ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Texans went 75 yards for the touchdown on their first drive, setting up similar vibes to last year's game in St. George, but the Trailblazers proved to be a much different team this time around. Utah Tech showcased their offensive talent and used a late first half 14-point swing, holding off the Texans to win Saturday night at Greater Zion Stadium 34-28.
 
Tarleton (5-5, 1-3 WAC) outscored Utah Tech 14-3 in the fourth quarter, and nearly recovered a late onside kick that would have provided them the opportunity to win the game. But time wasn't on the Texans' side, and Utah Tech (4-6, 3-3 WAC) held on for the win. The all-time series is now split 2-2, with this the first time the home team has won. Tarleton has lost three straight games for the first time since 2017. Utah Tech has gotten hot late, winning their third straight game for the first time since 2018.
 
Things played out differently than anticipated on Saturday, as Tarleton entered the contest averaging 199.3 rushing yards per game over the last three, before taking on Utah Tech, who entered allowing the most rush yards per game in the WAC at 192.6, 25th most at the FCS level out of 130 programs. Utah Tech ended up outrushing the Texans 230-66, averaging 7.2 yards per rush to Tarleton's 1.8. Kelley was Tarleton's lead back at 18 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns, his fifth and sixth scores of the season.
 
Still, Tarleton stayed close in total yardage thanks to the passing attack, with Beau Allen completing 28-of-48 passes for 397 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Tarleton's leading receiver was Darius Cooper, who recorded his fourth 100+ yard game of the year, the second in his last three games, with 10 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. He's now the team's leading receiver with 48 catches for 908 yards, to go with eight touchdowns. Antwoine Ware also had one of the best games of his career, going for eight catches and 81 yards.
 
Defensively, the WAC's leading tackler, Qua'Shawn Washington, did it all once again, going for a tied-team-high eight tackles, adding a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Donovan Banks also had eight tackles out of the secondary to go with a forced fumble, while Segun Ijiyera had four tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
 
Tarleton got the ball first on Saturday and marched down the field in six minutes, with Kelley punching it in from a yard out to put the Texans ahead 7-0. Tarleton's defense then promptly forced a three-and-out. The Trailblazes would strike on their next drive though, a five-play, 75-yard score, capped off by the WAC's leading receiver, Joey Hobert. He scored his first of two touchdowns of the day from 19 yards to tie the game at 7-7.
 
In the second quarter, Kelley again scored on the ground, this time from 14 yards out to capitalize on an eight-play, 83-yard drive. Utah Tech was seemingly going to score again on a long run near the end zone, but Banks forced a fumble at the 1-yard line, with the ball going out of bounds in the end zone to give Tarleton possession at their own 20. Utah Tech made it a 14-10 Tarleton lead near the end of the first half, giving the Texans the ball with a minute left to extend the halftime difference. The Texans quickly drove down the field and looked to be in position to take a 21-10 lead into the break. However, on 1st-and-Goal from the 8-yard line, Utah Tech's Darrius Nash intercepted it at the 5-yard line and returned it 95 yards for the touchdown to instead put the Trailblazers ahead instead at halftime, 17-14.
 
The Texans couldn't get anything going offensively in the third quarter, forced to punt on all four drives. The Trailblazers scored two touchdowns in the frame to take a 31-14 lead into the fourth, then started the quarter with a field goal to make it 34-14. Allen found Cooper for a 50-yard touchdown on the next drive to keep Tarleton in it, then Mookie Douglas ran it in from two yards out with 1:11 left to make it a 34-28 deficit. Needing the onside kick, Adrian Guzman got a perfect bounce that gave Tarleton a chance, but Utah Tech ended up with it and was able to ice the game.
 
The Trailblazers had big games from their big three, most notably running back Quali Conley. He rushed for 215 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Hobert had 10 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Victor Gabalis completed 22-of-36 passes for 272 yards and those two touchdowns to Hobert.
 
Penalties proved costly to Tarleton, who entered the game as the least penalized team in the WAC. They were flagged 13 times for 130 yards on Saturday.
 
The Texans have one more game remaining in the 2022 slate, a home contest at Memorial Stadium against Houston Christian on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. CT. With a win, Tarleton would earn their third straight winning season to start their NCAA Division I era.