Football | 10/10/2009 3:15:11 PM

Box Score [Box score]

ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Host Dixie State turned six Western Oregon turnovers into a 31-23 upset football win on a warm Homecoming Saturday at Hansen Stadium.

It was the Red Storm's first-ever win over WOU in six tries, and improved Dixie's record to 3-4 on the season and 2-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wolves dropped its first conference game of the year (2-1) and fell to 3-3 on the season.

Dixie State scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to erase a 17-9 deficit to rally for the win. Quarterback Judd Thompson connected on five-yard scoring strikes to Grant Jiminez and Robert Evans to give the Red Storm a 24-17 lead at the end of the third quarter, and Taui Vakapuna nailed the lid in the coffin with a 74-yard scamper down the right sideline with less than ten minutes left to make it 31-17.

Western Oregon then moved down the field to the Red Storm 10-yard line, but Ross Doman intercepted Josh Riddell's pass in the end zone--the fifth time that Riddell was picked off on the day. The Wolves would mount another drive in the waning moments and score on a Riddell to Sean Fullerton eight-yard slant with 1:04 left, but the ensuing onside kick was tipped out of bounds and Dixie then ran out the clock.

The game began on a much more positive note for the Wolves, after DJ Jackson returned the opening kick-off to Dixie's 45-yard line. WOU would score six plays later on John Breza's one-yard run.

But the rest of the half was a batch of turnovers for WOU, including four interceptions thrown by Riddell and a fumbled punt by the normally reliable Jon Dowd. Two of those miscues turned into Dixie scores.

Fullerton had a huge day to highlight the offense, with 13 catches for 163 yards. DJ Jackson had 70 yards rushing to pace the ground game, while Riddell finished 31 of 58 for 293 yards.

Vakapuna had 126 yards rushing for the Red Storm, while Thompson completed 21 of 36 passes for 170 yards and two scores.

Western Oregon struggled again with penalties, committing nine for 130 yards, while Dixie State had just three for 31.

Andy Jackson led the WOU defense with 11 tackles, while Breza added seven including two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Caleb Singleton had an interception and forced a fumble.

Western Oregon will have a much stiffer test next Saturday when they take on undefeated and No. 4 nationally ranked Central Washington at Qwest Field in the Battle in Seattle. Start time is 6:00 p.m.