Football | 9/20/2008 1:10:06 AM

Ben Kuenzi scored the final go-ahead touchdown with 3:32 left in the game to help Western Oregon salvage a 34-27 road win over Dixie State on Saturday night in front of 2,546 fans at Hansen Stadium in St. George, Utah.

The victory moves WOU's record to 2-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and they are 2-2 overall. Dixie drops to 0-2 in GNAC play and 1-3 overall.

Kuenzi's run capped a seven play, 65-yard drive and broke a 27-27 tie. Earlier in the possession, quarterback Josh Riddell hit Shaun Kauleinamoku on a 28-yard strike that got the Wolves into scoring position.

Dixie State would get the ball back with plenty of time left and three timeouts, but WOU defensive tackle Matt Cox tackled Dixie QB Dexter Hill for a nine-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage, putting the Rebels in a hole that they couldn't climb out of. Cox finished the game with nine tackles, including five solos and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Kuenzi led WOU's rushing game with 89 yards on 15 carries, with DJ Jackson close behind with 11-67. Riddell connected on 21 of 34 passes for 264 yards with two TD's and an interception. Isaiah Smith have five grabs for 68 yards and Kauleinamoku finished with four for 86.

Western Oregon moved the ball all over the field in the first quarter, but couldn't punch the ball into the end zone. Juan Rodriguez hit one of two field goal attempts to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Dixie State did not get a first down in their first two possessions, and then Gavin Romanick picked off a Dexter Hill pass on the Rebel's third try, returning it 18 yards for a score and a 10-0 lead for the visitors.

But Dixie State then got its offense a bit untracked, thanks in part to a bizarre play. A Hill pass, intended for Skyler Ence, bounced off his hands and landed ten yards down field to an open Nash Fowler, who ran 58 yards untouched to get the hosts on the scoreboard.

The two teams would then trade scores in the second quarter, with Kuenzi taking in a six-yard throw from Riddell, followed by a Zach Manning 27-yard field goal for Dixie (20-10). Rodriguez then kicked another 36-yard three-pointer, followed by a Manning 17-yard conversion. WOU went into the locker room with a 20-13 lead.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, as Western Oregon penalties slowed them up, including a roughing the punter call that kept a Dixie drive alive. The Rebels ended up going 88 yards in 15 plays, eventually tying the game on an eight-yard run by Hill (20-20) moments into the fourth quarter.

A little over two minutes later, Riddell found Kauleinamoku over the middle for a 49-yard strike to give the lead back to the Wolves. Miguel Gonzalez picked off a Hill pass to stop the next Dixie State drive, but WOU would fumble a few plays later and DSC defensive back Aric Hutchinson would recover and run it 59 yards to the Wolves two-yard line. Adam Wells would then punch it in for the tying score (27-27).

A penalty gave Dixie State great field position on their next drive, and they would move the ball to the Western 35-yard line before the drive stalled. A fourth down pass play went incomplete, setting up WOU's winning drive.

Western Oregon had a 419-286 advantage in total offense, but the Wolves hurt themselves with 14 penalties for 115 yards (Dixie State had just 4 for 35). WOU had 155 yards on the ground and 264 through the air. Hill passed for 261 (19-38) for the Rebels, but the Western front held Dixie State's rushing game to just 25 yards on 28 attempts.

Western Oregon will continue road work next weekend, taking on Humboldt State (Sept. 27) at 6 pm. It will be WOU's fourth road game in its first five outings.