ST. GEORGE — Utah Tech’s football team put together its most complete game of the year Saturday night and beat Stephen F. Austin 37-31 to win its first ever United Athletic Conference game.

“It’s big. It’s big for our momentum,” Trailblazers quarterback Koby Tracy told St. George News after the final whistle. “We’re 1-0 in conference.”

Utah Tech used a balanced attack on offense and timely stops on defense to beat the Lumberjacks for the second time in as many years.

In fact, the Trailblazers are now 2-0 against Lumberjacks this season as their two wins (2-4, 1-0 UAC) came against the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona and now Stephen F. Austin.

Utah Tech played a brutal pre-conference schedule from the road for the past month before Saturday night’s win, but the wait was well worth it for the large student section that turned out at Greater Zion Stadium.

The Trailblazers were focused from the opening kickoff. The ran 11 plays, drove 75 yards and capped the drive with when Chris Street took a pitch and ran for a 3-yard for a quick 7-0 lead.

Connor Brooksby later kicked a 40-yard field goal but the Lumberjacks answered and took a 14-10 advantage.

Before halftime Tracy threw the first of his season-high three touchdown passes. Beau Sparks, with a man draped all over him in the corner of the end zone, made a diving grab for a 19-yard touchdown and a 17-14 halftime lead.

The Lumberjacks were motivated coming out of the break, scoring on a well-called TD pass and a field goal for a 24-17 advantage at the 12:52 mark of the third.

But after that it was all Trailblazers. Tracy threw fourth-quarter touchdowns to Rickie Johnson and and Keith Davis and Street ran for another score to complete the rally.

“I feel like we’re clicking on all cylinders,” Tracy said. “We got a lot of great of great playmakers out there, I’m just distributing the ball.”

Utah Tech rolled up 289 passing yards and 172 rushing yards in the win. And while the defense gave up a couple of big plays, it stepped up when it had to and stopped the Lumberjacks in the fourth quarter.

“They had our backs all night,” Tracy said. “When we didn’t execute, they executed. I really appreciate them having my back.”

Following its bye week next week, Utah Tech football heads back out on the road for a UAC game at North Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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