Southern Utah Takes Care Of Tarleton State For First Win Of Season

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah Thunderbirds picked up their first win of the season by taking care of Tarleton State, 40-35.

Justin Miller threw for 304 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in the win for SUU. Brandon Schenks caught seven passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.

SUU found the end zone first when Miller connected with David Atencio about five minutes into the game. The Texans responded with a TD three minutes later. Before the end of the third quarter, Miller found Schenks for the first of three scores to give the Thunderbirds a 14-7 lead.

This game had everything…

🏈 Offensive fireworks
🏈 Big stops on defense
🏈 Game winning drive
🏈 Game sealing interception

But most importantly…

✅ First win of the season

Read all about tonight's big W ⬇️

📰 https://t.co/MzXMYzYQ4d#StormTheSky x #11United pic.twitter.com/5XHeU6OiPm

— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) September 19, 2021

Tarleton State tied the game with a touchdown just over one minute into the second quarter. Then Miller and Schenks connected again and SUU regained the lead. With under two minutes until halftime, Tarleton State scored a touchdown to tie the game at 21 before getting a pick-six with 1:02 remaining but Schenk’s third TD came with 31 seconds left and the game was tied at 28 at the break.

Only one TD was scored in the third quarter and that was David Moore III on the ground and the Thunderbirds had a 34-28 lead. Tarleton State took a one point lead with a TD with under seven to play in the game.

With 1:34 left, Karris Davis found the end zone to put the Thunderbirds up for good.

SUU improved to 1-2 on the season. They will begin Big Sky play on Saturday, September 25 against Eastern Washington in Cedar City. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.