Last Time Out:

Utah Tech with another BIG WIN making that a 3 game winning streak for the Trailblazers! Senior Day at Greater Zion Stadium closed out their 2022 home slate with a 34-28 victory over Tarleton State.

This moved the Trailblazers to 4-6 overall and will finish no worse than third place in the Western Athletic Conference at 2-2.

After Tarleton (5-5/1-3 WAC) scored a touchdown on its opening possession, Utah Tech responded with a five play, 75-yard drive, which culminated on a 19-yard Victor Gabalis-to-Joey Hobert scoring strike to knot the game at 7-7 with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

That completion made a little history as Hobert became the program’s single season receiving yards leader and pulled him into a tie, albeit briefly at time, atop UT’s season touchdown receptions list.

Hobert’s 2nd touchdown of the day was a historic one as he passed for UT All-American Joe Don Duncan atop the program’s single-season touchdown reception list, his 14th of the year.

In all, Hobert etched his name atop the UT record books in four statistical categories in the afternoon. Not only did the sophomore become the program’s single season leader in TDs (14) and receiving yards (1,158), he also broke UT season records for catches (79) and scoring (84 points).

In addition, Hobert moved into second place on UT’s single season all-purpose yards list (1,343 yds), while his 14 touchdowns put him sixth and 10th on UT’s career receiving and total TDs lists, respectively.

Quali Conley  became the first running back to record a 1,000-yard season (1,034 yds) in the program’s NCAA era and posted the program’s first 200-yard rushing game in its brief Division I transition as he ran for a career-high 215 yards on 25 carries.

The sophomore’s 215 yards are the fourth-most in a single game in the program’s NCAA era as he became the sixth different back in program history to record at least 200 rushing yards in one game.

Conley (1,697 yds), who also scored his eighth rushing TD of the season (t-3rd on UT’s single season list) in the third quarter, also moved to with three yards of becoming the third back in program history to rush for 1,700 career yards. Additionally, the sophomore’s touchdown was his 13th-career rushing TD (#4 on UT’s career list) and 15 career scores overall (t-8th on UT’s career list).

Sophomore linebacker Will Leota led the Blazer defensive effort with 12 total tackles, while freshman Jayden Sheridan collected a career-high eight total stops.  Nash finished with five solo tackles on the day, while his 95-yard interception return was Utah Tech’s third pick six of the season.

Utah Tech’s defense also tallied six sacks and nine tackles-for-loss in the win, including two TFLs for senior DL Dylan Hendrickson (13 career sacks), who moved to within one sack of becoming UT’s career sacks leader, while sophomore DL Sam Kanongata’a racked up two sacks.

Utah Tech will close the 2022 season next Saturday with a road date at FBS member and in-state foe BYU. Kick off inside LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo is set for 1:30 p.m.

Utah Tech

The Trailblazers continue their 3 game winning streak heading up to Provo to face the Cougars this Saturday at LaVelle Edwards Stadium

Other Blazers to watch:

Utah Tech sophomore running back Quali Conley and senior defensive back Darrius Nash both earned Western Athletic Conference football weekly honors on Monday for their collective performances in the Trailblazers’ 34-28 home victory over Tarleton State last Saturday. The awards marked the third-straight week that the Trailblazer program has garnered at least the conference’s offensive and defensive weekly awards.

BYU Cougars

The Cougars are coming off of a BYE this past weekend after defeating Boise State the weekend before 31-28. BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua reeled in a go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaren Hall in the closing minutes of the game to give BYU a 31-28 win over Boise State at Albertsons Stadium. Nacua was Hall’s go-to man throughout the game. The junior from Provo, Utah hauled-in 14 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns to lead BYU in receptions and receiving yards. Nacua led a team that overcame a few miscues throughout the game but battled back for a win to snap a four-game losing streak.

BYU’s returns to LaVell Edwards Stadium for its final home game of the season versus FCS opponent Utah Tech at 1:30 PM

Matchup History: This will be the 1st  meeting between the Trailblazers and Cougars

Prediction: Utah Tech 24, BYU 41