Game Notes: UTAH TECH - PDF | SUU - PDF
Utah Tech Football Media Central
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Live TV: ESPN+
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Live Audio: THE FAN SPORTS NETWORK
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FOR STARTERS: • Saturday's installment of the "Battle for the Ax" series vs. Southern Utah will be the fifth NCAA meeting on the gridiron overall between these two long-time JUCO rivals.
• The two sides split two Homecoming games last season, with the Thunderbirds first laying claim to the Ax with a 31-17 (9/24/22) win in Cedar City. Utah Tech avenged that loss and took ownership of the Axe six weeks later thanks to a 48-36 victory (11/5/22) inside Greater Zion Stadium.  
• Saturday's game will also mark the second time SUU has played a football game in St. George in 61 years. 
• Utah Tech snapped a three-game losing streak vs. SUU in that 2022 win. The Blazers are 1-3 all-time vs. the T-Birds in its NCAA era, with the first two games of the renewed series coming when the Trailblazers' were a Division II program (2009 and 2010). 
• Utah Tech closed out its 2023 seven-game road slate (1-6), and lost its fourth-straight overall, in a 30-17 loss at current No. 12/15 Austin Peay last Saturday afternoon in Clarksville, Tenn. 
• Meanwhile Southern Utah is streaking in the other direction as the Thunderbirds pushed their win streak to three-straight with a 45-17 road win at Stephen F. Austin last Saturday.
• Saturday's game will also serve as "Senior Day" as Utah Tech will honor 19 seniors, both players and student support staff, in a pre-game ceremony.

UTAH TECH ON THE AIR: All Utah Tech home games this season are broadcast live on The Fan Sports Network (99.5/95.3 FM in St. George; 93.1 FM/1400 AM in Cedar City; www.thefansportsnetwork.com).
            The "Voice of the Trailblazers" Rod Zundel is in his second season calling the play-by-play action. 
            Utah Tech also debuted a season-long 60-minute comprehensive pregame show, and 30-minute post-game show, both of which air live on the The Fan Sports Network and streamed live on YouTube on the newly created Trailblazer SportsVision (youtube.com/TrailblazerAthletics).
            Along with complete Game Day radio coverage, Zundel hosts the weekly "The Paul Peterson Coaches Show" every Tuesday night on The Fan Sports Network and streamed on Trailblazer Sports Vision at 6 p.m.
            Joining Zundel in the broadcast booth this season is former Trailblazer wide receiver Deven Osborne, who will provide color analysis for all home games. 
 
NEW CONFERENCE FOR 2023: Utah Tech began the 2023 season in a new league as the established football-only partnership between both the Western Athletic and ASUN conference was rebranded into the new United Athletic Conference. 
            The newly christened UAC currently has nine participating institutions: Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton and Utah Tech. In addition, the conference will officially add UTRGV in the fall of 2025 when it begins sponsorship of football.
            The 2023 UAC schedule will be limited to six conference games among its nine members, while the 2024 schedule will feature a full eight-game single round robin. 
 
TOOK ON ALL COMERS: As Utah Tech wraps up its four-year NCAA Division-I FCS transitional period, it is safe to say that the Trailblazers did not shy away from playing anyone, anytime, anywhere. 
            Over their previous 37 games, the Trailblazers faced 15 top-25 teams (2-13) and nine total FCS playoff teams.   
            In fact, Utah Tech's 2021 fall schedule was rated as the second-toughest schedule in the entire country and featured seven 2021 FCS Fall playoff teams, including the 2021 spring national champion (Sam Houston) and runner-up (South Dakota State).
            Utah Tech also took on three FBS programs in New Mexico State (2021 spring in El Paso, Texas), BYU (2022) and Colorado State (2023).
 
