The 2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team represented Southern Utah University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season . The Thunderbirds were coached by third-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald and played at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah.
2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football Conference United Athletic Conference Record 7–5 (6–2 UAC) Head coach DeLane Fitzgerald (3rd season) Defensive coordinator John Kelling (3rd season) Home stadium Eccles Coliseum Seasons
2024 United Athletic Conference standings Conf. Overall Team W L W L No. 14 Abilene Christian $^ 7 – 1 9 – 5 No. 13 Tarleton State ^ 6 – 2 10 – 4 No. 21 Eastern Kentucky ^ 6 – 2 8 – 5 Southern Utah 6 – 2 7 – 5 Central Arkansas 3 – 5 6 – 6 Austin Peay 3 – 5 4 – 8 North Alabama 3 – 5 3 – 9 West Georgia* 1 – 7 4 – 7 Utah Tech 1 – 7 1 – 11 $ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Note: West Georgia is ineligible for the UAC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.
Schedule Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 7:00 p.m. at No. 12 (FBS) Utah* Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT ESPN+ L 0–4952,210 September 7 7:00 p.m. at UTEP* ESPN+ W 27–24 OT 41,609 September 14 6:00 p.m. No. 15 UC Davis* Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ESPN+ L 21–245,013 September 21 4:00 p.m. at Idaho State* ESPN+ L 28–388,688 September 28 12:00 p.m. at Austin Peay Fortera Stadium Clarksville, TN ESPN+ W 28–173,988 October 5 6:00 p.m. No. 14 Tarleton State Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ESPN+ L 37–38 OT 3,562 October 12 2:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ESPN+ W 42–215,134 October 26 12:00 p.m. at West Georgia University Stadium Carrollton, GA ESPN+ W 28–172,243 November 2 2:00 p.m. at No. 17 Abilene Christian Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX ESPN+ L 25–289,701 November 9 1:00 p.m. North Alabama Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ESPN+ W 38–263,042 November 16 3:00 p.m. at No. 24 Central Arkansas ESPN+ W 38–314,024 November 23 1:00 p.m. Utah Tech Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ESPN+ W 37–34 2OT 4,115 *Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time
Game summaries
Game One – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) vs No. 12 (FBS) Utah Utes (0-0) – Game summary
at Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
Date : Thursday August 29, 2024Game time : 7:00 p.m.Game weather : 76 °F (24 °C)Game attendance : 52,210Referee : Henry JohnsTV announcers (ESPN+) : Richard Cross (play-by-play), Barrett Brooks (analyst), and Shane Sparks (sideline reporter)
Game information First quarter (8:46) UTAH – Dijon Stanley 64-yard pass from Cameron Rising (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 2:56; Utah 7-0 ) Second quarter (14:48) UTAH – Brant Kuithe 29-yard pass from Cameron Rising (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 3:01; Utah 14-0 ) (11:27) UTAH – Brant Kuithe 18-yard pass from Cameron Rising (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 48 yards, 1:44; Utah 21-0 ) (9:04) UTAH – Dijon Stanley 79-yard pass from Cameron Rising (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 1 play, 79 yards, 0:12; Utah 28-0 ) (1:08) UTAH – Brant Kuithe 11-yard pass from Cameron Rising (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:34; Utah 35-0 ) Third quarter (4:23) UTAH – Mike Mitchell 4-yard run (Cole Becker kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 57 yards, 6:09; Utah 42-0 ) Fourth quarter (11:05) UTAH – Caleb Lohner 20-yard pass from Isaac Wilson (Trey Coleman kick) (Drive: 1 play, 20 yards, 0:07; Utah 49-0 )
Statistics SUU UTAH First downs 9 26 Total yards 150 513 Rushing yards 79 185 Passing yards 71 328 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–21–1 17–26–2 Time of possession 28:45 31:15
