Southern Utah University scored 25 straight points in the second half to come back from a 34-3 deficit, but the rally fell short as Cal State Northridge took a 34-28 victory in American West Conference action Saturday night.
The win dropped SUU to 0-2 in the conference and 2-7 overall, while CSN improved to 2-5, 1-0 in the AWC.CSN dominated the first quarter, outgaining the Thunderbirds by 148 yards in taking a 13-0 lead at the end of the period. The Matadors took advantage of a Benji Hoskins fumble, driving 42 yards to set up a one-yard Clayton Millis touchdown run.
The Matadors added another score on a one-yard Tom Merrill run, then early in the second period took a 19-0 lead when Doug Varner picked up a David McCovy fumble and scampered 25 yards for the score. The Matadors made it 27-0 after stopping SUU inside the one-yard line, then taking the ball 99 yards in three plays.
SUU finally got on the board with 24 seconds remaining in the half when Jason Haslam kicked a 40-yard field goal to cut the CSN lead to 27-3 at the break.
Southern Utah rallied in the second half, however. After giving up a 59-yard touchdown pass early in the third period to fall behind 34-3, SUU scored 25 straight points on three Benji Hoskins TD runs and a 27-yard Haslam field goal. Hoskins, who finished with a team-season-high 148 yards - 142 of those in the second half - scored on runs of 14, 35 and 38 yards. The final score, the school's longest run of the year, pulled the Thunderbirds to within 34-28 with 9:16 remaining in the game.
GAME NOTES: SUU drove to the Northridge 18 late in the game, but an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the drive with 56 seconds remaining. . . The Thunderbirds return to action Saturday at home against UC-Davis. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.