AS FOR ANYWHERE: When Utah Tech returned home after its final road trip of its 2023 seven-game road slate last Saturday, it closed a four-year road odyssey that saw the Trailblazers travel more than 43,300 round trip miles on 21 trips during their four-year transition. 
            Utah Tech played road games in 13 different states, seven of which the program had never played in before, including three this season with trips to Missouri, Alabama and last weekend to Tennessee. The Trailblazers also made their first-ever visits to Georgia (Spring 2021), Delaware (Fall 2021) and Iowa (2022) over the four-year span.
            Utah Tech traveled just over 15,000 round trip miles this season, which eclipsed the previous high of just under 13,300 miles set during the 2021 Fall campaign. 
            In their first FCS season in Spring 2021, the Trailblazers covered 7,630 miles for three road dates. Then after the 2021 Fall season, Utah Tech traveled "only" 7,424 miles in 2022, thanks in large part to playing three in-state road games at Weber State, Southern Utah and BYU.
            Of note, Utah Tech's longest trip to play a football game came during the 2021 Fall season, when the Trailblazers traveled 4,697 miles round trip to play at Delaware (10/30/21). 
 
THREE BLAZERS EARN PRESEASON ALL-UAC HONORS: Utah Tech had three players voted onto the UAC's debut preseason all-conference team. 
            Junior DL Syrus Webster was tabbed as the preseason UAC Defensive Player of the Year, while he and junior LB Will Leota were voted to the All-UAC Defensive Team.
            Meanwhile, senior WR Rickie Johnson was the lone Blazer listed on the All-UAC Offensive Team. 
 
TWO BLAZERS LAND ON 2023 AWARD WATCH LISTS: In addition to his UAC preseason honor, Webster has been named to the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list. The junior defensive standout was also named to both the 2023 Phil Steele and Blue Bloods All-United Athletic Conference preseason first teams.
            Meanwhile, freshman WR Beau Sparks has been named to the 2023 Jerry Rice FCS National Freshman of the Year Award watch list.
            Sparks is one of three UAC representatives on the 22-player watch list, along with SUU freshman WR Zach Mitchell and SFA CB Aaron Sears. 
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Not to be outdone, fifth-year RB Ronnie Walker Jr. and redshirt junior WR Keith Davis were both named to the 2023 Comeback of the Year watch list. 
            The updated watch list, which features 49 college football student-athletes from 42 different schools, is sponsored by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization. 
            Utah Tech is one of seven schools to have multiple selections make the updated list, and is one of only five NCAA Division-I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools represented on the list.
 
O CAPTAINS! MY CAPTAINS!: Utah Tech will take the field in 2023 with four team captains leading the charge. As selected by their teammates, this season's captains are senior offensive lineman Kana'i Eldredge, along with Johnson, Leota and Webster.
 
SACK MASTER: Webster became Utah Tech's career sack leader after he collected sacks Nos. 13.5 and 14.5 last Saturday afternoon at Austin Peay. 
            It was Webster's second two-sack game of the season and his third career multi-sack game overall. The junior also tallied a career-best 3.0 sacks in last year's victory over Southern Utah (11/5/22). 
            Webster vaulted past former DE Chad Frank (2007-08), who held the record with 13.5 career sacks for nearly 15 years. 
            Webster enters play this week second in the UAC and t-26th in the FCS with 7.0 sacks this season, three of which were of the strip-sack variety. 
            Webster collected his first strip sack in the NAU win (9/16). Then after he notched his second one at Colorado State (9/30), he picked up one more in the SFA victory (10/7) one week later.
            Webster also moved into solo fourth place in career TFLs (27.0), and needs seven more to pass former UT linebacker Jake Duncan (33.5; 2010-13) for first place on that career list. 
 
