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ST. GEORGE — The 2023 rivalry game between Southern Utah and Utah Tech, known as the Battle for the Axe, ended with a 24-16 victory for the Thunderbirds.
Southern Utah ended its season with a 6-5 overall record, while Utah Tech has finished 2-9.
"Anytime you beat your rivals when they're 45 miles down the road, it's pretty sweet," said Thunderbirds head coach DeLane Fitzgerald. "We're gonna savor this one for a while."
It was apparent early that Utah Tech changed their play style for its in-state competition. Prior to Saturday night's game, the Trailblazers had just 29% of their yards per game come on the ground. But facing the best blitzing defense in the United Athletic Conference, Utah Tech opted to shift gears and depend on the running game more than they have all year. Their 178 rushing yards gave them their highest total of the season.
Southern Utah also stayed on the ground, pushing themselves to 274 rushing yards to go along with their 165 yards passing.
The Trailblazers received to start the game, and put themselves on the board on the first drive. After six consecutive running plays and one successful pass, Utah Tech was in the red zone. It took just one more play for running back Nygel Osborne to find the end zone, and after Southern Utah blocked Connor Brooksby's PAT attempt, the Trailblazers had an early 6-0 lead.
The first quarter was scoreless after the initial score, with Utah Tech forcing a three-and-out on the Thunderbirds' first drive and punting on their next possession. Southern Utah drained six minutes off the game clock on their second drive, but it ended with a missed field goal from redshirt freshman Tyler Graham.
After a quick march down the field to the Southern Utah 30-yard line, the Trailblazers lost possession after Brooksby's field goal attempt was blocked by Julian Sanderlin. This set up the Thunderbirds' first touchdown drive of the night. Targhee Lambson contributed 51 consecutive rushing yards to put Southern Utah on the 5-yard line. Quarterback Justin Miller scored on foot after being forced to abandon the planned passing play, and the Thunderbirds went up 7-6.
Utah Tech put the ball right back into Southern Utah's hands when quarterback Kobe Tracy took to the air and threw an interception to a diving Tre Gola-Callard, illustrating why the Trailblazers changed their usual play style to groundwork for the game. Southern Utah took the field already in Utah Tech territory, and it took just three minutes before Miller connected with Isaiah Wooden to extend the Thunderbirds lead.
Brooksby made up for his missed field goal by putting one through the uprights before the end of the half, making it a 14-9 game after the first 30 minutes of play.
Utah Tech struck first again in the second half to find the lead again. It was Osborne finding the end zone once more, putting the Trailblazers up by 2 points.
Just like Brooksby, Graham was granted an opportunity to redeem himself and gave his team the lead with a 31-yard field goal.
A lengthy drive by Utah Tech took them all the way to the Southern Utah 3-yard line before Tracy fumbled on a quarterback keeper, letting Robert Horsey recover the ball for the Thunderbirds. Lambson, again, led the Southern Utah charge, this time breaking free for a 62-yard run to set up a rushing touchdown by fellow running back Braedon Wissler.
After a scoreless fourth quarter, the Thunderbirds came away with the victory and the coveted axe trophy.
Miller's performance in his final career game cemented his presence in the Southern Utah record book. He set the program record for the most career passing touchdowns earlier in the season, and now holds the most career yards for any Thunderbirds player.
The win gave Fitzgerald his first winning season at Southern Utah and the program's first since 2017.
"We're hot as a three-dollar pistol right now," Fitzgerald said of his team's four-game winning streak to end the season. "We haven't lost a game in 28 straight days. It's pretty special."
