ST. GEORGE — Growing pains hurt, and the Trailblazers are licking their wounds right now.
For the second week in a row, Utah Tech’s football team did several things very well but still came up short in a 34-30 loss to Eastern Kentucky.
The homecoming defeat at Greater Zion Stadium came one week after Utah Tech lost 31-30 at North Alabama when a Trailblazers’ 2-point conversion pass was deflected on the last play of the game.
Utah Tech (2-6, 1-2 United Athletic Conference) took a 16-14 lead into halftime against EKU (4-4, 3-0 UAC).
Connor Brooksby kicked three field goals for the home team and Keith Davis caught a touchdown pass from Kobe Tracy to provide the halftime lead.
EKU’s senior quarterback Parker McKinney, the UAC preseason offensive player of the year, led the Colonels on a couple of third-quarter scoring drives to reclaim the lead.
Utah Tech rallied behind Tracy, who threw his second touchdown pass to Davis on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut EKU’s lead to 31-30.
The visitors added a field goal midway through the final session.
Then the Colonels looked to put the game away, forgoing another field goal to go for it on fourth and two in Utah Tech’s red zone with a little over three minutes remaining.
But the Trailblazers defense came up with a big stop and got the ball back to Tracy and the offense, down by four with 3:03 left. Tracy promptly connected with Jaivian Lofton for 24 yards.
Utah Tech followed that with two runs by Ronnie Walker Jr. and got to EKU’s 35-yard line.
Chris Street picked up two yards, then Tracy threw an incomplete pass.
On a critical third down play, EKU was whistled for roughing the passer and Utah Tech got a first down on the 18-yard line with 56 seconds remaining.
Tracy threw incomplete to Beau Sparks, who was well defended on the play. Utah Tech then tried a run delay on second down, but EKU’s defense was ready and stuffed it.
On third down with 43 seconds left, Tracy scrambled for two yards and Utah Tech called timeout with 30 seconds remaining.
Then on fourth down Tracy threw for Sparks who was open in the flat, but he couldn’t secure the catch and the Trailblazers were thwarted again on their last play of the game.
The Trailblazers go back out on the road Nov. 4, this time to Texas to face Abilene Christian. Utah Tech’s fourth and final home game of the season will be in St. George on Nov. 18 against Southern Utah.
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