SACK GEORGE CITY: Utah Tech racked up season highs in both sacks (5.0) and TFLs (10.0) last Saturday at Austin Peay. 
            While Webster was doing his thing, fellow defensive lineman Brandy Okeke was enjoying a career afternoon in his own right. The sophomore recorded his first two collegiate sacks and finished with a career-highs of nine total tackles and 3.5 TFLs. 
            Meanwhile, junior DL John Sniffen, who earlier last week was awarded a scholarship, registered his first sack of the year as part of a career high five-tackle day. 
            In all, seven different players combined for the 10.0 TFLs last Saturday, which is the highest total since the Blazer defense racked up 13.0 TFLs in last season's Homecoming win over Southern Utah (11/5/22). 
 
GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES: Redshirt junior QB Kobe Tracy became just the third quarterback in the program's NCAA era to throw for three or more touchdowns in three straight games in the loss to Eastern Kentucky back on Oct. 28.
            Tracy joined former UTU signal callers Griff Robles (4-3-4; 2013) and Ben Longshore (3-3-4; 2014) on that elite list.
            Tracy, who saw that streak end after throwing for "only" one TD at Abilene Christian (11/4), has recorded 13 of his 19 touchdown passes this season over his last six games overall. 
            Against EKU, he completed 26-of-49 of his attempts for 247 yards and a career-high tying three TDs against the Colonels. It was his fifth three-TD game of his career and his 12th multi-TD game overall. 
            One week earlier at North Alabama (10/21), Tracy threw for a career-high 397 yards and three scores, which earned him UAC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. That effort followed a 289-yard, three-TD outing in the win over Stephen F. Austin (10/7). 
 
SPEAKING OF STREAKS: Tracy has now thrown a touchdown pass in a career best six-straight games after he threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday at Austin Peay. Tracy also posted career highs in completions (31) and attempts (52) in the game. 
            Tracy is now one of only four QBs in the program's four-year era to throw at least one TD pass in at least six-straight games. 
            Robles is far-and-away the program leader as he threw for at least one touchdown in 18-straight games spanning two seasons - the final eight games in 2012, and the first 10 games in 2013.
 
PASSING FOR HISTORY: Though Robles' consecutive game TD streak may be virtually untouchable, Tracy has now vaulted over him to the top of three career lists, and is on the verge of passing him on two more lists as well.
            Tracy (459) became Utah Tech's career leader in completions vs. EKU (10/28), doing so on a 25-yard pass play to Jaivian Lofton to start the Blazers' final fourth quarter possession. That completion moved him one clear of Robles' (2012-13) previous record of 402. 
            Then two weeks ago at ACU, the junior (5,598 yards) moved past Robles (5,096 yards) to become Utah Tech's career passing yards leader in the second quarter when he hit junior WR Keith Davis over the middle for a 33-yard completion. 
            In addition, Tracy (821) passed Robles (752) on the all-time in career pass attempts list at ACU (11/4), and is currently second behind Robles in both passing touchdowns (44 / 38), and total offense (6,297 / 5,562). 
 
99-4-6 x 2: Tracy also made a little history at North Alabama (10/21) last month when he led the Trailblazer offense on not one, but a school-record two 99-yard touchdown drives. 
            The first one came midway through the second quarter, a 10-play drive that was capped by a Johnson 17-yard TD catch-and-run. 
            Tracy repeated the feat on the opening possession of the second half, as the Trailblazers covered the length of the field in 11  plays, with Walker Jr. picking up the final yard for his team-leading third rushing touchdown of the season. 
            Prior to the UNA game, Utah Tech only had eight total 99-yard touchdown drives spanning the program's near 18-year NCAA era. Seven of those drives came during the D-II years, while the last instance happened in UT's first D-I FCS season in Spring 2021 at home vs. Tarleton (3/21/21).
 
