STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Football has played some nailbiters this season. Saturday was not one of them.
The No. 13 Texans left no doubt in their Homecoming game against Utah Tech, scoring four touchdowns in the opening quarter and cruising over the Trailblazers 42-0. This was Tarleton State’s second straight 42-0 shutout on Homecoming, and this year’s dominant effort boosted the Texans to a 6-1 overall mark, 3-0 in United Athletic Conference play. The Trailblazers lost their 12th straight game dating back to last season, falling to 0-7 overall, 0-3 in the UAC.
Tarleton had another strong crowd at Memorial Stadium at Saturday night, a crowd that stayed through the blowout to witness a first-of-its-kind experience in Stephenville – a postgame drone show featuring 250 drones that displayed several unique Tarleton State animations. Tarleton also had a premier pregame, hosting a Bart Crow concert at Texan Alley, seeing Sgt. First Class Dana Bowman parachute onto the field, and the Texan Rider returned once again to lead the team onto the field itself.
The Texans opened up a can in the first quarter, scoring their first of four first quarter touchdowns just a minute into the game. Kayvon Britten raced out to a 62-yard score for his first of three touchdowns on the night. On Tarleton’s next drive, the Purple and White scored at ease again, marching 87 yards in 89 seconds. Britten scored again, this time from 18 yards out to put Tarleton ahead 14-0.
On Tarleton’s third drive, the Texans jumped ahead 21-0, with their third rushing touchdown of the game. This time Braelon Bridges got in on the fun, scoring his first touchdown in nearly three years. He dashed it in from three yards out with 1:56 to play.
Tarleton State’s defense then forced its first takeaway of the game on Utah Tech’s next drive, with linebacker Ty Rawls recording his second interception of the season. That led to an almost immediate touchdown by Derrel Kelley III, who punched it in from 10 yards out, making it 28-0 Tarleton with four rushing touchdowns.
Two plays after Tarleton’s fourth touchdown, the Texans forced another takeaway, this time Kasyus Kurns forcing a fumble that was recovered by Jeremiah Postell. Kurns now has three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles on the season.
That led into Tarleton’s first second quarter drive, which the Texans cashed in again. Britten scored his third touchdown of the game and his 12th of the season, boosting Tarleton to a 35-0 lead.
Shortly after, the Texans scored their sixth straight touchdown, their first through the air. Victor Gabalis dropped one into Darius Cooper’s lap for a 71-yard touchdown to boost Tarleton ahead 42-0 with 9:25 in the second quarter.
Tarleton State called off the dogs after that, and neither team scored the remainder of the game. The Texans played most of their backups in the second half and several got quality playing time.
Gabalis completed 10-of-13 for 201 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Daniel Greek spelled him in the second half. The Texans scored five rushing touchdowns, three by Britten, one by Bridges and one by Kelley. Britten had just eight carries in the game and still raced for 135 yards and three scores, averaging 16.9 yards per rush. Bridges had 55 yards rushing and Kelley 50, with Kristian Dalton contributing with 55 rushing yards of his own.
Cooper led the receiving group with 141 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Benjamin Omayebu chipped in 33 yards on three catches.
Defensively, Tarleton State pitched the shutout with two takeaways, three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Brandon Tolvert had 1.5 sacks and 2.0 TFL, totaling five tackles. Courtland Stephens had a sack, and AJ Owens had a half-sack and 1.5 TFL.
Adrian Guzman had a solid day punting, averaging 46.2 yards across six boots, topping out at 59 yards with two punts inside the 20-yard line.
Overall, the Texans outgained the Trailblazers 486 to 228 with a 282-84 rush yard advantage.
The Texans have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11, dating back to last season. They are 7-1 on Homecoming over the past eight years, and 12-3 under head coach Todd Whitten in such games.
Tarleton State now has its second bye week ahead before heading to Austin Peay for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m.
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