CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah kicked off the season at home against Idaho State on Saturday night. The Thunderbirds surged to a 46-24 victory to start the season 1-0. The Bengals dropped to 0-2 for the season. 

The Thundebirds held the Bangals' potent offense down, allowing just 23 rushing yards. Idaho State still moved the ball well through the air, but the T-Birds offense was relentless in the win, totaling 563 yards of total offense. For the first time since the 2023 season, the Thunderbirds had two players rush for over 100 yards with Will Burns(107) and Joshua Dye (180).

Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said

 1st quarter:

The Bengals opened with the ball and a huge return, but the Thunderbirds' defense held strong near midfield. After taking over on downs on their own 48, Southern Utah quickly secured the first touchdown of the season, scoring on a 22-yard pass from Bronson Barron to Gabe Nunez. Nunez then secured a pass on the two-point conversion. The Thunderbirds struck again with three minutes left in the first quarter when Barron found Mark Bails in the corner of the endzone from 13 yards out. 

2nd quarter: 

Southern Utah started off the second quarter with a huge interception by Logalima Lesa. Only a few plays later, Joshua Dye exploded for 32 32-yard touchdown run to make the score 22-0. The Bengals got on the board with just over ten minutes left in the half on a 19-yard pass to make the score 22-7. Idaho State scored the very next play on a fumble recovered by Young, who returned it 15 yards, making the score 22-14. The Thunderbirds bounced back quickly, driving nearly the length of the field before settling for a 20-yard field goal by Jayden Rogers. 

3rd quarter: 

The Thunderbirds received the ball to start the second half, and after driving down the field, Barron connected with Niko Alailefaleula from four yards out, extending the lead to 32-14. Following a booming punt by Idaho State, redshirt sophomore quarterback Will Burns came into the game and exploded for a 72-yard rushing touchdown. The Bengals answered back with a 75-yard drive of their own, capped with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brett Spencer.

4th quarter: 

Idaho State started the fourth quarter with the ball deep in the Thunderbirds' territory, but were forced to settle for a field goal from 40 yards out, bringing the score to 39-24. The Thunderbirds weren't finished yet, however, scoring again on a 19-yard rush by Dye. 

Offensive Leaders

Southern Utah's offense lit up Eccles Coliseum in the 46-24 win over Idaho State, powered by standout performances across the board. Quarterback Bronson Barron was nearly flawless through the air, completing 19-of-25 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, the Thunderbirds dominated, led by Joshua Dye, who carried the ball 28 times for 180 yards and two scores, while Will Burns added an explosive element with 107 yards on just five carries, including a 72-yard touchdown burst. The receiving corps spread the wealth, with Shane Carr hauling in six passes for 77 yards, Gabe Nunez finding the end zone as part of his five-catch, 68-yard night, and Mark Bails chipping in a touchdown grab of his own. Together, the balanced attack overwhelmed the Bengals and set the tone for Southern Utah's home opener.

Defensive Leaders

The Thunderbird defense set the tone for the season, with several standouts making key plays across the field. Mason Stromstad anchored the linebackers with a team-high six tackles, including a tackle for loss, while linebacker Josh Dunn and cornerback Jakobi Spence each added five stops, with Spence breaking up two passes in coverage. In the secondary, Mikey Allen and Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner disrupted the Bengals' passing game, combining for three pass breakups. Also adding to the stops, Barron Taylor and Sebastian Adamski each tallied five tackles. The defensive line made its presence felt, as Joe Tongamoa and Henry Harper contributed tackles for loss. Logalima Lesa came up with a momentum-shifting interception in the first quarter. Together, the balanced effort from all three levels of the defense helped SUU hold Idaho State in check and secure the home-opening win. 

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will hit the road next Saturday, September 5, 2025, when they take on the Torreros in San Diego. That game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. MT and can be streamed on ESPN+. 

The Thunderbird Coaches Show

Don't forget to check out the Thunderbird Coaches Show at our new time every Tuesday at noon MT. You can watch it on YouTube by clicking here or on WatchSports.com. If you are more of an audio person, you can find it on your favorite podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Tickets

Season tickets and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com

Follow Us

For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page.

Donate

Consider donating today to support Thunderbird athletics. To learn more about how you can help, click here.