Dixie State wins 19th annual Dixie Rotary Bowl

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Dixie State wins 19th annual Dixie Rotary Bowl

(ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Dec. 4, 2004) For the first time in its history, the 2004 Dixie Rotary Bowl was played on an artificial, synthetic turf surface. There was nothing artificial, however, about Dixie State freshman running back JT Diederichs in this bowl game. The Rebels used Diederichs' 187 yards on the ground, a solid defensive performance, and a little luck to knock off the No. 4 ranked Raiders of Grand Rapids Community College (Mich.) 27-20 and capture the school's thirteenth Dixie Rotary Bowl championship in 18 tries.

After sluggish starts by both teams, Grand Rapids took advantage of several first-half Rebel turnovers to snatch the game's first points early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by fullback David Keck.

Midway through the second quarter, the Rebels jumped aboard the JT Diederichs Express and never got off. With six minutes remaining in the first half, Diederichs scored on a 12-yard run to give Dixie State its first points.

A quick 73-yard kickoff return by Reggie Smith and an ensuing field goal later, the Raiders went back on top 10-6. Grand Rapids then capitalized on the Rebels' fourth turnover of the half and added a second field goal just before halftime to take a 13-6 lead into the locker room.

No. 7 ranked Dixie State got its first real taste of momentum early in the second half on a broken play that included a muffed snap and a line drive punt that happened to skim off a Grand Rapids player. The Rebels regained possession and never looked back from there. After a couple of solid gains by Diederichs, tight end Ryan Larsen ran the ball up the gut, tying the score 13-13 after the ensuing extra point.

A minute and a half later, the Rebels parleyed their good fortune into an interception and 45-yard return by defensive back Cornelius Dillard and ultimately another touchdown by Diederichs, putting the Rebels up 20-13 midway through the third quarter.

Sparked by another interception early in the fourth quarter, back-up quarterback Derek McAllister tacked on the Rebels' fourth rushing touchdown of the game, seemingly putting the game out of reach 27-13.

The Raiders fought back, however, and scored on a four-yard pass to Keck for his second touchdown of the game. With two minutes remaining, Grand Rapids took over possession in Dixie territory and threatened to tie the game after forcing a fumble, but was unable to capitalize.

Dixie State finished the game with 234 yards rushing and 52 yards passing. Diederichs, who garnered MVP honors, was a one-man wrecking crew, logging 117 yards rushing alone in the second half. Dixie head coach Greg Croshaw praised Diederichs following the game, but he was also quick to credit his defense.

"I think (JT) did a great job," Croshaw said. "I think I might have voted for a defensive guy because I thought our defense kept us in the game early. But JT is a horse - and we've ridden him. He really has come forward in the last half of the season and had five or six 200-yard type games. He certainly was the guy who got our offense going, who kept the clock running, and enabled us to play what I consider Dixie College type football."

Grand Rapids was led by wide receiver Reggie Smith, who finished with 121 yards on kick returns, 42 yards rushing, 21 yards receiving, and MVP honors as well. Wide receiver Carlos Robinson added 109 yards on three receptions. Quarterback Jeremy Landstra threw for 184 yards on the day with one touchdown.

The Rebels cap the season with a record of 10-2. Grand Rapids finishes with a 9-2 record. For more information about today's bowl game, visit www.rotarybowl.com.

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