Dixie State University’s football team found redemption when it won 49-20 to Central Washington University Thursday night.
Senior offensive lineman Nyles Amelita, an accounting major from Tustin, California, said he gives all the credit to the coaches.
“We just stuck to the game plan the coaches set us up with and it worked out well,” Amelita said. “The coaches did a great job preparing us for all aspects of the game and we went out there and executed.”
DSU made two school records during the game with a total of 404 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. The team also had 24 first downs.
Senior running back Myles Burton, a criminal justice major from Berkeley California, said the team mentally focused for this game.
“Since we had a short week to prepare for the game, we had to give our bodies some rest to be ready for Central Washington,” Burton said. “We definitely played a lot better than we did in week one, but I wasn’t surprised. I knew we could do it, (and) it was only a matter of time.”
Senior running back DeJon Coleman led the team with a total of three rushing touchdowns, while freshman quarterback Blake Barney as well as freshman quarterback Tyson Blackner Burton each had one touchdown.
“It felt so great to score, it always does,” Burton said. “Anytime I get the chance to put points on the scoreboard, I do my best to get in the end zone.”
The Storm started out strong, putting points on the scoreboard only five minutes into the game and having two touchdowns in the first quarter. CMU, however, missed a kick, which kept it silent on the scoreboard until it recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown putting the score 6-7.
Barney, who was making his first game of the season, made a 17-yard pass to freshman wide receiver, Nate Johnson on third down, and then went on to a 21-yard run leading to first and goal for the Storm. Barney then made his touchdown extending the lead to 14-6.
“We really emphasized on running the ball, and that was a huge success for us,” Amelita said.
DSU’s defense was ready to play holding CMU to a total of 301 yard of offense, including only allowing 80 yards on the ground. Defense had a total of three sacks.
“We just have to keep playing the type of football we played, we have to be mistake free and make big plays,” Burton said.
Amelia said he is hopeful for the rest of the season as long as the individuals on the team do their jobs and put trust in their teammates to do their job.
“We played as a team and thats why we were so successful,”Amelita said.