Utah Tech seeks consistency, first WAC win after Abilene Christian runs away in second half

ST. GEORGE — A record performance from Utah Tech running back Quali Conley was not enough for a win Saturday night as Abilene Christian piled up 440 yards of offense and beat the Trailblazers 26-10.

The loss at Greater Zion Stadium dropped UT to 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference and 1-4 overall.

Conley galloped for a career-best 148 yards and scored UT’s only touchdown in the game. His 15-yard scoring burst, running over Wildcats as he went, gave the home team a 10-3 lead with 5:56 left in the first half.

ACU kicker Blair Zepeda booted his second field goal later to cut the Trailblazers’ lead to 10-6 at halftime.

UT’s promising start was derailed in the second half when the Wildcats established a punishing ground game.

Utah Tech running back Quali Conley (2) looks for room against Abilene Christian in a WAC football game, St. George, Utah, Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Wildcats sophomore Jermiah Dobbins ran for three touchdowns, racking up 130 rushing yards in the contest.

Meanwhile, UT’s offense struggled. Starting quarterback Koby Tracy, dinged up in last week’s loss to Southern Utah in Cedar City, did not play against ACU. Washington State transfer Victor Gabalis got the start under center.

Gabalis finished with 112 yards on 12-of-34 passing and was sacked by the Wildcats four times.

UT’s passing offense, ranked fourth-best in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) entering the contest, was limited to a season-low 112 yards. ACU’s defense collected one interception as well.

The true tale of the contest is told by one statistic, third down efficiency.

ACU converted 10-of-19 third down attempts, better than half. That meant that the Trailblazers defense was on the field for a long time, wearing out as the game went on.

Meanwhile, UT converted 4-of-15 third down attempts. The Trailblazers offense could not sustain drives, put points on the board or get any rhythm going.

UT’s next game is on the road at Northern Iowa Oct. 15. Its next home game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 22 versus Sam Houston.

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