CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah wrapped up the regular season with the Battle for the Axe. The T-Birds took down the Trailblazers 37-34 in a United Athletic Conference thriller Saturday. The Thunderbirds celebrated the win, hoisting the Axe Trophy at midfield following the game. The win secured a second straight winning season for SUU, with a final record of 7-5 on the season and a 6-2 mark in conference play. Utah Tech falls to 1-11 this year with a 1-7 record against the UAC. 

Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said

1st Quarter:

The Trailblazers elected to receive the opening kick and marched down the field in a 13-play 75-yard drive to take the early lead 7-0. After a three-and-out for the T-Birds, Utah Tech hit a long touchdown pass in the middle of the field to extend the lead to 14-0. The Thunderbirds answered with a long drive of their own, capped off with a two-yard rushing touchdown for Targhee Lambson.

2nd Quarter: 

Utah Tech had the ball right at midfield to begin the second quarter, but the defense held strong, forcing the punt. The Thunderbirds marched nearly the length of the field and put it in the end zone on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Berry to Shane Carr. The extra point sailed wide right making the score 14-13. SUU forced another punt and got a good return from Gabe Nunez to start the drive at the 42-yard line. The Thunderbirds promptly marched down the field, taking the lead on Lambson's second touchdown run of the game. The rush pushed Lambson over the single-season record for yards rushing, set by Zed Robinson in 1991.

3rd Quarter: 

Southern Utah received the ball to start the second half, but a bad bounce on the kickoff allowed the Trailblazers to take the ball on the Thunderbirds' 18-yard line. Two plays into the drive, Trent Whalen forced a fumble that was recovered by George Ramirez on the 14-yard line. Jackson Berry escaped the backfield on a 50-yard rush to put the T-Birds in the red zone. On the next play, he threw a short touchdown pass to Chase Merrell to extend the lead to 28-14. Southern Utah again added to its lead on the next drive with a 25-yard field goal by Jayden Rogers. The Trailblazers returned to the end zone on their next drive to bring the score to 31-21. 

4th Quarter: 

Utah Tech took over on a punt shortly after the start of the fourth quarter and quickly drove down the field, scoring on a touchdown pass down the middle, bringing the game to 31-28. With just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, Utah Tech tied the game up 31-31 with a 53-yard field goal. The T-Birds fought down the field, but a 50-yard field goal attempt was blocked, sending the game to overtime. 

First Overtime:

Southern Utah got the ball first and took the 34-31 lead on a 37-yard field goal. The Trailblazers answered with a 40-yard shot of their own, sending the game to double overtime. 

Second Overtime: 

Utah Tech moved the ball down to the two-yard line, but back-to-back stops by the Thunderbirds gave them the ball back, needing only a field goal. The Thunderbirds got just that, picking up the win with a 36-yard bullet from Jayden Rogers. 

Offensive Leaders

Southern Utah's offense was powered by standout performances on both the ground and through the air. Targhee Lambson delivered a workhorse effort, rushing for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, while quarterback Jackson Berry showcased his versatility with 92 rushing yards, including a 50-yard highlight-reel run, and 194 passing yards with two touchdowns. Shane Carr made the most of his opportunities, hauling in two receptions for 80 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown strike. Chase Merrell added a key six-yard touchdown grab. When the game hung in the balance, kicker Jayden Rogers came through in the clutch, drilling field goals from 37 and 36 yards in overtime to lift the Thunderbirds to victory.

Defensive Leaders

Southern Utah's defense made pivotal plays to the double-overtime victory against Utah Tech, with George Ramirez leading the charge. Ramirez was a force all over the field, tallying a game-high 14 tackles and recovering a critical fumble. Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson and Rylen Sua-Filo disrupted Utah Tech's offense, combining for 2.5 tackles for loss, with Sua-Filo adding a half-sack. Payton Payne brought the heat up front with 1.5 sacks for 14 yards, while Barron Taylor and Raymon Crump locked down the secondary with multiple pass breakups. Mason Stromstad and Trent Whalen added eight and three tackles, respectively, each contributing a quarterback hurry. The Thunderbirds' relentless pressure and timely stops proved decisive in their hard-fought victory.

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will await the FCS Playoff Committee's decision on Sunday morning. The NCAA will release the final bracket for the Division I FCS Playoffs at 10:30 a.m. MT. The selection show can be viewed on ESPNU. If Southern Utah is selected, information about the first-round game will be released as it becomes available. Stay tuned to suutbirds.com and the Southern Utah Athletics pages on social media. 

The Coaches Show

Don't forget to catch the Thunderbird Coaches Show this Monday at 6:00 p.m. MT. You can watch it on YouTube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

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