I AM #1: Not only is Johnson No. 1 in your game program, he also became No. 1 in program history in career receptions at Abilene Christian (11/4). The senior wideout caught nine passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, though it was his final grab of the day and the 139th of his career, a 23-yarder over the middle, that put him over the top. 
            Johnson made more history last week at Austin Peay when he tied the program's single game record for receptions with 14 for 126 yards, and in the process became the third receiver in Utah Tech history to record at least 2,000 receiving yards.
            Johnson (2,020 yds) moved into second place in career yards and enters his final collegiate game needing only 138 more yards to pass his former teammate Dejuan Dantzler (2,157 yds; 2016-19) and become the program's career leader.  
            Meanwhile, Johnson's 14 catches at APSU tied him with former All-American Joe Don Duncan, who caught 14 passes for 170 yards just over 10 years ago to the day vs Western Oregon (10/19/13). 
            In addition, Johnson's TD catch at ACU was his fifth of the season, and the 13th of his career (#7 all-time at UTU). The senior needs three more to pull into a tie for fourth place on UT's career list. 
            Johnson is currently second in the UAC in receiving yards (773), yards per game (77.3 ypg) and receptions (66), and t-eighth in TDs (5).
 
BLAZING TRAILS
• Tracy has thrown at least one touchdown pass in nine of UT's 10 games this season with seven multi-touchdown games.
• The lone game that Tracy did not throw a touchdown pass this season was at Missouri State (9/23), though he did collect his second-career rushing touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak in the second quarter ... coincidentally, Tracy's first rushing TD also came against Missouri State, that one a 4-yard scamper, at home in the 2021 fall season finale (11/20/21).
• Junior WR Keith Davis enjoyed his finest performance of the season vs. Eastern Kentucky (10/28), against which he posted season-highs with seven catches for 118 yards, and in the process recorded his first collegiate two-touchdown game. 
• That effort chased a six-catch, 94-yard outing at North Alabama (10/21), while Davis made his first touchdown grab since the 2021 fall season in the SFA win (10/7). 
• Davis, who missed the entire 2022 season due to injury, has recorded at least one reception in 18 of his 20 career games as a Trailblazer, including all 11 games during the 2021 fall season ... the junior enters Saturday's season finale needing only 104 yards to reach 1,000 career receiving yards.  
• Overall, the Trailblazer receiving corps enjoyed a banner night at North Alabama back on Oct. 21, as a quartet of receivers finished with at least 90 yards. 
• Lofton led the way with 105 yards on four catches, including a 42-yarder in the first quarter to complement his 37-yard grab in the second. 
• Lofton made the most of his home debut vs. Montana (9/9), against which he caught five passes for 108 yards, highlighted by a 50-yard reception in the third quarter, and a 23-yard touchdown grab in the fourth.
• Lofton recorded his third TD reception of the year last week at Austin Peay when he hooked up with Tracy for Utah Tech's longest scoring play of the season, a 68-yard catch-and-run on the first play of the second quarter. 
• Lofton, who transferred to Utah Tech after playing three seasons at FBS member Liberty University, where he recorded 10 receptions for 102 and two touchdowns in 10 games for the Flames in 2022.  
• Freshman WR Beau Sparks earned his second UAC Freshman of the Week award of the season after he caught eight of Tracy's passes for 92 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns at North Alabama, including his second TD catch from 19 yards out with just 31 seconds to play.
• Sparks led the team with a career-high 12 catches for 90 yards at ACU (11/4) as he returned to his native Texas for the first time as a Trailblazer ... Sparks' 12 grabs were also tied for the sixth-highest single game total in the program's NCAA era. 
• That effort came after he hauled in nine passes for 53 yards and his team-leading seventh touchdown of the year vs. EKU (10/28). 
• Sparks has hauled in six of his seven touchdown receptions over his last six games, including his first two-TD game last month at Colorado State (9/30), against which he had seven receptions for 67 yards. 
• Sparks quickly made a name for himself in the season opener at Montana State (9/2), against which he set a Utah Tech freshman record with 144 receiving yards on seven catches, highlighted by hauling in a 66-yarder for his first collegiate reception.
• Sparks also became the first freshman to record a 100-yard receiving game in his collegiate debut, and is just the fourth freshman in Utah Tech's NCAA era to post a 100-yard receiving game overall.
• Sparks' 144 receiving yards were also the fourth-most in a season opener in program history, and he became the ninth receiver to go for 100-plus receiving yards in a season opener overall. 
• Sparks earned UAC Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 18, after he hauled in seven passes for 87 yards at NAU (9/16). 
• The freshman, who has caught at least four passes in all 10 games this season, currently leads the UAC in receptions (73) and receptions/game (7.30 rpg), and is and t-fourth in TDs (7) and fifth in yards (699).
• Sophomore WR Daniel Thomason put together his best overall outing as a Trailblazer last week at Austin Peay with career highs of six catches for an even 100 yards and his second collegiate touchdown.
• Thomason's previous career high in both receptions (3) and yards (72) came last season at Northern Iowa (10/15), while he caught his first career TD two weeks later in the road win at Stephen F. Austin (10/29).  
• Walker Jr. led the Blazers with 51 yards on 10 carries at ACU (11/4) ... the fifth-year back is averaging nearly 5.0 ypc over his last three games overall, including a 75-yard night on 10 careers vs. EKU (10/28).  
