ST. george – The Pathfinders began their new era in style at the Great Zion Stadium.
Quali Conley rushed for a career-high 139 yards and three touchdowns, the Trailblazer defense forced five second-half turnovers, and Utah Tech cruised to a 56-10 victory over Chadron State on Saturday night.
It was the first game at Greater Zion to feature the new press box and expanded facilities, as well as the new-look Division I Trailblazers on their freshly painted field.
UT (1-1) got on the board five minutes into the game thanks to Conley’s 10-yard run. Meanwhile, Chadron State (0-2) pulled one back with a Jalen Starks 1-yard plunge just 28 seconds into the second quarter.
The Trailblazers got off to a strong start in the third quarter when linebacker Kaijin Smith-Bejgrowicz got in front of a Chadron receiver and put together a 32-yard interception return to tie the game with 1:22 left in the period.
Utah Tech would score two more points in the frame, the first coming on a 7-yard fade from Kobe Tracy to Malcolm Ross-Turner that put the Blazers up 21-7.
UT’s defense collected its second play of the game on the Eagles’ possession when Smith-Bejgrowicz capitalized on a Heath Beimler fumble that was intercepted by defensive back Darius Nash at the Chadron 34.
Tracy then threw a strike to Joey Hobert that moved the Blazers to the Eagles’ 1-yard line, and Conley dove on the next play to extend UT’s lead to 28-7.
Tracy and Hobert would connect for two touchdowns in the fourth, starting with a 38-yard hook on the first play of the stand.
Then 33 seconds later, sophomore safety Terrell Grayson picked up his third career possession and returned it 51 yards to paydirt for his first collegiate pick-6, making it a 42-7 game.
The Blazers defense wasted no time in recording Chadron’s fourth touchdown of the game when Steven Ashby picked off Bemiller at the UT 48.
Tracy then found Hobert on third-and-eight at the Chadron 44, and the sophomore receiver outran the rest of the Eagles defense for the second time of the night.
Conley capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive with a third TD from 1-yard out with less than nine minutes remaining following Chadron’s field goal to give the Trailblazers the win.
Conley carried the ball a season-high 21 times en route to his first collegiate 100-yard rushing day, and his three touchdowns tied him for sixth on UT’s career TD rushing list (9 TDs).
Tracy threw for a career-best 388 yards on 25-of-44 passing to tie for a career-high three touchdowns. It was his second-straight 300-plus yard game as a sophomore to open the season and the fourth of his career.
Hobert finished the night with 161 yards on 11 carries along with a career-high two TDs.
Utah Tech wound up with 561 yards of total offense, including 398 through the air with a career-high 163 rushing yards.
But the story was Chadron State’s Trailblazer defense, which held up just 288 total yards, including just 129 on the ground.
Meanwhile, interceptions were returned for touchdowns by Smith-Bejgrowicz and Grayson for the second time in the program’s NCAA season, and Utah Tech’s defense highlighted that.
Utah Tech will now hit the road for two consecutive in-state road games, starting with Ogden against Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff at Stewart Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
A Utah Tech press release contributed to this post.
Photo gallery
Trailblazers quarterback Kobe Tracy (with the ball) looks to play against Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Trailblazers quarterback Kobe Tracy (with the ball) looks to play against Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech receiver Damani Wilkes tackles Chadron State in St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022. Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech’s defense, led by Devin Perkins (9), forces five second-half turnovers against Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech’s defense, led by Darius Nash (6) and Devin Perkins (9), forces five second-half turnovers against Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech defensive end Devin Perkins commits to tackle Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022. Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech defensive end Devin Perkins commits to tackle Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022. Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Utah Tech receiver Kailyn Daniels at Chadron State, St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
Former Pine View and current Utah Tech kicker Connor Brooksby (43) lines up for a field goal against Chadron State in St. George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2022. | Photo by E. George Gould, St. George News
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