CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds scored their second ranked win of the season, taking down No. 22 Austin Peay 33-17 on Saturday Night. The win brings the T-Birds to 4-5 on the season with a 3-2 record against the UAC. The Governors drop to 5-4 with a 3-3 mark in conference play. 

The Thunderbirds controlled the game on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Governors 371–282 in total offense while forcing two turnovers and recording four sacks. SUU's ground game once again led the charge, racking up 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by Joshua Dye's 155 yards on 34 carries. Quarterback Bronson Barron efficiently guided the offense, completing 15 of 23 passes for 184 yards to keep drives alive and sustain momentum. Defensively, the Thunderbirds were outstanding, holding Austin Peay to just 17 points, its lowest total against an FCS opponent this season, despite the Governors entering the game averaging over 36 points per contest. The front seven wreaked havoc all night, with Lando Brown and Henry Harper combining for three sacks and two forced fumbles, while Sebastian Adamski led the team with nine tackles and a key fumble recovery. From the opening drive to the final whistle, Southern Utah dictated the pace, dominated the trenches, and showcased one of its most complete performances of the season.

Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said

1st Quarter:

The Thunderbirds opened the game with the ball and marched 75 yards down the field to score in just under four minutes. The drive was capped with a one-yard touchdown run by Braedon Wissler. The T-Birds' defense forced a quick three-and-out, and after a long drive, Southern Utah settled for a 27-yard field goal to make the score 10-0. 

2nd Quarter: 

The Governors had the ball in Thunderbirds' territory to begin the quarter and finished their drive on a two-yard fade to the back corner of the endzone to make the score 10-7 with just under 13 minutes left in the half. The Thunderbirds added a touchdown by Joshua Dye to extend the lead to 17-7. Austin Peay answered with a 48-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 with just over two minutes left in the second quarter. The Thunderbirds drove down the field in the two-minute offense, and Daniel King hit a career-long 52-yard field goal, the second longest in school history, as the time expired to make the halftime score 20-10. 

3rd Quarter: 

The two teams traded drives that ended in a punt to start the second half, but Josh Dunn forced a fumble that Sebastian Adamski picked up to give the T-Birds great field position on their second drive. Jayden Rogers added a field goal from 40 yards out to extend the SUU lead to 23-10. The Governors answered back with a long drive and a touchdown to make the score 17-23. 

4th Quarter: 

King made his second field goal of the game from 43 yards out to extend the T-Birds' lead to 26-17 with just under nine minutes to go in the game. Southern Utah's Defense would come up with one more forced fumble on the ensuing drive, and the T-Birds added on with a late touchdown by Talmage Brown to bring the final score to 33-17. 

Offensive Leaders

​​Southern Utah's offense once again found its rhythm on the ground, powering the Thunderbirds to victory behind another standout performance from Joshua Dye. The FCS rushing touchdowns leader carried the ball 34 times for 155 yards and a touchdown, consistently moving the chains and controlling the tempo. Talmage Brown added a late touchdown run of 17 yards, while Braedon Wissler contributed another score to cap off the ground dominance. Through the air, quarterback Bronson Barron went 15-of-23 for 184 yards, efficiently spreading the ball to his playmakers. Gabe Nunez led the receiving corps with six catches for 70 yards, and Shane Carr added four receptions for a team-high 77 yards, including a 32-yard grab to highlight the passing attack.

Defensive Leaders

Southern Utah's defense delivered another strong, all-around performance to seal the win, with multiple standouts leading the charge. Linebacker Sebastian Adamski anchored the unit, tallying a team-high nine total tackles, including half a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Mason Stromstad followed closely with eight tackles, while Josh Dunn added seven stops and forced a key fumble to help shift momentum. In the trenches, Lando Brown was a disruptive force with four tackles, including two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with three quarterback hurries that kept pressure on the opposing offense. Henry Harper also made his presence felt with 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble as the Thunderbird front seven consistently controlled the line of scrimmage.

Next Up

Southern Utah will be on the road next weekend in Richmond, Kentucky. The T-Birds continue the UAC schedule with a game against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, November 8. The game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+. Live stats can be found at suutbirds.com.

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