Game Notes: UTAH TECH - PDF | MSU - PDF
Utah Tech Football Media Central
Coach Anderson's Tuesday PC: TRAILBLAZER SPORTSVISION
Pre-Game/Post-Game Show: TRAILBLAZER SPORTSVISION
Live TV: ESPN+
Live Streaming Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: THE FAN SPORTS NETWORK
Live Stats: vs. MONTANA STATE
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FOR STARTERS: • Utah Tech kicks off its fifth NCAA Division I FCS season on Saturday night when the Trailblazers play host to Big Sky Conference power No. 4/4 Montana State.
• Not only is this season Utah Tech's fifth D-I season, it marks the FIRST season that the Trailblazers are eligible for NCAA postseason play. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors officially approved Utah Tech's move to active Division I status on June 28. With that confirmation, Trailblazer Athletics is now officially eligible to participate in all NCAA postseason championships in its 15 intercollegiate programs.
• The 2024 campaign also marks a new era for Utah Tech as Lance Anderson (Idaho State, 1997) makes his head coaching debut this Saturday night. In his near 30 years on the sidelines, including 16 of those seasons spent at Stanford University, this Saturday night's game marks the first time Anderson will lead a team out onto the gridiron as a head coach.
• Saturday's game is the fourth meeting between the Trailblazers and Bobcats on the gridiron, though this is the first time the two sides will square off in St. George.
• Utah Tech is 0-3 all-time vs. MSU in its NCAA era, with all three previous meetings coming in Bozeman, which included a 63-20 Trailblazer road loss to the then No. 3-ranked Bobcats in the 2023 season opener (9/2/23). Last year's match-up also marked the first time the Trailblazers had faced MSU as a Division I FCS member.
• The previous two games in the series came during Utah Tech's Division II era. Prior to last season, the two sides had not met since the 2009 season when Utah Tech held a 14-13 third quarter lead, only to see the Bobcats score 10-unanswered points. The Blazers scored a late TD with 11 seconds left, but could not recover the ensuing onside kick and fell 23-20 (9/12/09).
• Utah Tech and Montana State met for the first time on the football field nearly 17 years ago when the Bobcats rolled to a 61-7 home victory (9/15/07).
• Utah Tech is a combined 4-29 (3-29 overall vs. AFCA) all-time vs. ranked opponents (FCS and D-II), which includes an 1-11 mark over the previous two seasons.

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 third 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 Lance Anderson Coaches Show" every Tuesday night on The Fan Sports Network and streamed on Trailblazer Sports Vision at 6 p.m. (MT).
Joining Zundel in the broadcast booth by former Trailblazer defensive lineman Max Christensen III, who will provide color analysis for the majority of the games this season. In addition, former Utah Tech running back Ronnie Walker Jr. will also provide color analysis for select games.  

MORE ON SATURDAY'S OPENER: Saturday's opener will mark the fifth-straight year that Utah Tech will have face a ranked opponent. The Trailblazers are 1-3 in their brief time as an FCS program, with that lone win coming In the 2021 Spring opener (and the program's FCS debut game) in a 26-14 road victory at then-No. 22 Tarleton State (Stat Perform) on Feb. 27, 2021. 
Utah Tech is 3-15 all-time in season openers in its NCAA era, and has dropped six of its last eight openers overall. The last season-opening win did come in that road at Tarleton State (2/27/21). 

LOOKING TO CLOSE THE GAP: Utah Tech enters Saturday's game vs. Montana State looking for its second-ever win against a Big Sky Conference opponent. The Trailblazers have faced eight current football playing members of the Big Sky and are a combined 1-14 lifetime against league, 0-6 as a D-II and 1-8 in their short time as a D-I FCS program.
Utah Tech opened the 2023 with three-straight games against Big Sky opponents, and after losing at MSU and at home to eventual BSC champion Montana (L, 13-43; 9/9), the Blazers broke through with a 50-36 road win at Northern Arizona (9/16).
Like last year, Saturday's game vs. MSU will be the first of three match-ups against Big Sky foes for Utah Tech this season. The Blazers will play host to Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 14,  before closing their 2024 non-conference slate with a road date at current No. 17/18 UC Davis on Sept. 21.

