CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds opened Eccles Coliseum with a rivalry matchup on Saturday. Southern Utah took down the Weber State Wildcats 47-42 to improve to 1-1 on the season. Although both teams are in the Big Sky Conference, the Beehive Bowl was scheduled as a non-conference game before the T-Birds rejoined the Big Sky.
The Thunderbirds and Wildcats traded punches throughout a high-scoring Beehive Bowl, with Southern Utah ultimately coming out on top. SUU struck first on an 11-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Will Burns, and after Weber State built a 29-20 halftime lead, the Thunderbirds came out firing in the second half. Running back Floyd Chalk opened the half with a 39-yard touchdown run, while Burns connected with tight end Joshua Acord and wide receiver Devin Downing for touchdowns to give SUU a 41-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After Weber State regained the lead early in the fourth, the Thunderbirds answered with a 75-yard, nine-play drive that took 4:40 off the clock and ended with Chalk's 22-yard touchdown run. SUU's defense then held off the Wildcats' final push to secure the 47-42 victory.
Game Breakdown:
1st Quarter:
The Wildcats started with the ball, but Southern Utah's defense forced a punt after a short drive. The Thunderbirds capitalized on the possession, marching down the field and scoring on a seven-yard scamper by quarterback Will Burns. After the teams traded punts, Weber State drove 95 yards in 14 plays to even the score at 7-7.
2nd Quarter:
Southern Utah had the ball to begin the second quarter but quickly had to punt. The punt was blocked and scooped up for a Weber State touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 15-7 lead after a successful fake extra point. The T-Birds answered immediately with a 75-yard touchdown run up the middle. The T-Birds were unsuccessful on the two-point attempt, however, making the score 13-15. Weber State took its next drive 75 yards in 11 plays to extend the lead to 22-13. Southern Utah came back with a 75-yard drive of its own, scoring on a 4-yard rush by Floyd Chalk. Weber State ran a two-minute drill to perfection, scoring on a 16-yard pass with just 20 seconds remaining in the half.
3rd Quarter:
Southern Utah had the ball to open the half and promptly took it down the field, scoring on a 39-yard run by Chalk. The ensuing drive by Weber State ended when Christian Sampson forced a fumble that Tim Christian recovered at the WSU 40-yard line. The T-Birds scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Will Burns to Joshua Acord. The Wildcats promptly took the lead back on a five-play, 75-yard drive. The Thunderbirds finished their next drive with a beautiful 16-yard pass from Burns to Devin Downing, who grabbed his first touchdown reception of the season and made the score 41-36. With just over a minute to play in the third, the Wildcats attempted a fake punt deep in their own territory, but the defense was up to the task, stopping the runner short and giving the T-Birds back the ball with a short field.
4th Quarter:
The Wildcats intercepted one of the first plays from scrimmage and returned it deep into the Thunderbirds' territory, scoring on a 24-yard pass the next play. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 42-41 in favor of the Wildcats. Southern Utah took the lead back on a 22-yard rush up the middle by Chalk. The two-point conversion attempt was batted down at the line of scrimmage, making the score 47-42. Weber State got the ball back with just under two minutes to play. Parker Vance secured his second interception of the season to seal the game for the Thunderbirds.
Offensive Leaders
The Thunderbirds were led offensively by Floyd Chalk, who turned in a dominant performance on the ground with 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. Chalk averaged 7.6 yards per carry and broke off a long of 39 yards. Will Burns also provided a major spark in the rushing attack, finishing with 148 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, including a 75-yard run. Burns added 146 yards and two touchdowns through the air, completing 10 of 18 passes.
Through the air, Joshua Acord led the Thunderbirds with five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown, while running back Camury Reid added two catches for 25 yards and 30 rushing yards. David Spjut hauled in a 44-yard reception, the longest completion of the game, while Devin Downing added a 16-yard touchdown reception.
Defensive Leaders
Defensively, the Thunderbirds were led by a trio of players who finished with six tackles apiece. Mason Stromstad recorded six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, while Parker Vance added six solo tackles, an interception and three pass breakups. Christian Sampson also totaled six tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, while forcing a fumble.
Myles Amey added four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while also forcing a fumble. Jayden Wells contributed three tackles and a team-best two tackles for loss. Aiden Hall recorded two tackles, including a five-yard sack, while Seni Tuiaki posted five tackles, one tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry.
Next Up
Southern Utah will hit the road next week to take on its lone FBS opponent of the season at Colorado State. The game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. MT at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. The game will be available on CBS Sports Network, and live stats are available on the schedule page at suutbirds.com.
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