T-Birds Fall Short Against UC-Davis, 24-21

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah took on #15 UC Davis in the home opener for the Thunderbirds. The Aggies prevailed in a tight battle with a final score of 24-21. The Thunderbirds fall to 1-2 on the season, while UC Davis moves to 2-1 on the year.

1st Quarter: Quick Start

The Thunderbirds opened the game with a strong start, as LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown just two minutes into the game. UC Davis responded with a field goal by Hunter Ridley late in the first quarter, bringing the score to 7-3.

2nd Quarter: The Battle Continues

In the second quarter, Targhee Lambson extended Southern Utah's lead with a three-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 88-yard drive. UC Davis added another field goal as time expired in the half, closing the gap to 14-6.

3rd Quarter: Aggies Take the Lead

The third quarter saw UC Davis take control, scoring two touchdowns within three minutes—one on a 10-yard pass to Winston Williams and another on a 60-yard strike to Lan Larison. Ridley's third field goal of the day extended their lead to 24-14.

4th Quarter: To the last second

Southern Utah rallied late in the fourth quarter with another short touchdown run by Lambson after a long drive of the field, cutting the deficit to 24-21. Despite the late surge, the Thunderbirds were unable to complete the comeback as a pass from Bronson Barron was intercepted in UC Davis territory with just 25 seconds left in the game.

Offensive Leaders

Senior running back Targhee Lambson led Southern Utah's offense with an impressive performance, rushing for 149 yards on 24 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt, and scoring both of SUU's offensive touchdowns. Lambson's longest run of the game was a 40-yard burst that put the T-Birds in striking distance. Braedon Wissler also contributed on the ground, adding 36 yards on seven carries, while quarterback Jackson Berry chipped in 34 rushing yards. Through the air, senior Mark Bails was the leading receiver, hauling in seven receptions for 45 yards, while tight end Joshua Acordprovided a spark with a 27-yard catch. Despite the ground game's success, the Thunderbirds struggled to generate momentum in the passing game, totaling just 130 yards through the air.

Defensive Leaders

Redshirt defensive back Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson made the game's most impactful play with a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving the Thunderbirds an early lead. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore was a force in the backfield, recording 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for 12 yards. Devyn Perkins and Mason Stromstad tied for the team lead in tackles, each contributing six total tackles. Safety George Ramirez and defensive lineman Payton Payne also made key stops, with both players recording tackles for loss. Defensive pressure was consistent throughout the game, with Rylen Sua-Filo and Parker Andrus adding sacks to keep UC Davis on edge.

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will finish their non-conference slate next Saturday, September 21, on the road at Idaho State. Southern Utah will take on the Bengals in the final non-conference matchup of the season. The game will kick off at 4:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.