LET'S PLAY 12: Utah Tech Athletics announced its full 2024 football schedule on Wednesday, a schedule that features a program NCAA-era high 12 games, six home games and six road dates, and a full eight-game United Athletic Conference (UAC) slate. Add in the bye week (11/9), and the 13-week regular season will be the longest in program history.

TOOK ON ALL COMERS: As Utah Tech wrapped up its four-year NCAA Division-I FCS transitional period last November, it was safe to say that the Trailblazers did not shy away from playing anyone, anytime, anywhere. 
Over their 38 games during those four years, the Trailblazers faced 15 top-25 teams (2-13) and 12 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 squared off against three FBS programs in New Mexico State (2021 spring in El Paso, Texas), BYU (2022) and Colorado State (2023).

AS FOR ANYWHERE: Utah Tech were road warriors during that four-year transitional period, a stretch that saw the Trailblazers travel more than 43,300 round trip miles on 21 trips.
Utah Tech played road games in 13 different states, seven of which the program had never played in before, including three last season with trips to Missouri, Alabama and 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 last 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).

THIS YEAR'S ROAD SLATE: Utah Tech is "only" scheduled to travel 10,518 total miles for its six road dates this season. We say only because the Trailblazers have a pair of short bus trips that bookend their six itineraries.
Utah Tech will open its 2024 road slate next Saturday with a quick trip down Interstate 15 to Las Vegas (252 miles round trip) for a matinee against FBS member UNLV inside Allegiant Stadium. Then on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Blazers will make an even shorter trip up to Cedar City (105 miles round trip) for their annual "Battle For the Ax" showdown at Southern Utah.
In between those two drives will be four flights, the first of which will be to NorCal for a road date at UC Davis (954 miles round trip) on Saturday, Sept. 21. Utah Tech opens October with back-to-back road trips, with the first stop in Florence for a UAC match-up at North Alabama (3,818 miles round trip) on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The Trailblazers get back on bird one week later with a trip to the "Lone Star State" to face Tarleton State in Stephenville (2,162 round trip miles) on Saturday, Oct. 12. Utah Tech will wrap up its out-of-state road schedule with its first-ever trip to the "Bluegrass State" to play at Eastern Kentucky (3,227 round trip miles) on Saturday, Oct. 26. 

ONE TRAILBLAZER LANDS ON PRESEASON ALL-UAC LIST: Utah Tech had only player voted onto the 2024 United Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team. 
Redshirt sophomore long snapper Ryan Kean was the lone Trailblazer representative to crack the list, doing so on special teams.  
Last season, Kean (6-2. 210; Corona, Calif./Centennial HS) earned first team all-UAC and Stats Perform Freshman All-America honors after he was near perfect on every special teams snap as the Trailblazers' primary long snapper. 

2024 POSITION BY POSITION SEASON PREVIEW: 
QUARTERBACK
• Utah Tech opened fall camp with six quarterbacks, including two redshirt juniors who both transferred to Utah Tech from NCAA FBS Power-5 conference schools, along with two returning redshirt freshmen, and two true freshmen. 
• Redshirt junior Deacon Hill has the most experience of the six Trailblazer quarterbacks in camp. The 6-2 passer transferred to Utah Tech from Iowa, where he started the last nine games last season and helped lead the then-nationally ranked Hawkeyes to the Big 10 West Division title and a trip to the Big 10 Championship, along with a bid to the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Hill completed 122-of-251 passing for 1,152 yards and five touchdowns, and ran for two more scores a season ago.
• Redshirt junior Luke MacPhail was part of two bowl game appearances at Syracuse during his four years with the Orange program, for which he saw limited time over the past two seasons. MacPhail was one of the top prep quarterbacks in Massachusetts, and graduated as the NEPSAC league's career leader in passing yards (7,195) and touchdowns (85) in four seasons at Dexter Southfield HS. 
• Redshirt freshman Reggie Graff has been part of the Trailblazer program for the past two seasons, though he has not yet taken any in-game snaps under center. He could be looked upon to give the Trailblazer offense a change of pace in certain situations this upcoming season. 
• Utah Tech also welcomed back redshirt freshman Skyler Cassell, while two true freshmen in 2022 signee Bronson Barben and 2024 signee Ty McCutcheon round out the QB room.

