2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team

2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football
2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football
Conference	United Athletic Conference
Record	6–5 (5–2 UAC)
Head coach	DeLane Fitzgerald (3rd season);
Offensive coordinator	Brad Robbins (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	John Kelling (3rd season)
Home stadium	Eccles Coliseum
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

The 2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team will represent Southern Utah University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Thunderbirds will be coached by third-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald and play at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah.

2024 United Athletic Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 11 Abilene Christian $^	7	–	1	8	–	3
No. 16 Tarleton State	5	–	2	8	–	3
No. 25 Eastern Kentucky	5	–	2	7	–	4
Southern Utah	5	–	2	6	–	5
Central Arkansas	3	–	4	6	–	5
Austin Peay	3	–	5	4	–	7
North Alabama	3	–	4	3	–	8
Utah Tech	1	–	6	1	–	10
West Georgia*	1	–	7	4	–	7

$ – Conference champion Note: West Georgia is ineligible for the UAC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. As of November 21, 2024 Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	at No. 12 (FBS) Utah*	Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	ESPN+	L 0–49	52,210
September 7	7:00 p.m.	at UTEP*	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 27–24 ^OT	41,609
September 14	6:00 p.m.	No. 15 UC Davis*	Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT	ESPN+	L 21–24	5,013
September 21	4:00 p.m.	at Idaho State*	ICCU Dome Pocatello, ID	ESPN+	L 28–38	8,688
September 28	12:00 p.m.	at Austin Peay	Fortera Stadium Clarksville, TN	ESPN+	W 28–17	3,988
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 42–21	5,134
October 26	12:00 p.m.	at West Georgia	University Stadium Carrollton, GA	ESPN+	W 28–17	2,243
November 2	2:00 p.m.	at No. 17 Abilene Christian	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	L 25–28	9,701
November 9	1:00 p.m.	North Alabama	Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT	ESPN+	W 38–26	3,042
November 16	3:00 p.m.	at No. 24 Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ESPN+	W 38–31	4,024
November 23	1:00 p.m.	Utah Tech	Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

^[1]^[2]

Game summaries

at No. 12 (FBS) Utah

Game One – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) vs No. 12 (FBS) Utah Utes (0-0) – Game summary

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)

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

at UTEP (FBS)

Game Two – Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0–1) vs UTEP Miners (FBS) (0–1) – Game summary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	0	0	0
Thunderbirds	0	0	0	0	0

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UNA	SUU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Utah	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 24 Central Arkansas

Game Eleven – Southern Utah Thunderbirds at No. 24 Central Arkansas Bears – Game summary

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

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 vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Traliblazers	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

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

References

^ "2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
^ Ireland, Kyle (November 20, 2023). "Southern Utah Releases 2024 Football Schedule". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

[1] "2024 Southern Utah Thunderbirds schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

[2] Ireland, Kyle (November 20, 2023). "Southern Utah Releases 2024 Football Schedule". KSL Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

[1]

[2]