Dixie State’s Offense Struggles In Season Opening Loss To Sacramento State
Sep 4, 2021, 10:34 PM
Photo Courtesy: Dixie State Athletics
ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Dixie State Trailblazers couldn’t get anything going on offense as they lost to Sacramento State 19-7 in their season opener.
Sacrament State’s head coach is former Utah offensive coordinator Troy Taylor as he led his team to a win on the road against Dixie State.
Kody Wilstead completed 15 of his 31 pass attempts for 158 yards and one interception, while running the ball eight times for four yards and a TD. The Trailblazers had just 55 yards rushing in the loss and 213 yards of total offense.
Dixie State started with the ball and only gained eight yards and had to punt. Sacramento State got the ball and ran down the field and made a 40-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 10:52 remaining in the first quarter.
FINAL from Greater Zion Stadium. Trailblazers (0-1) will now gear up to host No. 6 @weberstatefb next Saturday night. #DixieBlazers #WeAreONE #TheRISE #WACfb pic.twitter.com/KLdKlXphIV
— Dixie State Football (@DixieState_FB) September 5, 2021
When Dixie State got the ball back, they were pinned against their own goal line when Kody Wilstead was called for an intentional ground penalty in the end zone which resulted in a safety. The Hornets took a 5-0 lead 7:34 remaining in the opening period.
Lots of empty possessions took place for the rest of the first quarter and then Sacramento State scored their first touchdown of the game when Asher O’Hara found Marshel Martin for a two-yard TD. That gave the Hornets a 12-0 lead with 10:42 left in the first half.
Dixie State finally got on the scoreboard when Wilstead ran in a 12-yard touchdown. Sacramento State held a 12-7 lead with 7:54 until halftime.
Nearly 13 minutes went by without a score before O’Hara found Martin for another touchdown, this time from 11-yards out. Sacramento State was up 19-7 with 2:13 left in the third quarter.
Dixie State dropped their record to 0-1 on the season. They will be back at home on Saturday, September 11 when they face Weber State at 8 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.
