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Cedar City • Cornerback Jarmaine Doubs' 98-yard interception return with less than a minute to play lifted Southern Utah to a 45-31 win against Portland State on Saturday night in the Thunderbirds' homecoming game.
Trailing 38-31, Vikings' quarterback Alex Kuresa led an eight-play, 81-yard drive to Southern Utah's 4-yard line before the interception, which was Kuresa's fourth of the game.
Kuresa threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns and added 18 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Southern Utah built a 31-10 halftime lead before Portland State attempted a second-half rally and cut the deficit to seven.
For the Thunderbirds, Patrick Tyler threw for 249 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and Malik Brown had 15 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown.
Southern Utah, the Big Sky defending champions improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.