Cooper ensures homecoming win with 4 TD passes as Southern Utah puts away North Dakota 35-10

Southern Utah puts away North Dakota 35-10

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Cade Cooper threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns and Southern Utah got its first interception return for a touchdown since 2004 as the Thunderbirds rolled to a 35-10 win against North Dakota on Saturday.

Cooper hooked up with Tysson Poots twice on TD passes of 7 and 9 yards. The quarterback also found Austin Minefee and Fesi Sitake for scores of 6 and 10 yards. Erron Vonner iced the victory with a 12-yard interception return for a score to give Southern Utah a 35-3 edge in the fourth quarter.

North Dakota got its lone touchdown on an 8-yard run by Brent Goska with 1:46 to play.

Southern Utah’s homecoming win gave the teams identical records of 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Great West Conference.

Sitake caught seven passes for 102 yards, while Minefee logged 109 total yards, with 61 yards on eight catches, and 44 yards on 13 carries.