RUNNING BACK
• Utah Tech broke fall camp with seven running backs, including four returnees from a season ago, along with a senior FBS transfer, and two freshmen, all of whom are vying for time in the Blazer back field this season.
• Redshirt junior Chris Street is Utah Tech's top returning rusher from last season, during which he played in all 11 games and ran for 410 yards on 64 carries (6.3 ypc) with two touchdowns. Street rushed for 60 or more yards four times in 2023, highlighted by a season-high 78 yards on 10 carries at Colorado State (9/30). He followed that up a week later with 62 yards on seven carries and two TDs in a win over Stephen F. Austin (10/7), and tallied a UAC season-best 67 yards on nine carries vs. Eastern Kentucky (10/28).
• Sophomore Nygel Osborne saw time in 10 games both in the offensive back field and as a kick returner in his debut season. The sophomore-to-be carried the ball 43 times for 271 yards (6.3 ypc) and two touchdowns, and hauled in seven passes for 42 yards. Osborne scored his first two collegiate touchdowns in the season finale vs. Southern Utah (11/18), against which he rushed for 60 yards on seven carries. He also tallied a career-high 66 yards on eight attempts vs. SFA (10/7), and was credited for 56 all-purpose yards (27 rush/29 ret) at North Alabama (10/21).  
• Redshirt senior Shamar Garrett comes to Utah Tech after spending four years at San Jose State (2020-23), where he played in 29 career games. Garrett racked up 98 career rushing yards and one touchdown, and caught 24 passes for 172 yards and another score, during his time as a Spartan. 
• Redshirt junior Bretton Stone saw time on special teams in five games last season. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he appeared in seven games with one start and carried the ball nine times for 17 yards in limited duty. 
• Sophomore Kona Crowell played in 10 games as a freshman last season, primarily on special teams. Crowell will be looked upon the provide depth as he competes for playing time this upcoming season.  
• Two talented freshman will also vie for playing time this season, including Asa Chatman and 'Ala'i Williams. 

WIDE RECEIVER
• Utah Tech's wide receiver room includes 19 pass catchers, 18 of them underclassmen, who all bring different dynamics and skill sets that are being molded into a potentially explosive pass game. Nine of the wide outs return from last season's team, five of whom caught at least one pass a year ago, along with four true redshirts. Utah Tech also brought in three FBS transfers, as well as two junior college transfers, and five freshmen, all of whom competed for playing for playing time during Fall Camp.
• Junior Daniel Thomason is Utah Tech's top returning receiver from last season. Thomas started in four of 10 games played and hauled in 15 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. He scored that TD as part of his first 100-yard game (6 rec./100 yds) on the road at Austin Peay (11/11). 
• The lone senior in the room is Damani Wilks, who returns for one more go-around in a Trailblazer uniform. The four-year letter winner saw time in all 11 games last season, during which he caught nine passes for 73 yards. 
• Meanwhile, RS-sophomore Aaron Holloway (10 G/1 rec./8 yds), and RS-freshmen Kale Wakley (4 G/1 rec./10 yds) and Bryce Parker (1 G/1 rec./6 yds) will look to build upon their numbers from a season ago. Wakley and Parker each utilized their redshirt year last year, as did returning junior AJ Simpson-Battle, freshmen Taliq Brown, Julian Lundy and Ben Pupplo.  
• Utah Tech landed three FBS transfers to bolster its receiving corps in UConn wideout DaJon Harrison, along with Chernet Estes, who was part of the Colorado program for two seasons. Utah Tech also welcomed redshirt freshman Jake Hill, who transferred from BYU after he graduated from nearby Snow Canyon HS in 2023.  
• Harrison, who started his collegiate career at Texas (2020-21), played in 15 games over his two seasons at UConn, including all 12 games in the 2022 campaign, during which he tallied six receptions for 18 yards and returned three punts for 25 yards. 
• Estes played in six games over his two seasons with the Buffaloes, primarily on special teams.  
• The Trailblazers added a pair of junior college transfers in sophomore Elijah Simley-Flores (6-1; 170) and junior Tru Tanner (6-0; 177). Simley-Flores enjoyed a solid freshman season at Mt. San Jacinto (CA) College in 2023, where his caught 52 passes for 746 yards and seven touchdowns en route to all conference honors. 
• Tanner made 22 receptions for 381 yards and three scores as a sophomore at Golden West (CA) CC last year.
• Five freshmen wide outs will look to make a name for themselves in their first year in as Trailblazers, including Trent Call and Jace Gunter, while Charles Clinton, Demarion Jenkins and Josh Rillos. 