• Walker Jr. rushed for his team-leading third touchdown at North Alabama (10/21), against which he ran 13 times for 71 yards. 
• For Walker Jr., it was his seventh-career rushing touchdown on his third different team ... Walker Jr. recorded two rushing touchdowns as a freshman at Indiana in 2018, and ran for two more during his junior year at Virginia in 2021. 
• Walker Jr. rushed for a season-high 83 yards on 20 carries at Colorado State (9/30), and tallied 75 yards on 16 carries a week later vs. SFA (10/7). 
• Junior RB Chris Street posted his first collegiate two-touchdown game in the SFA win (10/7) when he found the end zone in both the first and fourth quarters to bookend the Blazers' scoring efforts.
• Street ran for 62 yards on just seven carries, including a team season-long 36 yarder on 3rd and 23 in the fourth quarter, which he chased with an 18-yard sprint to the end zone one play later. 
• Street enjoyed a breakout game at Colorado State (9/30), against which he rushed for 78 yards on just 10 carries (7.8 ypc), highlighted by a 28-yard run that helped lead to the Trailblazers' first points of the game. 
• Street, who ran four times for 39 yards at Austin Peay last Saturday, is averaging just under 6.6 yards/carry over his last seven games overall.
• Not to be outdone, freshman RB Nygel Osborne carried the ball eight times for 66 yards (8.2 ypc) in the SFA win (10/7), which marked the first time in the program's D-I FCS transition that Utah Tech had three backs rush for more than 60 yards in one game. 
• After going just over two full seasons without posting a double-digit tackle game, Webster has racked up 10 or more tackles three times this season. 
• The preseason UAC Defensive Player of the Year collected a career-high 12 total tackles (5 solo) vs. Montana (9/9) ... Webster was also credited with a 0.5 TFL and one QBH.
• Webster then doubled-down and tallied 10 more tackles at NAU (9/16), including a then-career high tying 3.0 TFLs with two sacks.
• Webster tallied 11 more tackles at Colorado State (9/30) and posted a new career-high 3.5 TFLs, including his second strip sack of the year early in the second quarter, which UT turned into points on its very next offensive play.  
• Webster, who is tied for second in the FCS in forced fumbles (4), forced two more fumbles on sacks and finished with seven total tackles on the night. 
• Senior LB Dondi Fuller was named UAC Defensive Player of the Week (10/9) after he racked up a career-high 13 total tackles, including 11 solos stops, along with 1.0 TFL, in Utah Tech's win over SFA (10/7).
• Fuller, who is third in the UAC in total tackles (86; 8.6 tpg), has collected at least five tackles in nine of 10 games this season, including a co-team high 11 stops with 1.0 TFL at UNA (10/21), and followed that up with 10 more vs. EKU (10/28)..
• Fuller also tallied 11 tackles vs. Montana (9/9), and led the UT defense with nine total tackles, including seven solo stops, and a team-high 2.0 TFLs in his Blazer debut at Montana State (9/2).
• Junior LB Will Leota recorded career-high 2.0 TFLs as part of a season-high 11-tackle night at UNA (10/21).
• Leota, who also racked up a game-high 13 tackles last week at Austin Peay, now has seven career double-digit tackle games to his credit. 
• Freshman safety Brevin Hamblin also got into the act with a career-best 11 tackles at UNA (10/21), and collected his first collegiate sack at ACU (11/4).  
• Sophomore LB Jared Fotu recorded his third double-digit tackle game of the year with a game and career-high 13 stops (9 solo) vs. EKU (10/28) ... Fotu also led the team with a career-high 11 tackles at NAU (9/16), and 10 more at Colorado State (9/30) - all of which came in the second half. 
• RS-Sophomore DB Jaxson Smith enjoyed his finest outing of his brief collegiate career as he tallied a career-high seven tackles (5 solo) and his first career TFL. 
• Utah Tech has registered at least one sack in nine-straight games, in 16 of its last 20, and in 29 of 37 games during the program's FCS transition. 
• Senior DL Max Christensen III recorded his first career solo sack in the first quarter vs. EKU (10/28), and it was a big stop as it came on third down and ultimately led to a missed Colonel field goal attempt.
• Christensen III was credited with his first career field goal block at Missouri State (9/23) ... the senior's blocked FG came nearly one-year-to-the-day from the last one, which junior DL Sam Kanongata'a recorded last season at home vs. Abilene Christian (10/1/22).
• Redshirt sophomore DB Jagger Williams tallied a career-high 11 tackles and was credited with a forced fumble in the EKU (10/28) game. 
• Sophomore DL Fasito Otai-Sagapolu collected his first career interception on the first offensive play of the game vs. EKU (10/28).
• Speaking of interceptions, the duo of junior DB Jordan Scott and sophomore corner Devyn Perkins pulled off the INT "Daily Double" at Austin Peay last Saturday as both players notched their first interceptions of the season.
• It was the duo's first interceptions in nearly two full seasons, with Scott's last one coming nearly two years to the day vs. Fort Lewis (11/13/21) ... meanwhile Perkins' first collegiate interception turned into a school record 95-yard pick-6 against Missouri State one week later (11/20/21). 
• Junior punter Andy Day became Utah Tech's career leader in punt yardage (6,651) on his first boot of the night vs. EKU (10/28) ... Day punted four times for 173 yards (43.2), which included a season-long tying 56-yarder in the fourth quarter.
• Day "had a day" at Missouri State (9/23), against which he punted five times for 222 yards (44.4 ypp), highlighted by a 56-yard boot in the first quarter.
• Day also made a potential touchdown-saving tackle after his first punt of the game. 
• Day then closed his afternoon with a 30-yard run on a fake punt in the fourth quarter, which was his first career collegiate rushing attempt ... Day's scamper was the Trailblazers' longest run from scrimmage after five games before Street's 36-yarder vs. SFA (10/7). 
 
