In their season opener, Utah Tech University’s football team lost 7-31 to Montana State University in a game that they were held to six first downs offensively.
Montana State controlled the game throughout, largely due to their ability to control the line of scrimmage. They rushed for 335 yards after rushing for 362 yards in their win against New Mexico University last week. Montana State running back Scottre Humphrey led the rushing attack with 20 carries for 104 yards. Quarterback Tommy Mellott also had six carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
The Utah Tech defense did show some promise as they were left on the field for a majority of the game and came up with some stops in the red zone.
“I felt all night long they competed and never gave up,” Lance Anderson, Utah Tech head football coach, said. “The defense was put in a tough position; they were on the field a lot but they battled. Now, execution still has to be better.”
Utah Tech’s offense struggled throughout the game, starting with ten three-and-outs before finally moving the chains in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Deacon Hill went 11-23 with 104 yards passing and the Trailblazers rushed for 64 yards. In the first three quarters, Utah Tech was held to just 41 yards of total offense.
In the fourth quarter, the offense did start to get going. Hill scored on a 24-yard run that put Utah Tech on the board. The Trailblazers failed to reach the end zone again but were able to move the ball more effectively.
“We had a tough start but we showed life at the end, so I’m hoping to see some promise out of the offense here,” Utah Tech spectator Nolan Houskeeper, a junior electrical engineering major from Boise, Idaho, said. “We are just getting started and making sure that we can start to connect, get the rust off and feel put together as a team when it comes to the actual field play.”
While the game was largely out of reach, being able to score and move the ball more effectively allows for the offense to make adjustments going forward. Along with the bright moments for the offense and defense, the special teams unit blocked a Montana State field goal and forced a miss later in the game.
Despite the loss, Utah Tech fans still hope that the team can make the necessary adjustments as the season wears on.
“We held close with them all night long,” spectator Sonya Scriven, a sophomore exercise science major from Grantsville, said. “As we get our positioning better and our offense gets to know each other better, it will be a big help.”
Utah Tech heads on the road next week to play the University of Las Vegas, Nevada Sept. 7. UNLV opened their season with a 27-7 win against Houston University as they prepare to host the Trailblazers next week.