TIGHT END
• After going two full seasons without a single completion to a tight end, the new-look Trailblazer offense features a cadre of talented tight ends in camp who stand poised to buck that trend and break out in 2024.
• Senior Jay McEuen is back for his fifth year with the program. The senior, who did not play in Utah Tech's COVID spring season in 2021, saw time in seven games as a freshman that following fall, during which he caught three passes for 24 yards. The next two seasons he played in 21 games, but was primarily used on special teams. 
• Like McEuen, redshirt sophomore Eric Olsen saw the majority of his playing time in first two seasons as a Trailblazer on special teams, including all 11 games last year during his first full season. Olsen also played in four of the first five games as a true freshman in 2022 before sitting out the rest of the year as a redshirt. Olsen, a converted wide receiver, will look to use his speed, his agility, and his skills as a blocker to play a key role in [Offensive Coordinator] Greg Stevens' offense.
• Redshirt junior Eni Falayi wasted little time asserting himself as a possible top choice on the depth chart, thanks in part to a very strong spring camp, which he chased with an even better start this fall. Falayi moved out west after spending the past three seasons at UMass, where he appeared in 19 games combined during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns and recorded three career receptions for 26 yards.
• Redshirt senior Alec Burton is another FBS transfer who has stepped in and made an immediate impact, both in his pass catching and blocking, as well as his veteran leadership. Burton is wrapping up his collegiate career at Utah Tech after spending six seasons at Ohio U, during which he appeared in 33 career games and hauled in 16 receptions for 118 yards. He posted career highs in receptions (7) and yards (54) during the 2021 campaign. 

OFFENSIVE LINE
• Utah Tech has 18 players in a relatively young and inexperienced o-line room, with only one senior and a handful of returnees along with a slew of newcomers. 
• Senior left tackle Bayo Kannike is far-and-away the most experienced lineman in the room. Kannike has started in every game over the last two seasons at either tackle or at guard, and has played in 34 career games (27 starts) in his four years as a Trailblazer.
• Redshirt sophomore Devin Teahon, who is behind Kannike on the depth chart at left tackle, sat out the last season as a redshirt after transferring from the University of Mary, where he played in one game in 2022. 
• Redshirt junior Chase Richards is tabbed as the opening day starter at left guard. Richards redshirted last season after transferring from Allan Hancock College where he was a second-team all-SCFA Northern League selection as a sophomore in 2022.
• Freshman Trey Price has also put himself into the mix at left guard. Price was a two-time all-region and all-state honoree out of Utah's Viewmont HS.
• Redshirt junior Nolan Reynolds has seen time in 19 games over his first three seasons at Utah Tech, and after a strong fall camp, he has moved his way up the depth chart to be the opening day choice at center. 
• Redshirt freshman PJ Enosa gained a lot of practice experience during his redshirt year in 2023. He is a player who could possibly see time in the interior at both center and guard.
• Redshirt junior Bryce Crowley stands atop the depth chart at right guard after a solid fall camp. Crowley as seen time in 17 total games over the past two seasons at Utah Tech.
• Redshirt freshman Rambo Mageo, transferred to Utah Tech after two years at San Diego State, is a smart and physical tackle who can play on either side and even in the interior if needed. 
• Fellow redshirt freshman Logan Hicks will also be in the mix at either tackle position. 

