ST. GEORGE — Joey Hobert and Quali Conley had record-setting days, Darrius Nash returned an interception for a 95-yard touchdown and Utah Tech rolled to its third win in a row Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium.
The Trailblazers took a 17-14 lead into halftime and then held on to beat Western Athletic Conference foe Tarleton State 34-28.
“Guys played tremendously hard. We got them out of their game as far as what they wanted to do, and we made enough plays to win the football game,” Utah Tech coach Paul Peterson told St. George News. “That was fun. Fun win for our guys.”
The Trailblazers took a 17-14 lead into halftime despite possessing the ball almost a full seven minutes less than the Texans.
The visitors used a ball-control offense, scoring touchdowns after drives of 14 and eight plays. The Texans held the ball for nearly the first six minutes of the game and took a 7-0 lead after Derrel Kelley III ran into the end zone from 1-yard out.
Utah Tech came right back and responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Victor Gabalis to Joey Hobert. It was Hobert’s 13th touchdown catch of the season.
The junior transfer from Washington State notched his Utah Tech single-season record 14th touchdown catch for the Trailblazers later in the third quarter.
“Whenever you go anywhere, whether you transfer or not, you want to make new goals every year,” Hobert said. “My goal coming in here was just to play ball and whatever happens, happens. I’m making those catches but the credit all goes to the line and the QB’s, the wide receivers and the running backs blocking for me.”
Kelley’s second score, a 1-yard touchdown run, was followed by a Connor Brooksby 21-yard field goal for Utah Tech and the Texans led 14-10.
It looked like Tarleton was on its way to taking the before halftime before Nash, reading the Texans quarterback the whole play, intercepted a pass and took it 95 yards to the house, giving the Trailblazers the lead again and they would never lose it.
“I was just trusting my teammates,” Nash said. “Jordan Scott, he’s the other safety, he protected my inside. We passed off the routes and it worked out perfectly. We trusted that everybody would be where they’re supposed to be and it allowed me to make that play.”
Nash’s play deflated the Tarleton sideline and the Texans were playing catchup all during the second half.
Gabalis tossed his second TD pass to Hobert, a 16-yarder, and then Conley busted through the Tarleton defense for a 35-yard touchdown scamper that put the home team ahead 31-14 at the 2:10 mark of the third quarter.
Conley’s 215 rushing yards against the Texans were a career best and propelled the sophomore over the 1,000 yard mark for the season.
“I feel good. Got the win today,” Conley said before using a colorful expression to describe how well the offensive line played. “Great team win. We’re attacking it at practice, day in and day out. We always say last week wasn’t good enough, we always have room to improve.”
Brooksby, a Pine View High School graduate, booted another field goal, this one from 22 yards, that put the Trailblazers up 34-14 with 11:09 remaining.
A touchdown reception by Darius Cooper and a TD run by Ontario Douglas brought Tarleton within six points with 1:11 remaining, but Utah Tech recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
The loss dropped Tarleton to 1-3 in WAC play, 5-5 overall.
Utah Tech finished 2-2 in the WAC and is 4-6 overall, winners of three in a row before heading to its season finale at BYU Nov. 19.
“I think we’ve been patient with our guys and they’ve believed,” Peterson said. “We were 1-6 at one point. The guys keep showing up to work and having a good time and believing in one another.”
Saturday’s game at Greater Zion was special for the seniors on the team.
“Amazing. There’s no better way to go out,” Nash said. “Our last game at home, pick six. Yeah, that’s a good way to go out.”
Photo Gallery
The Utah Tech defense attacks Tarleton State in a WAC football victory, St. George, Utah, Nov.12, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech sophomore and Pine View High School graduate Connor Brooksby warms up on the sideline during a WAC win over Tarleton State, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech junior Joey Hobert runs the ball in a WAC win over Tarleton State, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech junior Joey Hobert runs the ball in a WAC win over Tarleton State, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech freshman Jayden Sheridan (4) and senior Darrius Nash (6) on the sideline during a 34-28 win over Tarleton State, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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