As the Utah Tech University football team gears up for the 2024 season, all eyes are on the field as they prepare to build on last year’s 2-9 performance.
Following the Trailblazers’ 2023 season, former head coach Paul Peterson was relieved of his coaching position. Peterson was replaced by former Stanford University defensive coordinator Lance Anderson.
“I think just the team in general is a lot happier,” Damani Wilks, a senior applied sociology major from Las Vegas, said. “There aren’t many downers or anyone trying to be a cancer to the team. There’s a lot more camaraderie and everybody’s together.”
Fresh start
With Peterson’s departure, Anderson takes over with a refreshed roster. Former University of Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill, a senior recreation and sport management major from Santa Barbara, California, has assumed control of the offense, with Chris Street as his primary running back.
“Everyone is really hungry,” Hill said. “One of the first things I noticed when I reported in the summer was that even after we went through our summer conditioning, everybody still wanted to get work after each workout, every day of the week.”
On offense, the Trailblazers are returning only one wide receiver who caught a touchdown pass in the 2023 season. Wilks, one of the statistically strongest returning receivers will have an elevated role this year, following the transfer of Beau Sparks to Texas State University.
“My confidence going into the season is that I was allowed the time during the offseason to improve my skills and contribute to the team,” Street, a senior applied sociology major from Eastvale, California, said. “Also, we have a lot of new guys and a new system. The best thing for a successful team is to have guys believe in the new coaches.”
Schedule at a glance
The Trailblazers will open the 2024 campaign Aug. 31, at Greater Zion Stadium against the Montana State University Bobcats. The team will travel to Las Vegas for a matchup against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels at Allegiant Stadium Sept. 7.
Week three will see the Trailblazers host Northern Arizona University. Utah Tech will then travel to the University of California, Davis, for only the second-ever meeting between the Trailblazers and Aggies. The Wildcats from Abilene Christian University will then visit St. George. The first half of the season wraps up with a visit to Northern Alabama University.
Week seven opens the second half of the season with the Trailblazers visiting Tarleton State University, ranked No. 21 in the Football Championship Subdivision. Utah Tech will then return to Greater Zion Stadium to play Austin Peay University. A trip east will conclude their long travel for the season with a matchup against Eastern Kentucky University before returning to Utah for the final three games of the season. The University of Central Arkansas and the University of West Georgia will visit St. George.
Week 12 will see the Trailblazers take the 50-mile trip north to Cedar City for a matchup against Southern Utah University Nov. 23. This game will close out the 2024 regular season and award the winner the Battle Axe.
Week one
Following a 63-20 defeat in last year’s game, the Trailblazers will face the Montana State Bobcats again to open the 2024 season. The game is scheduled to kick off Aug. 31 at 8 p.m.
“I’m excited… It’s just like a slow build,” Street said. “That’s just how I can kind of approach my games. I’m excited. We’ve been practicing, pretty solid. We still have a few things to tweak out, but that just comes. We have another week to practice to kind of get all the kinks worked out.”
As the Trailblazers step on the field for the 2024 season, the team will set the tone for the seasons ahead and mark the beginning of a new chapter for Utah Tech football.
