Utah Tech fell to 1-7 on the season after dropping its Homecoming "Battle for the Ax" showdown against in-state rival Southern Utah, 28-7, on Saturday night at Greater Zion Stadium. 
 
Utah Tech (0-3 UAC) trailed 11-0 at the halftime break, though all 11 of the Thunderbirds' points came on its first two first quarter possessions.
 
Southern Utah (3-5, 2-2 UAC) received the opening kick off and rattled off an 11-play, 74-yard drive that took more than six minutes off the clock, which culminated with a 20-yard Joshua Dye touchdown scamper.
 
The T-Birds then converted a 2-point conversion attempt to jump out to a quick 8-0 advantage.
 
Unfortunately, the Trailblazers first time with the football on offense did not last long as redshirt freshman quarterback Bronson Barben was intercepted on the first play from scrimmage by SUU defender Mikey Allen at the Blazer 45. 
 
Utah Tech's defense quickly went back on the field and managed to limit SUU to a 35-yard Jayden Rogers field goal attempt. Rogers kick wound up double-doinking off the left upright and crossbar before bounding through to make it a two-possession game.
 
In fact, the Trailblazer defense held SUU in check from that point forward in the half, limiting the Thunderbirds to only 72 second-quarter yards and no points, thanks in part by a blocked field goal by Fasitootai Sagapolu midway through the frame.
 
Meanwhile the Blazer offense was held to just 107 total yards in the first two quarters, 51 of which came on the unit's final drive of the half. 
 
After forcing a T-Bird punt, Utah Tech marched 51 yards in 11 plays over the final 4:20 of the second quarter. However the drive stalled at the SUU 31 and Utah Tech settled for a 49-yard Ilya Uvaydov field goal attempt, which hit the upright at the halftime horn and left the Trailblazers scoreless at the intermission.
 
Utah Tech got off to a fast start offensively to begin the second half, picking up 33 yards on four-straight run plays, including an 18-yard Chris Street scamper that got his side across midfield and into SUU territory.
 
Barben then completed a 13-yard pass to Shamar Garrett for a first down at the T-Bird 29. But again Utah Tech saw its drive come up short of the end zone, and without points, as a 39-yard Uvaydov kick hit the right upright. 
 
SUU capitalized on the Blazers' empty possession with a Dye 13-yard touchdown on its ensuing possession to extend to an 18-0 advantage.
 
Utah Tech looked to be in prime position to answer and get back into the game on its next offensive series. 
 
The combination of Barben and Reggie Graff guided the offense 70 yards in 12 plays over the final five-plus minutes of the third, and opening two-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, to set the Blazers up with first and goal at the SUU 5 following a 10-yard Graff-to-Kaden Eggett completion.
 
After two run attempts and an incompletion, Utah Tech faced 4^th and 2. Graff took the snap, rolled left and tossed a pass to Eric Olsen, who was forced out of bounds by Allen short of the end zone at the 1-yard line with 12:26 remaining in the fourth quarter. 
 
Southern Utah took over on downs and put the game away three plays later when Dye busted loose for a 92-yard touchdown scamper that staked his side to a commanding 25-0 lead with 11:29 to play. 
 
Utah Tech managed to stave off a possible shutout when Barben scored on a 4-yard keeper, which capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with 7:08 to go. 
 
The Trailblazers then tried an unsuccessful onside kick, and SUU went on to tack on a late field goal on its way to taking the Battle Ax back up Interstate-15 to Cedar City. 

Utah Tech racked up 366 yards of total offense in the loss, with 244 of those coming through the air. Barben threw for 233 yards on 27-for-41 passing. 
 
On defense, safety Brevin Czosnyka tallied team and season-high eight tackles, while Moon Ashby registered seven tackles. 
 
SUU gained 238 of its 394 total yards on the ground, with Dye accounting for 204 of those yards on 24 carries to go with his three rushing touchdowns. 
 
Utah Tech wraps up its three-game homestand next Saturday afternoon, Nov. 1, when the Trailblazers welcome North Alabama to Greater Zion Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (MT).