Southern Utah scored a barrage of 29 straight points in the second half to defeat No. 14 UC Davis 38-17 on Saturday at Eccles Coliseum. The Thunderbirds overcame a 17-9 halftime deficit to secure the win, according to a report published October 17.
Running back Floyd Chalk recorded 212 rushing yards on 26 carries, marking the first 200-yard rushing performance by a Thunderbird since Joshua Dye against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 8, 2025. Chalk has surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, becoming the school's third consecutive 1,000-yard rusher following Targhee Lambson in 2024 and Dye in 2025. Quarterback Will Burns contributed to four touchdowns, throwing two passes to tight end Joshua Acord and rushing for two scores, including runs of 35 and 41 yards. Acord finished the game with five receptions for 67 yards and two touchdown catches.
The Southern Utah defense recorded a shutout in the second half, preventing the Aggies from scoring after halftime. Safety Parker Vance recorded 10 tackles and an interception, while Amarion York also secured an interception in the fourth quarter. Other defensive contributors included Mason Stromstad, who had eight tackles, and Aiden Hall, who recorded six tackles, a sack, and 2.0 tackles for loss.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak against UC Davis and marked the Thunderbirds' first victory in the series since 2017. It was also the program's first win over a ranked opponent since victories against No. 13 Abilene Christian and No. 22 Austin Peay last season.
The Thunderbirds will travel to Moscow, Idaho, to face the University of Idaho on Oct. 24. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. MT.
