This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Southern Utah's disappointing football season ended with a stunning upset over Northern Arizona on Saturday in Flagstaff.
Junior quarterback Ammon Olsen completed 28 of 42 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown, leading the Thunderbirds to a 22-14 win over the Lumberjacks at the Walkup Skydome.
Southern Utah finished its season with a record of 3-9 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.
In defeat, Northern Arizona had its Football Championship Subdivision playoff hopes dashed. The Lumberjacks ended up 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the league.
Trevor McGirr kicked field goals of 21 and 39 yards for Southern Utah, which claimed the rivalry's symbolic Grand Canyon Trophy for the first time in three years.
Northern Arizona owned a 7-3 lead when Olsen threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to quarterback-turned-receiver Mike Sharp with 46 seconds to play in the first half.
In the second half, Southern Utah built a 22-7 lead.
After a safety in the third quarter, Jarom Healey scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 13:23 remaining. McGirr's second field goal with 2:16 left put the game out of reach, despite a late touchdown by the Lumberjacks.
Chase Cartwright completed 18 of 31 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yarder to Elijah Marks with 1:47 left.
Statistically, Southern Utah dominated the game.
The Thunderbirds held the football for over 35 minutes. They piled up 464 yards of total offense, compared to 360 for Northern Arizona. On the ground, SUU rushed for 166 yards, including 49 by Pete Williams on only eight carries. —
Storylines
R Ammon Olsen throws for 298 yards and a touchdown as Southern Utah beats Northern Arizona, 22-14.
• Olsen's 56-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sharp with 46 seconds left in the half gives SUU a 10-7 lead.
• The Thunderbirds conclude their season with a record of 3-9 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.