MONMOUTH, OREGON (October 30) – On a cool and damp Saturday afternoon at McArthur Stadium, the Dixie State College football team never seemed to find a rhythm. A pair of 21-point scoring bursts in each half and solid defensive play provided Western Oregon with the ingredients to cook up a definitive 42-7 win in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action over the Red Storm.
Evan Mozzochi threw three touchdown passes – two to Demario Ballard – en route to 310 yards through the air for the Wolves (6-3, 4-2 GNAC). Sione Tapuosi tallied nearly half of the offense for Dixie State (2-7, 2-6 GNAC) running for 75 yards on 22 carries.
The Wolves took the opening drive 56 yards on 11 plays capped by Mozzochi’s first TD of the day to Trevor Gates from seven yards. Dixie State anticipated a quick response, but was surprised by a perfectly executed on-side kick by Kelly Morgan recovered near midfield by WOU’s Benjamin Merrill. The subsequent drive halted when the Storm recovered an Adryan Allen fumble at the ten-yard line.
Facing a short third down play on their first offensive drive, Dixie State quarterback Cody Stevenson tried to thread a pass near the markers. His toss was picked by Bryce Peila and taken back 22 yards for a touchdown.
Western extended the lead to three scores on Trevor Roush’s four-yard scamper ending an 11-play, 90-yard drive.
The Red Storm gave birthday boy Zack Fox a present midway through the second quarter. His touchdown reception for 18 yards from Stevenson in the back of the end zone cut the Wolves’ lead to 21-7.
Ballard notched the first of two relatively quick scores right before the half streaking down the middle of the field for a 49-yard score pushing WOU to a 28-7 lead.
In the third quarter after both teams punted on opening opportunities, Western extended the lead with two plays – a 20-yard Allen run setting up another Ballard TD from 35 yards out.
With the substantial lead, WOU brought in their reserves including quarterback Cody Bean who put an exclamation on the afternoon with a score to Kyle Lavender on fourth down to post the final score.
Shining on defense for Dixie State was junior Aaron Corbier with 11 tackles (6 solo) from the middle linebacker position. Nick Rocco (nine tackles) and Nick Cragin (seven tackles) followed on the defensive total stat sheet.
Western Oregon outgained Dixie State in total yardage 446-155.
The Red Storm will conclude the 2010 season with a non-conference battle with Southern Utah next Saturday, November 6, in Cedar City. Kickoff is at 1:00pm in the “Battle for the Ax”.