By Spencer Rodak, Stadium Sportzz
Hosting the North Alabama Lions on Saturday afternoon, the SUU football team secured a 38-26 victory to move to 5-5.
First half
Southern Utah would take the lead in the first quarter, putting together a touchdown drive that took nearly half the period. Marching 64 yards in 18 plays, Targhee Lambson marched into the endzone with an 18-yard run with 4:01 on the clock.
.@nolimit_targ first drive stats:
8️⃣ touches for 6️⃣4️⃣ total yards
1️⃣ touchdown
1️⃣ JAW-DROPPING FLIP⚡️: 7
🦁: 0📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/JWI4QdqVud
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
The Thunderbirds would begin the second quarter with another score, thanks again to Lambson. Capping a 12-play, 72-yard drive, Lambson broke into the end zone from one yard out to make the score 14-0.
Southern Utah’s defense kept North Alabama off the scoreboard on the next drive, and the offense would capitalize on its final drive of the half. With just under two minutes in the half, Targhee Lambson found paydirt from two yards away for a 21-0 lead.
Turning on the jets ✈️ by the way, @nolimit_targ has THREE touchdowns… in one half
⚡️: 21
🦁: 0📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/4iACyTLdc3
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
The Lions answered quickly with their first touchdown of the game, needing just two plays to cut the deficit to 21-7 heading into the halftime break.
Second half
Both teams traded punts on their first drives of the half, but the T-birds would get the first points of the third quarter on their second drive. With just under eight minutes on the clock, kicker Jayden Rogers nailed a 50-yard field goal to give SUU a three-score advantage (24-7).
Jayden Rodgers kicks a curveball through the uprights from FIFTY 🤯
⚡️: 24
🦁: 7📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/48s8sCKmog
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
North Alabama once again responded quickly, needing just two plays to find a touchdown on a 78-yard drive while making the score 24-13.
The offensive show continued on the next drive, as the Thunderbirds found a score through the air. With 5:33 on the clock, quarterback Jackson Berry delivered a 33-yard touchdown strike to Shane Carr to push the home team’s lead back to three possessions (31-13).
Shane blew the top off the defense for a deep shot TD 💨🎯
⚡️: 31
🦁: 13📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/2SHWJjk76p
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
UNA responded with two more touchdowns in the quarter, cutting the SUU lead down to 31-26.
The T-birds’ defense would extend the lead early in the final frame, thanks to a 48-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Kameron Rocha with 10:51 to play to make it 38-26.
Kameron steps up on defense with the PICK-6!
⚡️: 38
🦁: 26📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/AhCuNHBmmm
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
North Alabama attempted to come back late, but the SUU defense once again delivered. Raymon Crump ended any chance of late magic from the Lions, picking off a pass at the 4-yard line with just over two minutes remaining to seal the victory.
Raymon wrestles it away for SUU’s second INT with just over 2 minutes left
⚡️: 38
🦁: 26📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/q3uUPyrZ2a
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) November 9, 2024
Targhee Lambson continued his historic season for the Thunderbirds, racking up 166 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries.
Jackson Berry also added a solid game through the air, completing 21-of-31 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown, and no turnovers.
While Southern Utah dominated on the ground, the T-birds’ defense held UNA to a mere 35 rushing yards, also forcing the only two turnovers of the game.
With the win, the T-birds improved to 5-5 on the season, including 4-2 in United Athletic Conference action.
SUU football postgame
Up next
The T-birds (5-5, 4-2 UAC) will battle No. 16/19 Central Arkansas on the road next.
SUU and UCA will face off on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. MT. The game can be seen on ESPN+.