UTAH UTES
Tavion Thomas Scores Touchdown In 11th Consecutive Game For Utah
Sep 10, 2022, 11:48 AM
Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) scores against the Weber State Wildcats during the season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
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SALT LAKE CITY – The 13th-ranked Utah football team scored first in their home opener against Southern Utah on a Tavion Thomas rushing touchdown.
It’s the 11th straight game that Tavion Thomas has scored a touchdown, dating back to last season. SUU tried to get the ball first on the opening kickoff when they attempted an onside kick. Utah still got the ball since the Thunderbirds were called for illegal touching.
Thomas finished the drive with four carries for 16 yards. Utah had a 7-0 lead with under 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter. Cam Rising completed all three of his pass attempts for 28 yards. He connected with Dalton Kincaid twice for 21 yards and Brant Kuithe once for seven yards.
Nice with it @thiagoothomas9 đź‘Ś pic.twitter.com/jm0e9vtU95
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2022
The 2021 campaign was a rough one for SUU only winning a single game and going 0-8 in conference play. Not only are the Thunderbirds breaking in a new conference in 2022 (Western Athletic), but also a new head coach in DeLane Fitzgerald- so far so good for the team. In 2022 they have already matched their win total in 2021 after beating the St. Thomas Tommies 44-13 last week.
The Thunderbirds bring back experience at the quarterback position this year with three-year starter Justin Miller. Despite a rough overall year for the team last year, Miller was consistently a bright spot and appears poised to help Fitzgerald right the ship in Cedar City. In 2021, Miller racked up 4,186 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and averaged 220 yards per game. Last week, Miller impressed with a 63.9% completion rate off of 359 yards and three touchdowns.
A familiar name to Utah fans on the Thunderbird roster is former running back Braedon Wissler. He didn’t get a ton of play in last week’s game for SUU, but Wissler’s name might be called on occasion. Last week he had seven rushing yards and 33 receiving yards in the Thunderbird’s win over St. Thomas.
