Sean Laird ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as St. Mary's held off Southern Utah 26-24 on Saturday.
St. Mary's (5-2) jumped out to a 20-7 lead in the first half, boosted by Laird's 1-yard and 19-yard scoring runs.Southern Utah (2-6) scored as the second quarter closed on Brook Madsen's 1-yard run.
After Thunderbird quarterback Rick Robins scored on a 16-yard run in the third quarter, Laird hit Rick Ellis with a 50-yard touchdown pass to give the Gaels a 26-14 lead.
Southern Utah closed the gap to 26-21 on Robins' 5-yard pass to Madsen before Jason Haslam's 27-yard field goal with 6:27 left in the game closed out scoring.
Laird, a sophomore, was 12-of-23 for 212 yards and one interception for the Gaels. Robins was 26-of-48 for 324 yards and a pair of interceptions.