The Southern Utah vs. Utah Tech football rivalry may be new on the stage, but it delivered a classic on Saturday afternoon as the T-birds topped the Trailblazers in 2OT, 37-34.

While the ‘Battle for the Axe’ is a renewal of an old junior college rivalry decades ago, the reborn version is beginning to leave its mark since Utah Tech’s move to Division I in 2020.

As the two teams prepared for battle in Cedar City on Saturday afternoon, it appeared on paper that the game could be a one-sided affair in favor of the home team.

Southern Utah came into the game with a 6-5 record, needing a win to clinch a second-straight winning season and a second-place finish in the United Athletic Conference. A win for the T-birds even meant the possibility – albeit a slim one – of an FCS playoff appearance.

If SUU came out on top – playoff berth or not – it would be one of the best seasons in recent memory. The season included a win over FBS program UTEP, the first for the T-birds in over a decade. They also secured a win at FCS No. 24 Central Arkansas during the year, the first win over a ranked opponent since the 2017 Big Sky championship season. Seven wins would also be the most since 2017, and back-to-back winning seasons hadn’t happened since 2016-17.

Utah Tech, on the other hand, was in a tough spot.

The Trailblazers didn’t have anything to play for other than pride, as a season with new head coach Lance Anderson and a number of new faces did not translate to success on the field.

UTU entered the game with a 1-10 mark (1-6 UAC), although the one victory did come against then-No. 9 Central Arkansas.

But even while one team had something to play for and the other did not, it was clear from the start that this renewed rivalry meant a lot to everyone involved, showing there are many more classics on the way.

Utah Tech starts fast

The Trailblazers received the opening kickoff on a windy afternoon, methodically driving down the field. UTU would find the end zone on its opening possession at the 8:36 mark of the opening period. Quarterback Reggie Graff connected with Eni Falayi to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive.

Finding themselves down early for not the first time this season, the T-birds looked to respond. Instead, SUU went three-and-out and was forced to punt it away.

Utah Tech capitalized on the momentum from its first drive, needing just three plays to add to its lead. On the third play of the drive, Graff again connected with Falayi, this time for an 81-yard score. The PAT was successful, putting the visitors ahead 14-0 with 5:26 on the clock and stunning the home crowd.

Thunderbirds storm back

Down 14-0, Southern Utah began to find its footing in the game. Following the Utah Tech touchdown, the T-birds marched 70 yards in six plays, capped off by a 2-yard Targhee Lambson rushing touchdown to make it 14-7 near the end of the opening quarter. A Jackson Berry 40-yard pass to Shane Carr set up the score.

The Trailblazers were stopped again on their next possession, and SUU would start the drive on its own 8-yard line with just under two minutes gone by in the second quarter.

Despite the difficult starting field position, the Thunderbirds would drive 92 yards in just over five minutes to cut into the UTU lead. On the drive’s final play, Berry found Carr for another 40-yard pass play – this time a touchdown throw – to make it 14-13. SUU would miss the PAT, keeping Utah Tech in front.

UTU looked to keep its lead intact on its next possession, and they picked up a first down early in the drive. However, the offense stalled from there as an SUU sack and a pair of offensive penalties forced a punt.

After Gabe Nunez returned the punt 18 yards to the 42-yard line, the T-birds began their next drive looking to seize the lead for the first time. Aided by a third-down conversion and a 22-yard Lambson run, SUU would take the lead for the first time with 2:24 left in the half. Lambson would run the ball in for a 2-yard score, and Carr would convert the two-point attempt to put the home team up 21-14, which held until halftime.

SUU’s run continues

The second half began with one mistake after another, as the T-birds fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Trailblazers recovered. But just two plays later, UTU fumbled the ball, and SUU recovered it.

Southern Utah capitalized on Utah Tech’s mistake, and five plays and 86 yards later, the home team pushed its lead even further. Berry would take off for a 50-yard run to put the T-birds in the red zone, before connecting with Chase Merrell for a 6-yard scoring toss to make it 28-14.

SUU’s defense forced a Trailblazers three-and-out on the next possession, and the T-birds’ offense took over, looking to score even more points.

Southern Utah was able to get into the red zone thanks to the ground game, but they would ultimately be forced to settle for a field goal. The 25-yard kick by Jayden Rogers was good with 5:16 remaining in the third, giving the Thunderbirds 31 unanswered points and a 17-point lead (31-14).

