Game Notes: UTAH TECH - PDF | MONTANA STATE - PDF
Utah Tech Football Media Central
Lance Anderson Coaches Show: 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
Twitter: @UtahTech_Sports | @UtahTech_Fball | #UtahTechIsHere | #BigSkyFB

TRAILBLAZER TALES 
• Utah Tech kicks off its 21st NCAA-era season, and seventh NCAA Division I FCS campaign, on Saturday night when the Trailblazers make their Big Sky Conference debut as they play host to defending Big Sky and 2025 FCS champion No. 1/1 Montana State.
• Saturday night's game will mark just the second time Utah Tech has played a top-ranked opponent AND a defending national champion. In the 2021 fall season, the Trailblazers squared off against top-ranked and defending FCS champ Sam Houston (L, 10-59; 11/6/21) in Huntsville, Texas. 
• Saturday night's game will also mark the first time a No. 1-ranked team has visited St. George in Utah Tech's four-year era.   
• Utah Tech is 3-17 all-time in season openers in its NCAA era, and has dropped eight of its last 10 openers overall.
• Saturday's game is the fifth meeting between the Trailblazers and Bobcats on the gridiron, though this is the second time the two sides will square off in St. George.
• Utah Tech is 0-4 all-time vs. Montana State, which includes a 31-7 home loss to the then No. 4-ranked Bobcats in the last meeting two years ago (8/31/24).  
• Utah Tech (then Dixie State) and MSU met for the first time on the football field in Bozeman during the Trailblazers' second NCAA D-II season in 2007 (MSU 61, UTU 7; 9/15/07). 
• Utah Tech is 5-40 (4-39 overall vs. AFCA) all-time record vs. ranked opponents (FCS and D-II), which includes a 3-22 mark in its brief time as an FCS program.
• The Trailblazers' last victory over a ranked team came two seasons ago at home against then No. 9/11 Central Arkansas (34-21; 11/2/24).  
  
LIVE STATS/AUDIO/STREAM INFO: Live stats and audio/video streaming information and links for this Saturday night's game vs. No. 1 Montana State can be found online at utahtechtrailblazers.com.
 
UTAH TECH ON THE AIR: All Utah Tech 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), while all home games will be streamed live online on ESPN+.
        The "Voice of the Trailblazers" Rod Zundel is in his fifth season calling the play-by-play action on ESPN+, and he will be joined this Saturday night by former Utah Tech defensive lineman Max Christensen III. 
However, the duo will have only the radio call for Saturday night's game vs. MSU on The Fan, with Devin Dixon providing sideline analysis. 
        As part of this season's game day broadcast coverage, Utah Tech airs a 60-minute comprehensive pregame show, and 30-minute post-game show, both of which air live on The Fan Sports Network and streamed live on YouTube on Trailblazer SportsVision (youtube.com/TrailblazerAthletics).
        Along with complete Game Day coverage, Zundel hosts "The Lance Anderson Coaches Show" every Tuesday night on The Fan Sports Network and streamed on Trailblazer SportsVision at 6 p.m. (MT).
 
A TRAILBLAZER WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD...: Give Utah Tech its second season-opening victory in the program's brief D-I FCS era, and would be the fourth season-opening victory in the Trailblazers' NCAA era overall. A win would also be Utah Tech's second against the Big Sky Conference, and the first home triumph over a Big Sky opponent inside Greater Zion Stadium.
   
LOOKING TO CLOSE THE GAP: Utah Tech enters Saturday's game vs. No. 1 Montana State looking for its second-ever win against a Big Sky Conference opponent.
Prior to joining the conference on July 1, the Trailblazers had faced eight current football playing members of the Big Sky and are a combined 1-20 lifetime against the league, 0-6 as a D-II and 1-14 in their short time as a D-I FCS program. Utah Tech's lone win against the Big Sky came during the 2023 season, a 50-36 road triumph at Northern Arizona (9/16/23). 
 
MORE ABOUT YEAR ONE IN THE BIG SKY: Utah Tech will play 11 Big Sky opponents this season, including first-ever match-ups against Northern Colorado (9/26), Portland State (10/10), Cal Poly (10/24) and Eastern Washington (11/14).
However only nine of those 11 games will count in the conference standings as the Trailblazers will square off against both Montana (9/12) and NAU (9/19) in non-conference play on consecutive weekends next month. Those two games were already on Utah Tech's 2026 schedule prior to the program accepting the invitation to join the league a year ago.
The only Big Sky team Utah Tech will not play this season is Idaho, which the Blazers faced last season in Moscow. 
 