DEFENSIVE LINE
• Utah Tech's defensive line room features a healthy mix of returning talent, experienced transfers, and three true freshmen all looking to make a splash.
• Senior defensive end John Sniffen racked up 21 total tackles along with 2.5 TFLs and one sack in his debut season last year. Sniffen played in all 11 games at Utah Tech last year, which was highlighted by a five-tackle, one-sack performance at Austin Peay (11/11).
• Junior Cody Carlson, who is behind Sniffen at one end position, was a force on the d-line in two seasons at Butte (CA) CC, for which he tallied 41 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs and four sacks in 17 career games. He recorded 26 of those tackles and six TFLs (2.0 sacks) during his sophomore campaign last year.
• Redshirt junior Laytan Tanuvasa joins Sniffen as one of the more seasoned veterans on the Blazers' line. Tanuvasa played in all 11 games with two starts last season, during which he recorded 10 total tackles, and he has played in 24 career games over three active seasons. He enjoyed a solid season opener with three tackles at Montana State (9/2).
• Redshirt senior TJ Talamoni-Marcks saw time in the first three games in 2023 and collected tackles against both Montana State (9/2) and Montana (9/9). He also saw time in all 11 games in 2022 after transferring from Santa Rosa (CA) JC.
• Redshirt senior Micah Vuki has been part of the Trailblazer program for five seasons, unfortunately he has not appeared in any games as of yet due to various injuries over his collegiate career. However that is about to change as he has parlayed a great spring camp with a strong fall camp into a shot at the other end position.
• Sophomore Uili Angilau enjoyed a standout freshman campaign last season at Snow College, where he racked up 25 total tackles, including 3.5 TFLs, along with two QB hurries and two fumble recoveries in 11 games for the Badgers.
• Senior Tuiits Kanosh, along with redshirt junior Fasito'Otai Sagapolu, along with redshirt freshmen Demetrius Fatongiatau (6-1; 280) and Mubarak Odubiyi (6-1; 245) are also back from last season's squad.
• In addition, junior Nicholls State transfer Dane Whalen will be a fixture on the Blazers' defensive front in the coming weeks. Whalen, along with fellow newcomers in JUCO transfer Tomasi Fakatoumafi, and freshmen Noa Yamauchi, Zayden Cook and Brandon Jackson will all look to make an impact this season. 

LINEBACKERS
• Utah Tech's linebacker corps as a whole looks to have the most experience on that side of the football, with a combination of returnees and seasoned transfers, all of whom bring a wealth of knowledge that could pay dividends this upcoming season.
• The Trailblazers go nine-deep at outside linebacker, with eight of those backers possessing at least one year of college football experience. Meanwhile the inside backer position boasts eight in that group, including seven who have a year or more of college play or practice under their collective belts.
• On the outside, senior BYU transfer Fisher Jackson brings the most experience to the room after spending four years as a Cougar. Jackson enjoyed a standout year in 2022, during which he played in 12 games and racked up 20 total tackles with one TFL.
• Redshirt freshman Will Alovao is listed as the starter as the other OLB position. Alovao has played in six games over two seasons at Utah Tech, including four games last year (three tackles), while Wall was a full practice participant during his redshirt year in 2023.
• Utah Tech will also rely on a pair of redshirt junior newcomers in San Jose State transfer Elijah Wood and Fresno State transfer Amari Pouncy, who both bring a wealth of FBS experience to the LB room.
• Junior Jared Fotu is the anchor at the position after his standout performance in 2023. Fotu played in all 11 games with six starts and finished second on the defense overall in both total tackles (82) and solo tackles (39). The junior racked up 10 or more tackles three times, highlighted by a career-high 13 with nine solo stops vs. Eastern Kentucky (10/28). 
• Junior Memphis transfer Spencer Rich will line up next to Fotu, while senior Malakai Fakahua, who moved over from running back, and sophomore Jarron Polu will also see a healthy amount of time this upcoming season. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS
• The DB room runs 20 players deep, all of whom are underclassmen. That said, eight of the juniors in the position group all saw significant playing last season.
• Sophomore Scooter Jackson is back after a solid debut season and is listed at the starter at one corner. Jackson started five games at corner and wound up with 18 tackles and four PBUs, which ranked him second on the defense overall.
• Redshirt junior Jayden Sheridan is the projected starter at the other corner. Sheridan started in six of his 11 games played at corner and registered 29 tackles with one sack and a pair of PBUs.
• Redshirt junior Amari Duncan collected 23 tackles along with an interception and fumble return for a touchdown (at NAU 9/16) in 10 games played in 2023. He, along with redshirt freshman Mason Obray, will also see time at corner as the duo is listed as the primary back-ups at each spot. 
• Redshirt junior Jagger Williams has one safety spot locked down after a stellar sophomore campaign. Williams finished second among 2024 returnees in total tackles with 61, to go with two PBUs and two forced fumbles in 10 starts at safety in 2023.
• Sophomore Brevin Hamblin will look to continue a strong start to his collegiate career at the other safety position. Hamblin finished seventh on the defense with 43 total tackles (19 solo) to go with one sack and 2.5 TFLs overall in 11 games (2 starts) at safety.
• Redshirt juniors Micah Gardner and Gabriel Valenzuela will provide immediate depth at the safety spots. Gardner got one start in 11 games played last year and finished with seven tackles and one QB hurry.
• Meanwhile Valenzuela, who also saw time at corner last year, tallied six tackles and an interception in 11 games with one start. 

