Dixie State forces 5 turnovers to defeat Tarleton St. 26-14

Updated Feb. 27, 2021 7:13 p.m. ET

Associated Press

STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Kody Wilstead passed for 350 yards and a touchdown, ran for another and Dixie State forced five turnovers upending Tarleton State 26-14 in a clash of Division I newcomers on Saturday.

Dixie State (1-0) had never beaten a D-I opponent in football in nine tries while competing as a Division II team.

The aptly named Trailblazers never trailed against Tarleton State (1-2), forging ahead 10-0 after barely more than a quarter. After the Texans cut the lead to 10-7 with an Ryheem Skinner 1-yard score, Wilstead found Chase Hess for 43 yards, pushing the lead back to 10 points at halftime.

Wilstead rushed for another score and James Baird added a 48-yard field goal.

Tarleton scored after halftime on a

Skinner rushed for 197 yards on 31 carries to lead the Texans. Two quarterbacks were a combined 14 of 36 for 128 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Hess, a tight end, led all receivers with 98 yards on five catches.

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