Justin Miller capped his record-setting career with a pair of touchdowns to lead SUU to a victory over Utah Tech in the 2023 season finale on Saturday night.
The Trailblazers got on the board first with a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Nygel Osborne (missed PAT), taking just over four minutes to jump ahead 6-0.
It took the rest of the opening frame and nearly half of the second before either team scored more points.
SUU quarterback Justin Miller found the endzone on a 7-yard run to put the visitors in front 7-6 with just under eight minutes to play in the half.
Our guy @justinmiller_12 with the rushing TD!
⚡️: 7
🦬: 6 pic.twitter.com/3BBcBmbDno— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 19, 2023
The T-birds added another touchdown just over four minutes later, when Miller this time threw a 3-yard score to Isaiah Wooden to make the score 14-6.
That is the 14th TD for @wooden_isaiah
⚡️: 14
🦬: 7 pic.twitter.com/ePObHhpeO4— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 19, 2023
The Trailblazers knocked a field goal through before the end of the half to cut the deficit to 14-9 heading to the halftime break.
Second half
Utah Tech carried its late momentum from the first half into the second, needing just over a minute on its opening possession to score a touchdown and retake the lead. Nygel Osborne once again found the endzone thanks to a 6-yard run to put the home team ahead 16-14 at the 11:52 mark.
The lead did not last long, however, as Southern Utah needed just five plays to go 61 yards to convert a 31-yard field goal. Tyler Graham sent the kick through the uprights to put the T-birds ahead 17-16 with just over 10 minutes to go in the quarter.
Plenty of 🦵 by Tyler Graham to grab the lead back.
⚡️: 17
🦬: 16 pic.twitter.com/SvTLqKxEey— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 19, 2023
SUU scored the final touchdown for either side in the closing moments of the third quarter. Braedon Wissler marched into the endzone on a 26-yard rushing score to put the T-birds ahead 24-16.
The Ground Game is 💪🏻💪🏻 today @Wiss_Mode with a big TD
⚡️: 24
🦬: 16 pic.twitter.com/appWc5VgIZ— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 19, 2023
Neither team scored any points in the final quarter, as the Southern Utah defense stopped any Utah Tech attempt at a comeback to secure the rivalry game victory.
The T-birds ground game was the highlight in the win, led by the duo of Targhee Lambson and Braedeon Wissler. Lambson ran for 138 yards on 14 carries, while Wissler added 130 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Winning season
With a victory in the season finale, SUU football improved its final record to 6-5 that included a 4-2 mark in United Athletic Conference action.
The winning record in head coach DeLane Fitzgerald’s second season is the first for the program since the 2017 campaign.
The T-birds end the season on a four-game winning streak and in a second-place tie in the UAC standings.