TURNING AROUND THE TURNOVER BATTLE: After committing 11 total turnovers (10 INTs) in its first four games of the year, Utah Tech has turned the ball over only five times over its last six games, including back-to-back turnover-less games against both North Alabama (10/21) and EKU (10/28). 
            Meanwhile, the Trailblazer defense, which had only recorded one opponent turnover through its first two games, has forced 15 opponent miscues over the last eight games, highlighted by a season-high five turnovers, including three interceptions, in the road win at NAU back on Sept. 16.
            In fact, the Blazers scored 21 of their 50 points off of those five Lumberjack turnovers, including a Kanongata'a 53-yard second quarter pick-six, and an Amari Duncan 9-yard fumble return for a touchdown three minutes later. 
            Utah Tech's two scores on defense marked the fourth time in program history that the Blazers had scored at least two defensive touchdowns in a game.
            UT last achieved that feat in 2022 with a pair of pick-6s at home vs. Chadron State (56-10; 9/10/22), and returned two more interceptions for touchdowns in a road win at Adams State (52-10; 11/10/18) during the 2018 season. 
            Utah Tech also returned two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns in a road victory at New Mexico Highlands (W, 55-0; 9/21/19) in Paul Peterson's first year as UT head coach, and was the program's final D-II year in 2019. 
 