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 6/11, 54 yards, INT Rushing Targhee Lambson 6 carries, 44 yards Receiving Mark Bails 3 receptions, 42 yards Utah Passing Cameron Rising 10/15, 254 yards, 5 TD Rushing Dijon Stanley 6 carries, 34 yards Receiving Dijon Stanley 3 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD
Game Two – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0–1) vs UTEP Miners (FBS) (0–1) – Game summary
at Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX
Date : Saturday September 7, 2024Game time : 7:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 82 °F (28 °C)Game attendance : 41,609Referee : Rory BernardTV announcers (ESPN+) : TBDBox Score
Game information First quarter UTEP – Jevon Jackson 5-yard pass from Skyler Locklear (Buzz Flabiano kick), 10:33. UTEP 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:27. SUU – Zach Mitchell 40-yard pass from Bronson Barron, 6:09. UTEP 7–6. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:24. UTEP – Skyler Locklear 5-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick), 1:35. UTEP 14–6. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:34. Second quarter
UTEP – Buzz Flabiano 43-yard field goal, 2:57. UTEP 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:59. Third quarter
SUU – Targhee Lambson 20-yard run (Mark Bails Jr. run), 6:31. UTEP 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 2:53. Fourth quarter
SUU – Targhee Lambson 46-yard run (Danny King kick), 13:15. Southern Utah 21–17. Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 1:37. SUU – Danny King 38-yard field goal, 2:39. Southern Utah 24–17. Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards, 5:37. UTEP – Skyler Locklear 4-yard pass from Jaden Smith (Buzz Flabiano kick), 0:00. Tied 24–24. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 2:34. Overtime
SUU – Danny King 33-yard field goal. Southern Utah 27–24. Drive: 7 plays, 9 yards.
Statistics SUU UTEP First downs 21 17 Total yards 383 423 Rushing yards 268 124 Passing yards 115 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–18–0 23–30–0 Time of possession 31:24 28:36
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 10/17, 75 yds Rushing Targhee Lambson 20 rushes, 183 yds, 2 TD Receiving Zach Mitchell 3 receptions, 62 yds, TD UTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 22/29, 295 yds, TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 20 rushes, 80 yds Receiving Kam Thomas 5 receptions, 99 yds
vs. No. 15 UC Davis Game Three – No. 15 UC Davis Aggies (1–1) vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1–1) – Game summary
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
Date : Saturday September 14, 2024Game time : 6:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind : N 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)Game attendance : 5,013Referee : Zach ErdmannTV announcers (ESPN+) : Scott Marsh (play-by-play) and Scott Gordon (analyst)Box Score
Game information First quarter SUU – LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson 59-yard interception (Danny King kick), 13:11. Southern Utah 7–0. UCD – Hunter Ridley 39-yard field goal, 4:37. Southern Utah 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 8:34. Second quarter
SUU – Targhee Lambson 3-yard run (Danny King kick), 1:21. Southern Utah 14–3. Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, 6:05. UCD – Hunter Ridley 37-yard field goal, 0:00. Southern Utah 14–6. Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 1:21. Third quarter
UCD – Winston Williams 10-yard pass from Miles Hastings (Lan Larison pass), 10:43. Tied 14–14. Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:03. UCD – Lan Larison 60-yard pass from Miles Hastings (Hunter Ridley kick), 8:39. UC Davis 21–14. Drive: 1 play, 60 yards, 0:13. UCD – Hunter Ridley 23-yard field goal, 1:45. UC Davis 24–14. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:27. Fourth quarter
SUU – Targhee Lambson 2-yard run (Danny King kick), 5:13. UC Davis 24–21. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:44.
