Barron's Late TD Pass Leads Thunderbirds to Victory Over Abilene Christian

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Barron's Late TD Pass to Carr Propels Thunderbirds Past Abilene Christian

Thunderbirds Secure Victory with Last-Minute Touchdown in Cedar City

In a thrilling matchup at Eccles Coliseum, the Southern Utah Thunderbirds clinched a 31-24 victory over the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Saturday night.

With just over two minutes remaining, quarterback Bronson Barron connected with Shane Carr for a decisive 17-yard touchdown pass, breaking a 24-24 tie and securing the win for Southern Utah.

Running back Joshua Dye delivered an outstanding performance, rushing for 179 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

His 18-yard run opened the scoring, and a 1-yard plunge early in the third quarter gave the Thunderbirds a 21-17 lead.

Defensively, Mason Stromstad sealed the victory by intercepting a pass from Abilene Christian's quarterback Stone Earle near midfield with just over a minute left on the clock.

Earlier in the game, Mikey Allen contributed significantly with a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime.

Abilene Christian's offense was led by Jordon Vaughn, who amassed 124 rushing yards on nine carries, and Javon Gipson, who caught three passes for 77 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown that briefly gave the Wildcats a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Stone Earle completed 17 of 23 passes for 225 yards but was hindered by three interceptions.

This victory marks a significant turnaround for Southern Utah, improving their record to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the United Athletic Conference.

The Thunderbirds will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their upcoming rivalry game against Utah Tech at Greater Zion Stadium.

For fans in Cedar City, this win adds excitement to the local sports scene, complementing the ongoing cultural events such as the renowned Utah Shakespeare Festival, which continues to draw visitors and enrich the community's vibrant arts landscape.

As the Thunderbirds continue their season, the support from the Cedar City community remains a driving force behind their pursuit of success on the field.