Utah Tech University Athletics

Despite a season-high 572 yards of offense, coupled with a school record-tying four total touchdowns from running back Ace Chatman, Utah Tech could not overcome a potent Southern Utah run game as the Trailblazers dropped a 46-33 decision in the annual "Battle For the Ax" rivalry game on Saturday night inside Greater Zion Stadium.
 
Bolstered by the first start of the season by fifth-year quarterback Deacon Hill, the Trailblazers (0-6/0-3 Big Sky) scored on their first four possessions of the opening half.
 
Utah Tech drew first blood with a 29-yard Max Shepherd field goal just over four minutes gone by in the first quarter.
 
SUU (2-4/1-2) quickly answered on its first time with the football, in fact on its first offensive play, when quarterback Will Burns on the read option scampered 75 yards to the end zone for the game's first touchdown.
 
In fact, the two sides battled back-and-forth trading scores for much of the first half. 
 
The Trailblazers clapped back with their first TD nearly three minutes later on a Chatman 2-yard run. Utah Tech went 75 yards in just five plays, 54 of which came on a perfect strike from Hill to receiver Mike Williams.
 
Chatman would collect his second touchdown of the night two minutes into the second quarter on a 9-yard catch and run from Hill.
 
However the Thunderbirds countered Chatman's first score with a 12-yard pass from Burns to Mark Bails Jr. Then after Chatman's second touchdown, SUU's Ran Sawyer returned the ensuing kick off 99 yards to the end zone to spot the T-Birds with a 22-17 lead with 13 minutes to play until halftime.
 
Utah Tech drew within 22-20 at the 9:40 mark of the second quarter thanks to another short Shepherd field goal after the Blazers were turned away on third down at the SUU 2-yard line.
 
Burns then gave his side a 29-20 halftime lead with his second touchdown run of the game from 11 yards out with 34 seconds left in the frame.
 
SUU would tack on a field goal for the only points of the third quarter, only to see Utah Tech answer with a Chatman 4-yard run up the middle on the first play of the fourth period, which cut the deficit to 32-27.
 
Unfortunately that would be as close as the Blazers would get as SUU scored touchdowns on each of its next two possessions to open up a commanding 46-27 lead with 8:28 to play.
 
Utah Tech managed to get one of those touchdowns back thanks to Chatman's final score of the night, which came on an 8-yard toss back pass from Bronson Barben with 2:44 remaining. 
 
That scoring play would be the last time the Trailblazers would touch the football offensively as SUU recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out to clock to retain the Battle Ax and take it back to Cedar City. 
 
Utah Tech finished with a season-high 181 yards on the ground, led by Chatman's 101 yards on 19 carries to go with his two touchdowns on the ground. It was the junior's second 100-plus yard effort of the season and the third 100-yard game of his Blazer career. 
 
Chatman's two receiving touchdowns were also a career high as he finished four catches for 28 yards. 
 
Meanwhile, Chatman's four total touchdowns tied the program's NCAA-era school record first set by former Blazer running back Drew Kannely-Robles in a home win over Fort Lewis (11/13/21) during the 2021 fall season.
 
Utah Tech wound up with a season-high 391 yards through the air. Hill completed 9-of-17 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown in the first half before he left the game late in the second quarter due to injury. Barben came on and threw for 165 yards on 11-for-21 passing and one score. 
 
Utah Tech's 572 yards of total offense marked the first time in just over two years that the Trailblazers gained at least 500 yards in a game. 
 
The last time the Blazers recorded least 500 yards of offense came at home vs. Abilene Christian (9/28/24), which also marked the last time Hill had started a game under center after he missed the remainder of the 2024 season, all of the 2025 season, and most of this season due to injury.
 
Williams led all receivers with a collegiate career-high 160 yards on just three catches. Williams, who also caught a 55-yard pass from Barben that set up Chatman's final touchdown, became the first 100-yard receiver to surpass the century mark since former Blazer Daniel Thomason (101 yards – 11/1/25) turned the trick last season vs. North Alabama.
 
On defense, linebacker Daylen Love racked up a co-game high nine total tackles, while safety Brevin Czosnyka collected eight tackles and recorded his second career interception as a Trailblazer in the first quarter.
 
SUU tallied 334 yards rushing, 171 of which came thanks to the legs of Burns, who ran for two scores and threw for 124 yards on 8-for-11 passing and two touchdowns. 
 
Utah Tech starts the second half of the 2026 by playing three of its next four games away from home, starting with a road date at Portland State next weekend. Kick-off at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Ore., is set for 2 p.m. (MT).