KICKIN' IT AT THE TOP: Junior PK Connor Brooksby was named UAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 30, for his efforts in the Eastern Kentucky home game.  
            Brooksby hit all three of his field goal attempts, including tying his own school record with a 55-yard boot in the first quarter to open the game's scoring. The junior also connected on field goals of 31 and 23 yards, and drilled all three of his PAT tries. 
            In fact, his 23-yarder was his 14th made field goal of the season, which tied the UT single-season record he previously set last season.  
            Brooksby, who is already Utah Tech's career leader in made field goals (39-of-56), PATs (80-of-82) and points scored (194 pts), now has five career 50-plus yard field goal makes to his credit, including his first 55-yarder he drilled last season in a Homecoming win over Southern Utah (11/5/22). He also hit a 53-yard field goal last Saturday at Austin Peay. 
            Earlier this season, Brooksby was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week (9/18) after he broke the program's single game record with five made field goals in the Trailblazers' road win at Northern Arizona (9/16). 
            In addition, he nailed a 52-yard field goal at Colorado State (9/30), which set an opponent record at CSU's Canvas Stadium. 
 
#AB3FOREVER: Webster was presented with one more honor prior to the start of the 2023 season as he was chosen to wear the No. 3 jersey.
            The awarding of the No. 3 jersey is the third instance in what has become an annual tradition honoring the memory of former Trailblazer football player Abraham Reinhardt, who passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2019. Utah Tech Head Football Coach Paul Peterson noted that the No. 3 jersey would be awarded to a student-athlete who best emulates Reinhardt's leadership, both on and off the field. 
            "When we lost a great young man in Abraham [in 2019], we wanted to honor him and his legacy the best we possibly could," Coach Peterson said. "Abe was a perfect representative of our team culture which focuses on toughness, hard work, trust and accountability.
            "I am excited to award Syrus Webster the number 3 jersey for the 2023 season," Coach Peterson added. "He exemplifies everything that we are trying to build in our program and especially represents the legacy Abraham Reinhardt left behind. Look for him to lead us and make plays all over the field!"
 
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN UTAH "THUNDERBIRDS": SUU enters Saturday night's game with a 5-5 record and have won five of its last seven overall since opening season 0-3.      
            RS-Senior quarterback Justin Miller has thrown for 2,362 yards and co-leads the UAC with 27 touchdowns passes through 10 games. Miller's favorite target, senior WR Isaiah Wooden, who played at then-Dixie State as a freshman in 2018, is currently second in the country at both the FBS and FCS levels in touchdown receptions (13). He also leads the conference in receiving yards (857) and is fifth in receptions (56).
            In the backfield, the running back duo of sophomore Braedon Wissler (556 yds/4 TDs) and junior Targhee Lambson (345 yds/6 TDs) account for 901 of the T-Birds' 1,441 rushing yards this season, and 10 of the team's 14 rushing touchdowns overall.  
        On defense, senior LB Aubrey Nellem leads the T-Birds with 75 total tackles, while senior DT Robert Horsey has racked up a team-best 10.0 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
            As a team, SUU averages 32.6 points and 3931 yards (144.1 rush/249.0 pass) a game this season. However defense is the T-Birds' calling card as they are virtually tied atop the UAC list in total defense (339.8 ypg) and is the conference leader in rushing defense (99.8 ypg). SUU is also second in scoring defense (24.5 ppg) and fourth in passing defense (240.0 ypg).