CEDAR CITY, UT - The Southern Utah Football team defended Eccles Coliseum Saturday night in the Homecoming matchup with Utah Tech defeating the Trailblazers 31-17. Nearly nine thousand fans from both sides piled into the stadium to watch the two teams battle it out, and they would not leave disappointed. Though the Thunderbirds held the lead most of the game, Utah Tech stayed within striking distance throughout. 

Southern Utah's strong defense started the game on the field and quickly made their presence felt as they stopped the Trailblazers on a fourth and one, two minutes into the first period. The T-Birds would use the momentum to march seventy-six yards in just seven plays to get the scoring started. Isaiah Wooden caught a forty-four yard pass in the drive and Elijah Burns punched the ball in from one yard out while Micah Petit added the extra point to put Southern Utah ahead. 

Utah Tech took over on their own twenty-five and began a sustained drive of their own. The Trailblazers ate up nearly four minutes of clock as they traveled seventy-five yards in nine plays to even the score. Quarterback Kobe Tracy found various receivers taking short gains all the way down the field. The drive culminated in an eighteen yard touchdown reception by Rickie Johnson. 

The second quarter started with a booming punt by Jake Gerardi that sailed out of bounds at the Utah Tech ten yard line pinning the trailblazers deep in their own territory. Despite a sack by Francis Bemiy that really put the Trailblazers' backs to the goal line they were able to move the ball back into plus territory. The drive stalled though as the T-birds came up with their second fourth down stop of the night on their own thirty-five yard line. 

Southern Utah's offense wasted no time in scoring again as Justin Miller hit Isaiah Wooden in stride. Wooden raced sixty-five yards down the field for the go ahead score. Wooden said of the connection with Miller "It all started in the summer... Justin and I have been working hard to be on the same page and it is really starting to click so this is just an extension of that." 

Utah Tech would start the next drive with an impressive forty-seven yard passing play to Quali Conley. However, the drive would stall at the SUU ten yard line and the Trailblazers would settle for a field goal to make the score fourteen to ten. After a ten play, forty-six yard drive by the T-Birds, Micah Petit hit a forty-seven yard field goal of his own to put Southern Utah back up seven. 

Utah Tech would go three and out giving the ball back to the Thunderbirds on their own eighteen yard line. The Southern Utah offense would then move the ball eighty-two yards on the ensuing drive including four third down and long conversions. The drive would be capped off when Miller found Ethan Bolingbroke for a three yard touchdown pass. 

Both teams would turn to the running game in the third period and despite sustained drives of over four minutes each team would be forced to punt. The Trailblazers found the endzone late in the third period as Kobe Tracy found Joey Hobert on a fifteen yard pass to make the score twenty-four to seventeen. 

Despite a quick three and out to begin the final period the Southern Utah defense would protect the lead. Roderick Ward intercepted a pass in the Trailblazers first drive of the fourth quarter to give the ball back to the T-Birds. The two teams traded short drives but each would punt before the T-birds took over with decent field position barely in their own territory at the forty yard line. Southern Utah moved the ball efficiently in the drive using seven plays to extend the lead to fourteen points. The touchdown came on a nine yard rush by Bobby Cole into the endzone. 

Roderick Ward added his second interception in the quarter as the Trailblazer offense tried to force a pass late in the game. Even though the T-Birds missed a field goal they were able to hang on in the fourth quarter for the win. Coach Fitzgerald said of the win "This is just us scratching the surface of our potential... We are going to continue to get one percent better everyday and today was a step in that direction." 

Justin Miller finished the game having completed seventy-eight percent of his passes for three-hundred and fifty-two yards and two touchdowns. Wooden caught five passes for one-hundred and twenty-nine yards and a touchdown. The Thunderbird defense was led by Kohner Cullimore who had eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Roderick Ward added six tackles of his own plus two key interceptions and a pair of important pass break-ups. 

Utah Tech will look to bounce back next week at home against fellow WAC team Abilene Christian University. Southern Utah will be back on the road next week for a tough road game against Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. 

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