Statistics UCD SUU First downs 18 22 Total yards 355 340 Rushing yards 89 210 Passing yards 266 130 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–31–1 14–28–1 Time of possession 30:10 29:50
Team Category Player Statistics UC Davis Passing Miles Hastings 24/30, 266 yds, 2 TD, INT Rushing Lan Larison 15 rushes, 88 yds Receiving Lan Larison 7 receptions, 92 yds, TD Southern Utah Passing Bronson Barron 7/15, 81 yds, INT Rushing Targhee Lambson 24 rushes, 149 yds, 2 TD Receiving Mark Bails Jr. 7 receptions, 45 yds
at Idaho State Game Four – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1–2) at Idaho State Bengals (1–2) – Game summary
at ICCU Dome • Pocatello, ID
Date : Saturday September 21, 2024Game time : 4:00 PM MSTGame weather : None (Indoor stadium)TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics SUU IDST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving Idaho State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Austin Peay Game Five – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1–3) vs Austin Peay Governors (1–3) – Game summary
at Fortera Stadium • Clarksville, TN
Date : Saturday September 28, 2024Game time : 12:00 PM MSTGame weather : 0 °F (−18 °C)TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics SUU APSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving Austin Peay Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 14 Tarleton State Game Six – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (2–3) vs No. 14 Tarleton State Texans (4–1) – Game summary
at Memorial Stadium • Stephenville, TX
Date : Saturday October 5, 2024Game time : 7:00 p.m.TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics SUU TAR First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving Tarleton State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Eastern Kentucky Game Seven – Eastern Kentucky Colonels (3–2) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (2–4) – Game summary
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
Date : Saturday October 12, 2024Game time : 2:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind : NE 13 miles per hour (21 km/h)Game attendance : 5,134Referee : John KellermeierTV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter SUU – Targhee Lambson 3-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 4:31. Southern Utah 7–0. Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 6:06. Second quarter EKU – Patrick Nations 34-yard field goal, 14:01. Southern Utah 7–3. Drive: 16 plays, 58 yards, 5:30. SUU – Gabe Nunez 11-yard pass from Jackson Berry (Jayden Rogers kick), 6:03. Southern Utah 14–3. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 7:58. EKU – Patrick Nations 47-yard field goal, 0:02. Southern Utah 14–6. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 0:38. Third quarter EKU – Joshua Carter 2-yard run (Jeremiah Bailey pass), 11:23. Tied 14–14. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:37. SUU – Devin Downing 12-yard pass from Jackson Berry (Jayden Rogers kick), 7:21. Southern Utah 21–14. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:02. SUU – Targhee Lambson 8-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 3:13. Southern Utah 28–14. Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 3:32. Fourth quarter SUU – Shane Carr 38-yard pass from Jackson Berry (Jayden Rogers kick), 8:49. Southern Utah 35–14. Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 4:59. EKU – Dequan Stanley 9-yard pass from Matt Morrissey (Patrick Nations kick), 5:55. Southern Utah 35–21. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 2:50. SUU – Targhee Lambson 1-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 1:58. Southern Utah 42–21. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:57.
Statistics EKU SUU First downs 23 27 Total yards 276 482 Rushing yards 69 278 Passing yards 207 204 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–1 13–23–0 Time of possession 23:18 36:42
Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Kentucky Passing Matt Morrissey 24/36, 207 yards, TD, INT Rushing Joshua Carter 11 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Dequan Stanley 6 receptions, 47 yards, TD Southern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 13/23, 204 yards, 3 TD Rushing Targhee Lambson 34 carries, 170 yards, 3 TD Receiving Devin Downing 3 receptions, 69 yards, TD
at West Georgia Game Eight – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (3–4) vs West Georgia Wolves (2–5) – Game summary
at University Stadium • Carrollton, GA
Date : Saturday October 26, 2024Game time : 12:00 p.m.TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics SUU UWG First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving West Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 17 Abilene Christian Game Nine – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (4–4) vs No. 17 Abilene Christian Wildcats (5–3) – Game summary
at Wildcat Stadium • Abilene, TX