Trailblazers keep fighting

With the game seemingly turning into a blowout, the Trailblazers instead picked themselves up and fought back.

Utah Tech recorded a big 62-yard pitch-and-catch from Graff to running back Bretton Stone on its next drive, but it appeared the drive would end with a field goal attempt.

The Trailblazers lined up for an attempt, but the SUU defense was called for offsides, giving UTU the ball at the 3-yard line and a first down. Utah Tech was still unable to get the ball into the end zone, but another penalty, this time unsportsmanlike conduct on SUU, kept the Trailblazers’ drive alive yet again. Utah Tech was able to secure a touchdown and cut the deficit to 31-21 with 48 seconds left in quarter three.

UTU’s defense forced a punt on the next possession, giving the ball back to its offense as it looked to cut further into the deficit.

A few big plays got the ball moving downfield, but the drive would stall and the Trailblazers would have to settle for a field goal attempt. Or so it appeared.

Once again, an SUU penalty bailed out Utah Tech, and they took advantage of it. Graff would find Falayi for an 11-yard score just a few plays later, making it a 31-28 game with 9:05 remaining.

The next three possessions resulted in punts, and the Trailblazers would get the ball back with a chance to potentially tie or win the game with 1:49 to play. Just 45 seconds later, Utah Tech lined up for a potential game-tying field goal. Ilya Uvaydov stepped up and nailed the 51-yard field goal, knotting the score at 31.

SUU was able to line up for a potential winning field goal with just seconds remaining, but the attempt was blocked, sending the game to overtime.

First overtime

Southern Utah would begin the first extra period on offense and would convert a 37-yard field goal to take a 34-31 lead.

The Trailblazers would answer with a 40-yard field goal of their own, tying the game at 34 and sending it to a second overtime.

Second overtime

Utah Tech began the second overtime with possession, and thanks to a trick play, moved the ball down to the 2-yard line. The Trailblazers nearly took the lead with a potential touchdown, but a Graff pass was just behind an open Jay McEuen. UTU went for it on fourth down, but the pass attempt was batted away in the end zone.

Needing only a field goal to win, the T-birds would line up for a 36-yard attempt. The kick from Jayden Rogers was good, giving SUU a thrilling 37-34 rivalry victory and securing both the Axe trophy and a winning season.

Coach Fitzgerald & Seniors’ postgame

Lambson leaves his mark

In what was his final game in a Thunderbird jersey, running back Targhee Lambson made sure to leave his mark on the program.

Lambson ended the season amassing 1,922 rushing yards on 320 carries, adding 23 touchdowns. The 23 touchdowns tied the SUU all-time single-season record, while his rushing yards total set a new school record, breaking the mark set by Zed Robinson in 1991.

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Spencer Rodak
Spencer has always been passionate about sports, growing up playing and following various sports. He ran cross country in high school and began his journey in sports media in 2017 as a journalism intern at The Spectrum & Daily News. Since then, his work has been published in numerous outlets including Deseret News, Standard-Examiner, St. George News, Southern Utah Now, SUU's Thunderground, SB Nation's RSL Soapbox, FanSided's Venom Strikes, fan-insider.com, The Spurs Web, and Iron County Today. Spencer is the founder of Stadium Sportzz and both the Sportzz with Spencer and Mountain States Sports Report podcasts. His experience extends to public address announcing, having first served as the PA announcer for Southern Utah University soccer in 2017 and as a high school sports PA announcer. He is now entering his fourth year as a PA announcer at Utah Tech University, where he also occasionally takes on the role of in-game emcee. Spencer's versatility also extends to radio, where at The Fan Sports Network he produced high school and Utah Tech athletics broadcasts, hosted the weekly Region 9 Football Tailgate Show, and appeared daily on The Drive. Now working towards completing his Bachelor's degree in Media Studies, Spencer was recently named the Sports Director at Utah Tech University's 91.3 The Blaze for the 2024-25 year. He will host a weekly show and serve as a play-by-play broadcaster, continuing his dedication to sports journalism and broadcasting. When he isn’t talking, writing about, or watching sports, Spencer enjoys traveling and spending time with his amazing wife.

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