A fourth-quarter comeback attempt failed to prevent Simon Fraser University from suffering its fifth straight loss of the season.
The Clan lost 30-16 to the Western Oregon Wolves in Great Northwest conference football last weekend.
After a slow start to the game, SFU found some life in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns.
“Our guys certainly played through the four quarters, but the turnovers and penalties just stopped anything we were trying to get going,” SFU head coach Dave Johnson said in a school release.
On SFU’s first possession of the fourth quarter, quarterback Ryan Stanford (26/44 293 yards 1 TD 2 int) completed a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Kyle Kawamoto (five receptions for 88 yds. 1 TD), who took the ball into Western Oregon territory.
Two plays later, Stanford connected with tight end Jamal Kett (seven catches 97 yds). for a 17 yd. gain before going back to Kawamoto for the 20 yd. score. The touchdown made the score 27-9 the Wolves with almost a whole quarter remaining.
After allowing a field goal, the Clan again marched down field as Stanford found four different receivers for 57 yds. Running back Steve Spagnuolo (six carries for 42 yds.) would also add 11 yds. on two carries, including a one-yard touchdown run that closed the gap to two TDs.
That would be as close as the Clan would get however, as the Wolves were able to control the clock.
To start the game, the SFU defence responded well, stopping Western Oregon on all three of their first-quarter possessions, including two on fourth down.
Defensive end Dylan Roper (seven tackles and one sack) had a strong game and linebackers Casey Chin (16 tackles) and Mitchell Barnett (nine tackles and one sack) also had strong games.As well, cornerback Eric Frain (five tackles) had a strong game in coverage, including deflecting a ball up to teammate cornerback Cairo Messer-Barrow, who made the interception.
Even with a strong showing on defence, the Clan still found themselves trailing 24-3 at half time.
Western Oregon quarterback Ryan Bergman came into the game tied for first in the conference in passing touchdowns and second in passing yards per-game, but the Clan were able to hold him to just 190 yds. passing and zero touchdowns.
“I tell you, defensively we played tough. We really played well on defence,” said Johnson.
With the loss, SFU dropped to 2-5 on the season and have finished the away portion of their schedule. The Clan will take on Dixie State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
