CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds faced a battle of two halves against No. 18 West Georgia Saturday night, falling in a heartbreaker 27-24. The Thunderbirds drop to 1-4 on the season with a 0-1 mark in conference play. The Wolves improve to 5-0 this year with a 2-0 record against the UAC.
The Thunderbirds' offense started slow for the second time this season, only picking up a field goal in the first half before exploding in the back end of the game. The T-Birds threw for 206 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 89 yards on 30 attempts. The Southern Utah defense posted one of its best games of the season, limiting the West Georgia offense, which averaged 34 points per game, to 348 total yards and 27 points.
Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said
1st Quarter:
The T-Birds and Wolves traded early three-and-out drives, but Southern Utah broke the tie with a 44-yard field goal by Jayden Rogers almost five minutes into the game. On its next drive, West Georgia evened the score with a field goal of its own.
2nd Quarter:
The Wolves had the ball to start the second quarter at the T-Birds' one-yard line and immediately pushed the ball in to bring the score to 10-3. With three minutes to go in the half, the Wolves scored again on a 12-yard pass to extend the lead to 17-3.
3rd Quarter:
The Wolves received the ball to start the second half and promptly moved it down the field to extend their lead to 24-3. The Thunderbirds offense came out ready to play and quickly drove 76 yards to cut the lead to two scores, 24-10. After the Defense forced a quick punt, the Thunderbirds struck on a long pass down the middle by Bronson Barron to Mark Bails for a 60-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 24-17.
4th Quarter:
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Thunderbirds tied the game up at 24-24 on a 23-yard touchdown run by Joshua Dye for his second score of the night. Both teams had a chance to grab the lead with field goals, but neither kicker was able to put it through the uprights, leaving the Thunderbirds with the ball and just under two minutes to play. But the drive stalled, and UWG took over and drove down the field to give themselves the 27-24 win on a 46-yard field goal.
Offensive Leaders
The Thunderbirds' offense put together a balanced attack against their opponent, highlighted by strong performances through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Bronson Barron led the passing game, completing 15-of-26 throws for 186 yards and a touchdown, including a 60-yard strike to Mark Bails Jr., who finished with a team-high 93 receiving yards and the lone receiving touchdown. Gabe Nunez remains a steady presence with six receptions for 50 yards, while Shane Carr added explosive yardage with 46 yards on just two catches. On the ground, Joshua Dye carried the load, rushing 16 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns, including a 23-yard burst. Backup quarterback Will Burns also made the most of his limited action, going a perfect 2-for-2 passing for 20 yards while adding a 16-yard run. Together, the group accounted for 295 total yards of offense and three touchdowns.
Defensive Leaders
The Thunderbird defense turned in a gritty performance with several standouts leading the way. Sebastian Adamski anchored the unit with a game-high 11 total tackles, while Blake Stillwell was right behind him, recording 10 stops. Josh Dunn added nine tackles and a quarterback hurry, and Kameron Rocha chipped in eight tackles along with a pressure of his own. In the trenches, Lando Brown was disruptive all night, finishing with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a quarterback hurry. Mason Stromstad also made his presence felt with five tackles, a tackle for loss, and two quarterback hurries, while Tim Christian contributed a key seven-yard tackle for loss. The defensive front consistently created pressure, with players like Joe Tongamoa and Seni Tuiaki adding to the backfield penetration. In coverage, Mikey Allen broke up two passes, helping slow the opponent's passing attack. Altogether, the Thunderbirds' defense showed depth and energy, with multiple players stepping up to deliver impact plays across the field.
Next Up
Southern Utah will be on the road next week at Tarleton State for game two of UAC play. The game will kick off on Saturday, October 4, at 5:00 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on suutbirds.com.
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, find it on your favorite podcast sites like 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.
