ST. GEORGE — A year after the Utah Tech University football team played one of its toughest schedules in school history, the Trailblazers again will have to run the gauntlet of formidable Division I teams this fall.
Utah Tech University Athletics released the finalized schedule for the Trailblazers Thursday, and while they will host a total of five home games, their opponents do not get any easier.
According to a press release, University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas) announced it would not join the Western Athletic Conference. Further, according to the release, Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas) departed the WAC and returned to the Southland Conference.
Both of those schools originally were on Utah Tech’s 2022 schedule, so the Trailblazers lost two games.
Athletics director Ken Beazer talked to St. George News about the resulting scramble to secure games Tuesday afternoon.
Utah Tech was able to replace the two lost games with two November home games and maintained its original 11-game schedule.
The finalized schedule has the Blazers on the road for three of its first four games: at Sacramento State to kick off the season Sept. 3; home against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Chadron State Sept. 10; then at in-state rivals Weber State (Sept. 17) and Southern Utah University (Sept. 24) for the conference opener.
WAC rival Abilene Christian will play at Greater Zion Stadium Oct. 1. Then after a bye week, the Blazers hit the road again to face Missouri Valley Football Conference power Northern Iowa Oct. 15.
Utah Tech will return home Oct. 22 to face Sam Houston State, then the Blazers go back to Texas for a WAC game against Stephen F. Austin Oct. 29. Utah Tech will then host SUU for a rematch Nov. 5.
According to the press release, that game will mark the first time the Trailblazers will host the Thunderbirds on a football field in St. George since the two rivals played annually in junior college competition.
Utah Tech’s WAC finale will then come at home against Tarleton State Nov. 12.
And finally the Trailblazers will wrap up the 2022 season in style at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo and will face the BYU Cougars Nov. 19.
According to the press release, kick off for Utah Tech’s first four home games will be at 7 p.m., while the start time for the home finale vs. Tarleton has yet to be finalized.
Season and single-game ticket information for the 2022 campaign will be announced in the coming days.
Utah Tech football schedule, 2022 (opponent, date, Mountain Time start)
- @Sacramento State, Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
- Chadron State, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.
- @Weber State, Sept. 17, 6 p.m.
- @Southern Utah University, Sept. 24, 6 p.m.
- Abilene Christian, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
- @Northern Iowa, Oct. 15, 3 p.m.
- Sam Houston State, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
- @Stephen F. Austin, Oct. 29, 3 p.m.
- Southern Utah University, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
- Tarleton State, Nov. 12, TBD
- @BYU, Nov. 19, 1:30 p.m.
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