Coming off a win, the Southern Utah University football team headed down south to face in-state rival Utah Tech University in the Battle for the Axe on Saturday, Oct. 25. SUU dominated thanks to the strong run game of Joshua Dye, winning 28-7.
With the win, SUU has beaten Utah Tech in three-straight games and improves to 3-5 on the year. Utah Tech falls to 1-7 on the year and 0-4 in the United Athletic Conference.
First quarter
The T-Birds came out in attack mode, targeting the Utah Tech defense. SUU put together an 11-play 74-yard drive capped off by Dye with a 20-yard touchdown.
Looking to respond, UTU quarterback Bronson Barben dropped back on the first play and was picked off by SUU’s Mikey Allen. SUU moved the ball down the field again but stalled out, resulting in a 35-yard field goal from Jayden Rogers.
Second quarter
Both defenses slowed things down and found their groove. The T-Birds forced the Trailblazers to punt on their first drive of the second quarter. Southern Utah marched down the field but Fasitootai Sagapolu blocked the field goal, holding the score at 11-0.
After both teams punted on their next drives, Utah Tech had one last opportunity in the half to put up points. Barben mixed in both the pass game and the quarterback run game and put the Trailblazers in a spot to score.
With two seconds left in the half, Ilya Uvaydov lined up for a 49-yard field goal but missed, resulting in a 11-0 score at the half.
Third quarter
Utah Tech opened up on offense in the third and moved the ball down the field. Lined up for a field goal, Uvaydov missed a 39-yard attempt. Southern Utah’s offense responded quickly, attacking the UTU defense.
Dye dominated in the drive and ended it with a 13-yard touchdown, his second of the game and gave SUU the 18-0 lead.
Fourth quarter
In the midst of a long drive, Utah Tech looked to answer back and cut into the deficit. With the ball at the SUU five-yard line, the Trailblazers had four chances to find the endzone.
The SUU defense beared down and on fourth and goal from the two-yard line, backup quarterback Reggie Graff found Eric Olsen but Allen once again made a big play for the T-Birds and stopped Olsen short of the endzone, resulting in a turnover on downs.
On the ensuing drive, Dye broke free on the third play, taking it 92 yards, all the way to the endzone, for his third touchdown of the game.
Utah Tech answered back with a 4-yard touchdown from Barben, cutting the lead to 25-7. SUU responded late with a 22-yard field goal and secured the 28-7 win.
Key statistics
— SUU is 6-1 all-time against Utah Tech
— Dye ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns
— Asa Chatman led all receivers with nine receptions and 63 yards
— Lando Brown lead all defensive players with two sacks
What’s next?
Southern Utah returns home to face Austin Peay State University on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Eccles Coliseum. This game can also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: SUU News Copy Editor
