# 2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team

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.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 12 (FBS) Utah* | Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | ESPN+ | L 0–49 | 52,210 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at UTEP* | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 27–24 $^{OT}$ | 41,609 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 15 UC Davis* | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | L 21–24 | 5,013 |
| September 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at Idaho State* | ICCU DomePocatello, ID | ESPN+ | L 28–38 | 8,688 |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Austin Peay | Fortera StadiumClarksville, TN | ESPN+ | W 28–17 | 3,988 |
| October 5 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 14 Tarleton State | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | L 37–38 $^{OT}$ | 3,562 |
| October 12 | 2:00 p.m. | Eastern Kentucky | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | W 42–21 | 5,134 |
| October 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at West Georgia | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | ESPN+ | W 28–17 | 2,243 |
| November 2 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 17 Abilene Christian | Wildcat StadiumAbilene, TX | ESPN+ | L 25–28 | 9,701 |
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | North Alabama | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | W 38–26 | 3,042 |
| November 16 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Central Arkansas | Estes StadiumConway, AR | ESPN+ | W 38–31 | 4,024 |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Utah Tech | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | W 37–34 $^{2OT}$ | 4,115 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||

## Game summaries
### at No. 12 (FBS) Utah

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 12 (FBS) Utes | 7 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
at Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT
* Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 52,210
* Referee: Henry Johns
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Barrett Brooks (analyst), and Shane Sparks (sideline reporter)
| 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 |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 6 carries, 44 yards |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Mark Bails | 3 receptions, 42 yards |
| Utah | Passing | Cameron Rising | 10/15, 254 yards, 5 TD |
| Utah | Rushing | Dijon Stanley | 6 carries, 34 yards |
| Utah | Receiving | Dijon Stanley | 3 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD |

### at UTEP (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 6 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| Miners (FBS) | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 41,609
* Referee: Rory Bernard
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| 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 |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 20 rushes, 183 yds, 2 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Zach Mitchell | 3 receptions, 62 yds, TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 22/29, 295 yds, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 20 rushes, 80 yds |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kam Thomas | 5 receptions, 99 yds |

### vs. No. 15 UC Davis

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Aggies | 3 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 24 |
| Thunderbirds | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: N 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
* Game attendance: 5,013
* Referee: Zach Erdmann
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| 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 |
| UC Davis | Rushing | Lan Larison | 15 rushes, 88 yds |
| UC Davis | Receiving | Lan Larison | 7 receptions, 92 yds, TD |
| Southern Utah | Passing | Bronson Barron | 7/15, 81 yds, INT |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 24 rushes, 149 yds, 2 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Mark Bails Jr. | 7 receptions, 45 yds |

### at Idaho State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at ICCU Dome • Pocatello, ID
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 PM MST
* Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| Idaho State | Passing |
| Idaho State | Rushing |
| Idaho State | Receiving |

### at Austin Peay

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Governors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Fortera Stadium • Clarksville, TN
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 PM MST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| Austin Peay | Passing |
| Austin Peay | Rushing |
| Austin Peay | Receiving |

### at No. 14 Tarleton State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 14 Texans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Memorial Stadium • Stephenville, TX
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| Tarleton State | Passing |
| Tarleton State | Rushing |
| Tarleton State | Receiving |

### vs. Eastern Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 |
| Thunderbirds | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE 13 miles per hour (21 km/h)
* Game attendance: 5,134
* Referee: John Kellermeier
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| 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 |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 11 carries, 43 yards, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Dequan Stanley | 6 receptions, 47 yards, TD |
| Southern Utah | Passing | Jackson Berry | 13/23, 204 yards, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 34 carries, 170 yards, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Devin Downing | 3 receptions, 69 yards, TD |

### at West Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wolves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at University Stadium • Carrollton, GA
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| West Georgia | Passing |
| West Georgia | Rushing |
| West Georgia | Receiving |

### at No. 17 Abilene Christian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 25 |
| No. 17 Wildcats | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Wildcat Stadium • Abilene, TX
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 9,701
* Referee: Matthew Jones
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| 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 |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 27 carries, 198 yards, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Devin Downing | 2 receptions, 21 yards |
| Abilene Christian | Passing | Maverick McIvor | 22/31, 306 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Abilene Christian | Rushing | Isaiah Johnson | 19 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD |
| Abilene Christian | Receiving | Blayne Taylor | 5 receptions, 81 yards |

### vs. North Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 26 |
| Thunderbirds | 7 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game 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: 3,042
* Referee: Michael Lennie
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Spencer McLaughlin (play-by-play), Dallin Richards (analyst) and Kendall McGuire (sideline)
| 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 |
| North Alabama | Rushing | TJ Smith | 7 carries, 31 yards |
| North Alabama | Receiving | Takairee Kenebrew | 5 receptions, 187 yards, TD |
| Southern Utah | Passing | Jackson Berry | 21/31, 230 yards, TD |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 31 carries, 165 yards, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Gabe Nunez | 7 receptions, 94 yards |

### at No. 24 Central Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 24 Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Estes Stadium • Conway, AR
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| Central Arkansas | Passing |
| Central Arkansas | Rushing |
| Central Arkansas | Receiving |

### vs. Utah Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trailblazers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thunderbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Utah Tech | Passing |
| Utah Tech | Rushing |
| Utah Tech | Receiving |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |