half while Jeffries was 6-12 for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougars increased the advantage to 21-0 in the third quarter on a 15-yard romp by Scoby. Later in the third APU was on the verge of a four touchdown lead after Jason Schwartz recovered a fumble and the Cougars moved the ball down to the Dixie State one yard line. But Ryan Adams was stuffed at the goal line.
The Red Storm, from their own one, then mounted its first substantial drive of the game but had to settle for a Alex Giordani 22-yard field goal when the march stalled at the Cougar five.
APU defensive back Hunter Malberg was disqualified from the game for targeting after a big hit on a Dixie State receiver on an incomplete pass prior to Giordani’s boot.
Early in the fourth quarter Scoby got loose down the near sideline and outran the Dixie State secondary for a 49-yard TD scamper.
With the game winding down, Andrew Elffers, replacing Jeffries, gets to the corner and sprints down the far sideline for a 70-yard touchdown run for the game’s final score with 1:24 left.
Dixie State added a safety later in the fourth quarter when Jeffries was knocked down in the end zone.
Scoby finished with 157 yards and two touchdowns. Jeffries threw for 102 yards and two scores without an interception. The Cougars racked up 457 total yards and allowed 236 overall.
“There are no easy games in this conference. We knew that coming in,” said APU HC Victor Santa Cruz. “I thought the defense played well. We have a lot of new faces on defense and they come to play each week.”
It’s the sixth straight win for the Cougars over the Red Storm, and they lead the series all-time 9-3.
The Cougars improved to 3-1 with the victory while Dixie State is the opposite at 1-3.
DS 0 0 3 2 5
AP 0 14 7 7 28
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