SO ABOUT THE 2026 SCHEDULE: Utah Tech's 2026 schedule is currently predicted as the ninth-toughest slate (out of 128 FCS teams) in the WarrenNolan.com ELO preseason strength of schedule ratings.
The Trailblazers' schedule features four teams ranked in the FCS top-25 preseason polls, while three others are receiving votes. In addition, Utah Tech will face in-state foe and Big 12 member No. 14/15 BYU next weekend in Provo. 
MORE ABOUT SATURDAY'S DEBUT: Saturday night's opener will mark the seventh-straight year that Utah Tech will have face a ranked opponent. The Trailblazers are 1-5 in season openers in their brief time as an FCS program. That lone win was posted in the 2021 Spring opener (and the program's FCS debut game) in that road victory at then-No. 22 Tarleton State on Feb. 27, 2021.
 
TAKING ON ALL COMERS: Since transitioning to NCAA Division I FCS status in 2020-21, Utah Tech has faced 30 top-25 teams (3-27) and 25 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 ranked teams and seven 2021 FCS Fall playoff teams, including the 2021 spring national champion (Sam Houston) and runner-up (South Dakota State).
Utah Tech had also squared off against four FBS programs over that span - New Mexico State (2021 spring in El Paso, Texas), BYU (2022), Colorado State (2023) and UNLV (2024).
 
ABOUT THE MONTANA STATE "BOBCATS": No. 1/1 Montana State makes the trip down to St. George looking to pick up where it left off when the 2025 season ended, with the Bobcats claiming its 14-straight victory and the FCS National Championship trophy.
Montana State led the Big Sky with 14 preseason all-conference selections, eight of whom garnered 2026 Stats Perform Preseason All-America honors.
Fifth-year QB Justin Lamson is back under center after he threw for 3,172 yards and 26 touchdowns, and rushed for 734 more yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Lamson also set a school and Big Sky record by completing 71.6 percent of his passes on his way to all-conference and All-America honors.
Lamson's favorite target last season, fifth year WR Taco Dowler, returns for another year after he caught 77 passes for 1,025 yards and seven TDs. Senior RB Adam Jones is also back after he rushed for 1,115 yards and 15 touchdowns.  
Defensively, Montana State ranked 14th in the FCS last season in rush yards allowed (117.4 ypg) and surrendered on average 18.0 ppg (8th in the FCS). The Bobcats, who led the Big Sky in rush defense, total defense and scoring defense, also enjoyed a plus-16 turnover margin last year. 
Fifth-year DB Caden Dowler, who was voted 2026 Big Sky Preseason Defensive MVP, was a consensus first team All-American selection and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year after he racked up 91 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and six interceptions.  
  
2026 TRAILBLAZER FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW 
QUARTERBACK
• Utah Tech welcomed back two quarterbacks from last season's squad, including junior Bronson Barben, who threw for 1,682 on 58.7 percent passing and six touchdowns in 10 games a year ago. 
• Fifth-year signal caller Deacon Hill is also back in the quarterback room after he missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. Hill started four of the first five games under center in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to the injury, Hill threw for 412 yards on 36-of-75 passing and two touchdowns in those five outings. 
• Meanwhile, Utah State junior transfer CJ Tiller will be relied on in offensive coordinator Greg Stephens'game plan as the Blazers have three veteran options to run the offense.
• In all, Utah Tech has five signal callers in the QB room, with junior college transfer Max Grizzell, and freshman Justus Platts making up the rest of the position group. 
  
RUNNING BACK
• Utah Tech running back corps features seven quality ball carriers who all know that the Blazers' offensive success is predicated on a successful run game. 
• Junior Ace Chatman is back after serving as Utah Tech's starting running back in 10 of the 11 games he appeared in last season. Chatman rushed for 536 yards on 121 carries (4.4 ypc) with a team-high five touchdowns, and led the offense with 713 all-purpose yards (64.8 ypg).
• Senior tailback Kona Crowell also returns at 100 percent after an injury-plagued 2025, during which he tallied one rushing touchdown in four games a year ago. 
• Utah Tech also boasts a talented true freshman duo of Junior Curtis and Cavalli Nealy, who both could see significant time carrying the rock in their debut collegiate seasons.
• Utah Tech also welcomed back three more running backs from last year's squad in sophomores Damon Taylor, Maxwell Turner and Daron Tyson, who all could figure in the mix this season.
 
WIDE RECEIVER
• Utah Tech's receiver room runs 18 players deep, however only two of those wideouts caught passes for the Trailblazers a season ago.
• Fifth-year WR DaJon Harrison (7 rec., 87 yds) and senior Ja'Kheo Mitchell (6 rec., 51 yds) are Utah Tech's top two returning pass catchers in the skill group, while junior Prince Zombo Jr. and sophomore Will Greene both excelled during fall camp and are poised to carry that into the season.
• The Trailblazers will look to three transfers to make an immediate impact down the field, including senior Mike Williams and juniors Darnell O'Quinn and Isaac McMullin. Freshman Jalen Ross enjoyed a strong fall camp, which could translate into being looked upon in high-leverage situations. 
 
