Davis TD run lifts Portland State past Southern Utah, 20-13

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Beau Kelly set up the game-winning touchdown with a 30-yard punt return, and Davis Alexander cashed in with a 10-yard run to the end zone early in the fourth quarter as the Vikings earned their first Big Sky Conference win of the season, knocking off Southern Utah 20-13 on Saturday night.

Noah Alejado put the Thunderbirds on top, 13-10 early in the third quarter with his second field goal of the game, this one from 29 yards out, but Gianni Smith converted a 28-yard kick to tie the game at 13-13 with 1:09 left in the quarter.

Alexander was 18-of-23 passing for 151 yards, but was picked off once. He carried eight times for 17 yards and a touchdown. Kelly caught seven passes for 59 yards. Jalynnee McGee carried seven times for 78 yards, and Malik Walker had 17 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown for Portland State (2-3, 1-1).

Justin Miller was 15 of 23 for 179 yards passing to lead Southern Utah (1-4, 0-2), but the T-Birds managed just 88 yards on the ground on 31 carries. Ethan Bolingbroke had seven catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

PORTLAND STATE 20, SOUTHERN UTAH 13

Portland St. 0 10 3 7—20

S. Utah 3 7 3 0—13

First Quarter

SUU—FG Alejado 24, 08:54

Second Quarter

PSU—Walker 2 run (Smith kick), 09:11

SUU—Bolingbroke 19 pass from Miller (Alejado kick), 05:02

PSU—FG Smith 35, 00:21

Third Quarter

SUU—FG Alejado 29, 09:28

PSU—FG Smith 28, 01:09

Fourth Quarter

PSU—Alexander 10 run (Smith kick), 09:13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Portland St., Ja. McGee 7-78, Ma. Walker 17-71, Da. Alexander 8-17, Ma. Spiker 1-0, Team 2-(minus 10). S. Utah, Da. Moore III 18-45, Ka. Davis 8-23, To. Wright 1-19, Ju. Miller 3-2, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Portland St., Da. Alexander 18-23-1-151. S. Utah, Ju. Miller 15-23-1-179.

RECEIVING—Portland St., Be. Kelly 7-59, Na. Bennett 4-51, Ma. Spiker 1-13, An. Rodriguez 1-11, Ma. Walker 3-8, Da. Chase 1-7, Ja. McGee 1-2. S. Utah, Et. Bolingbroke 7-83, Ka. Davis 1-27, Br. Schenks 3-24, To. Wright 1-20, Fr. Harris III 1-11, Ph. Brown 1-9, Da. Atencio 1-5.