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Senior punter Andy Day is back for his final season as the program's all-time leader in punt yardage (6,745). Day also ranks second all-time in punts (161) and third in program history in yards per punt (41.89 ypp).
• Day enjoyed another solid season in 2023, during which he punted 42 times for 1,725 yards (41.07 ypp), with six kicks over 50 yards, including a pair of 56-yard boots, and 10 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. 
• Redshirt sophomore placekicker Ilya Uvaydov (5-8; 178) returns after sitting out the entire 2023 season. During his freshman campaign in 2022, he played in nine games primarily as a kickoff specialist and booted 23 kicks for 2,047 total yards (60.2 ypk) with 14 touch backs.
• Redshirt sophomore long snapper Ryan Kean, who was the Blazers' lone representative on the 2024 UAC preseason all-conference team, will be charged with sending the ball back to the specialists. Kean earned first team all-UAC and Stats Perform Freshman All-America honors last season as Utah Tech's primary long snapper.
• Headlining the Trailblazers' return game will be Garrett, who earned freshman All-America honors at San Jose State as after he finished the 2020 season eighth in the FBS subdivision in kick-off return average (31.0 ypr), which was the second-highest single season average in SJSU program history.
• In addition, receivers Parker and Tanner, along with Street and Osborne (6-0; 200), all could be major factors returning kicks for the Blazers this season. 

#AB3FOREVER: Just ahead of the start to the 2024 campaign Utah Tech announced that junior running back Chris Street was awarded the No. 3 jersey for the upcoming season.
The awarding of the No. 3 jersey is the fifth 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. 
First year head coach Lance Anderson noted that he recently took some time to get familiar with the story of Reinhardt, both as a student-athlete and as a young man. He quickly realized the importance and the impact this tradition has on the Trailblazer football program, a tradition he is very eager to continue.   
"Once I heard the story about Abe Reinhardt, the kind of person he was, the kind of football player he was, and his tragic passing, I was very touched and felt like this is something we need to continue," said Coach Anderson. "I felt it was very important that our team understands who he was and what this jersey truly represents.
"I have been impressed by Chris since I got here," Coach Anderson added. "His outgoing personality, his positive outlook, and I really feel like he also represents all the other traits that we talked about what this jersey represents. Toughness, hard work, accountability, trust, leadership – Chris demonstrates all those qualities, and I think he'll do a great job wearing that jersey and representing Abe."

ABOUT THE MONTANA STATE "BOBCATS": No. 4/4 Montana State makes its first-ever trip to St. George riding high after posting a thrilling 35-31 come-from-behind "Week 0" road victory at FBS member New Mexico last Saturday in Albuquerque. The Bobcats scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of touchdowns in the final four-plus minutes, to erase a 31-14 deficit after three quarters complete. 
Senior QB Tommy Mellott (6-0; 208) threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 30 more yards and another score, in the comeback win.
Redshirt freshman Adam Jones (6-1; 200) paced the Bobcat run game with 167 yards on 17 carries, with 93 of those yards coming on a long TD run with 4:35 remaining. Meanwhile, sophomore running back Scottre Humphrey (5-11; 210) racked up 140 yards of his own and scored the game-winning TD with 10 seconds to play.
Montana State's defense forced one Lobo turnover and held UNM to 324 total yards, including just 118 yards after halftime. Senior LB McCade O'Reilly (6-0; 220) paced the Bobcat defense with 10 total tackles and 1.5 TFLs. 

NEXT UP FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech opens its six-game road slate with a quick trip down I-15 to Las Vegas to take on 2023 Mountain West Conference runner-up and Guaranteed Rate Bowl game participant UNLV next Saturday afternoon. Kickoff inside Allegiant Stadium is set for 1 p.m. (MT).