TIGHT END
• Junior Kaden Eggett entered fall camp as Utah Tech's top returning leader in receiving yards with 259 on 23 catches in 12 games last season. 
• Sophomore Brayden Hampsten saw time in four games last season, while fellow sophomore Zay Akinsanya redshirted last year, and enjoyed a solid fall camp, which should earn him time in the pass game. 
• Senior Justin Buhler also returns after seeing time on special teams in seven games last year, while junior Kalvin Voyles and freshman Scott Noel both add valued depth at the position. 
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Trailblazers have 18 active players in a young, but talented offensive line room, including three key returnees and eight redshirts from a unit that finished the 2025 season tied for 17th in the FCS ranks in fewest sacks allowed (16). 
• Sophomore Matthew Snarr started all 12 games at right tackle as a true freshman last season and, to no surprise, is at the top of the depth chart at that position heading into Saturday's opener. Freshman Camden Smith is listed as the primary back-up at right tackle.
• Fellow sophomore Cade Draper started the final nine games last season, including six starts at center, and is listed as the opening day center, with freshman RJ San Jose serving as his back-up heading into week one. 
• Sophomore Pesi Fonua got the starting nod at left guard in the final five games of the 2025 campaign. Fonua, along with sophomore junior college transfer Gavin Gleason, will both see valuable time at left guard. 
• At left tackle, returning redshirts in junior Jacob Zarate and senior Greg Fotinopolous are battling for the starting job.
• Two more returning redshirts are in a tight battle at right guard, with junior Trey Price and senior Rambo Mageo both vying for the bulk of the playing time next to Snarr on the o-line. 
 
TRAILBLAZER DEFENSE 
• Utah Tech's defensive line unit is a veteran-laden group with seven returning starters, and 24 total returnees from last season. Couple that with 29 hungry newcomers, the Trailblazer defense has put in the work during fall camp under first-year defensive coordinator Ray Clark and his staff in hopes of creating havoc for opposing offenses in 2026. 
• Sophomore inside linebacker Daylen Love returns after enjoying a breakout campaign in 2025. Love started in eight of the 10 games he played as a true freshman and is Utah Tech's top returning tackler with 60 total stops, including 4.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks. 
• Meanwhile, senior outside linebacker Will Alovao led the Blazer defense with 8.5 TFLs, including 2.0 sacks, and tallied 33 total tackles in nine games (7 starts) last year.
• Utah Tech also returned fifth-year starters in defensive lineman Fasitootai Sagapolu and safety Brevin Czosnyka. Sagapolu started in all 12 games at defensive end and racked up 48 total tackles along with 3.5 TFLs, while Czosnyka tallied 50 total stops with one interception and two pass breakups in 11 starts. 
• The Blazers' defense will also be bolstered by a trio of talented junior who recorded multiple starts a season ago, including defensive backs Jeremiah Jimoh (27 tackles/team-high 5 PBUs) and River Moore(48 tackles/1.5 TFLs/1.0 sack/2 PBUs), and ILB Moe Passi (42 tackles/2.5 TFLs/1 forced fumble).   
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Senior punter Ryan Marks put together a stellar season in 2025, during which he broke Utah Tech's single season and career records in punt yardage with a 46.4 ypp average (40.26 ypp net) on his way to second team all-United Athletic Conference honors. 
• Marks wound up being Utah Tech's lone representative on the preseason all-Big Sky team. The senior will also start the year on the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List, and was named a Stats Perform FCS Preseason Third Team All-American.
• Sophomore Dax Iverson will handle the placekicking duties, while junior Fisher Brown will be called upon for kick-offs. 
• In the return game, the duo of Curtis and Crowell will handle the kick-off returns, while McMullin and Ross will serve as punt returners to begin the season. 
 
#AB3FOREVER: Fifth year defensive lineman Fasitootai Sagapolu was voted by his teammates to receive the honorary No. 3 jersey designation for the 2026 season. The senior defensive stalwart, who will wear a No. 3 patch on his No. 63 jersey this season, is the fifth Trailblazer player to earn the coveted privilege since the 2021 spring season. 
The awarding of the No. 3 jersey has become an annual tradition honoring the memory of former Trailblazer football player Abraham Reinhardt, who passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2019.
Head coach Lance Anderson noted when he arrived on the Utah Tech campus that he 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."
 
NEXT UP FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech opens its seven-game road slate with a quick trip north on Interstate 15 to face in-state foe and Big 12 power No. 14/15 BYU next Saturday night, Sept. 5. Kickoff inside LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo is set for 6 p.m. (MT).