Date : Saturday November 2, 2024Game time : 2:00 p.m.Game weather : Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)Game attendance : 9,701Referee : Matthew JonesTV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter (10:03) ACU – Javon Gipson 13-yard pass from Maverick McIvor, Ritse Vaes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:33; Abilene Christian 7–0 ) (2:05) ACU – Isaiah Johnson 6-yard run, Ritse Vaes kick (Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards, 4:44; Abilene Christian 14–0 ) Second quarter (10:22) ACU – Isaiah Johnson 1-yard run, Ritse Vaes kick (Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:38; Abilene Christian 21–0 ) (0:27) SUU – Jayden Rogers 42-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 2:57; Abilene Christian 21–3 ) Third quarter (1:22) SUU – Targhee Lambson 3-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:55; Abilene Christian 21–10 ) Fourth quarter (9:54) ACU – Sam Hicks 12-yard pass from Maverick McIvor, Ritse Vaes kick (Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, 6:28; Abilene Christian 28–10 ) (5:56) SUU – Targhee Lambson 13-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:58; Abilene Christian 28–17 ) (4:03) SUU – Targhee Lambson 1-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, 0:04; Abilene Christian 28–25 )
Statistics SUU ACU First downs 17 26 Total yards 296 445 Rushing yards 220 139 Passing yards 76 306 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–19–0 22–31–1 Time of possession 25:02 34:58
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 12/19, 76 yards Rushing Targhee Lambson 27 carries, 198 yards, 3 TD Receiving Devin Downing 2 receptions, 21 yards Abilene Christian Passing Maverick McIvor 22/31, 306 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Isaiah Johnson 19 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD Receiving Blayne Taylor 5 receptions, 81 yards
vs. North Alabama Game Ten – North Alabama Lions (3–7) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (4–5) – Game summary
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
Date : Saturday November 9, 2024Game time : 1:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 49 °F (9 °C) • Wind : SE 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)Game attendance : 3,042Referee : Michael LennieTV announcers (ESPN+) : Spencer McLaughlin (play-by-play), Dallin Richards (analyst) and Kendall McGuire (sideline)
Game information First quarter (4:01) SUU – Targhee Lambson 18-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 13 plays, 84 yards, 7:27; Southern Utah 7–0 ) Second quarter (11:08) SUU – Targhee Lambson 1-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards, 6:49; Southern Utah 14–0 ) (1:56) SUU – Targhee Lambson 2-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 4:30; Southern Utah 21–0 ) (1:17) UNA – Dakota Warfield 22-yard pass from TJ Smith, Scott Payne kick (Drive: 2 plays, 78 yards, 0:32; Southern Utah 21–7 ) Third quarter (7:42) SUU – Jayden Rogers 50-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 4:20; Southern Utah 24–7 ) (6:58) UNA – Justin Lake 70-yard pass from TJ Smith (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:44; Southern Utah 24–13 ) (5:33) SUU – Shane Carr 33-yard pass from Jackson Berry, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 1:25; Southern Utah 31–13 ) (5:24) UNA – Takairee Kenebrew 75-yard pass from TJ Smith (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:09; Southern Utah 31–19 ) (0:40) UNA – Jayvian Allen 3-yard run, Scott Payne kick (Drive: 5 plays, 82 yards, 1:32; Southern Utah 31–26 ) Fourth quarter (10:51) SUU – Kameron Rocha 48-yard interception, Jayden Rogers kick (Southern Utah 38–26
Statistics UNA SUU First downs 18 23 Total yards 487 407 Rushing yards 35 177 Passing yards 452 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–34–2 21–31–0 Time of possession 20:32 39:28
Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing TJ Smith 21/34, 452 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing TJ Smith 7 carries, 31 yards Receiving Takairee Kenebrew 5 receptions, 187 yards, TD Southern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 21/31, 230 yards, TD Rushing Targhee Lambson 31 carries, 165 yards, 3 TD Receiving Gabe Nunez 7 receptions, 94 yards
at No. 24 Central Arkansas Game Eleven – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (5–5) at No. 24 Central Arkansas Bears (6–4) – Game summary
at Estes Stadium • Conway, AR
Date : Saturday November 16, 2024Game time : 3:00 p.m.Game weather : 0 °F (−18 °C)TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics SUU UCA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving Central Arkansas Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Utah Tech Game Twelve – Utah Tech Trailblazers (1–10) vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds (6–5) – Game summary
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
Date : Saturday November 23, 2024Game time : 1:00 p.m.TV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics UTU SUU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Utah Tech Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Utah Passing Rushing Receiving