Dixie State defense dominates spring game; quarterback competition as open as ever

Dixie State held its annual spring game on Saturday, and the Trailblazer defense was the story, keeping the offense out of the endzone until late in the scrimmage.

The secondary for the ‘Blazers forced two pick-sixes as the offense sputtered and failed to gain any traction.

Over time, the new offensive system was able to get momentum building, with Boone Abbott and Kobe Tracy each leading touchdown drives.

“We got everybody in, which was awesome,” said head coach Paul Peterson. “We have some guy banged up on both sides of the ball, so we’ll try and get healthy over the summertime. The work that these guys put over the springtime is invaluable. They came out ready to play every practice, every workout, every walkthrough.”

The Trailblazers open their fall schedule on Sep. 3 at Sacramento State.

Defense runs the first half, wins the day

In the opening half of the scrimmage, the Dixie defense dominated, recording a pair of pick-sixes and not allowing a first down for the five drives.

Syrus Webster planted running back Malakai Fakuhua on a third and one to force a three-and-out.

On the next series, tight coverage by Kyle Floyd on Cade Veach forced a wide throw by Kenyon Oblad with the second unit.

On the third series, Jonah Henry jumped Kobe Tracy’s first pass for a pick-six.

With Boone Abbott back in for his second drive, Floyd came on a corner blitz from the weak side and perhaps rushed a throw from Abbott who missed an open AJ Simpson-Battle.

Oblad went under center and delivered a late pass, which was subsequently picked by Devyn Perkins.

“They had a wide-split outside, and we’re taught to think he’s going to go inside and so I was just waiting for it,” Perkins said. “Little take it to the crib.”

Dixie’s offense was only allowed a first down on a call by head coach Paul Peterson. Tracy then found a wide-open Christian Lancellotti across the middle for a first down and the offense’s biggest play in the opening hour.

“Statistically over the springtime I don’t think we had a pick-six all spring so to get two in the spring game, good for those guys,” Peterson said. “Perkins made a good play and Jonah made a really good play. Our quarterbacks have done a tremendous job all springtime and to have two almost back-to-back is kind of unfortunate in the spring game.”

Every pass by a Dixie QB was contested outside of the completion to Lancellotti. That drive stalled with a Connor Brooksby missed field goal.

“Relentless,” Perkins said. “Coach preaches relentlessness every practice, every film study and in 11-on-11. Just doing our job.”

Later in the session, senior Devin Chandler was called for a defensive pass interference that led to a first down. On the next series, Chandler made up for his mistake, jumping a route and getting a pass breakup in the process.

Sophomore Gabriel Valenzuela recorded a pair of PBUs in the second half.

Arguably the most impressive part of the work done by the secondary was that it was done without the services of freshman All-American Tyrell Grayson and senior Darrius Nash.

The two were starting safeties for the Trailblazers last year and are currently nursing off-season surgeries.

Still no inside track on QB1

Following the spring game, Peterson wouldn’t say which of the three QBs battling for the QB1 had the inside track.

Incumbent Kobe Tracy had a pick-six but bounced back later in the practice. Tracy connected with sophomore tight end Jay McEuen on a slant and also found Mason Paulo for a connection.

Tracy was lucky to not throw another interception, throwing off his back foot into double coverage. Tracy also missed Lancellotti on one of the few deep shots the Dixie offense took on the afternoon.

Hawaii transfer Boone Abbot had the best throw of the day, placing a ball perfectly on the back shoulder of sophomore wide receiver AJ Simpson-Battle.

The touchdown strike was the first touchdown of the day for the Dixie State offense. Abbott also showed off the legs with a scramble earlier in the drive that helped set up the score.

Abbott also completed his first throw to David Fisher on a quick out.

“it’s going to go all the way through camp,” said Peterson of his quarterback competition. “Kobe started the last few games for us last year and did some really good things to spark our offense and our team. Boone’s had a really good spring ball and has picked up things fast. Also, Kenyon has had a really good spring.”

“Whoever is going to be the most consistent is going to be our starting quarterback,” Peterson said.

New offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann echoed Peterson’s sentiments about consistency.

“Today really reflected a lot of who they’re starting out to be,” Stutzmann said. “They all got better but I think Boone did a good job of moving around the pocket. He got backside and he threw a touchdown pass which is what we’ve tried to do the last two weeks and we finally hit one today.

“Kobe did some good things. He moved the ball pretty (well),” Stutzmann continued. “He’s being a little bit more accurate with his throws, but there’s a lot of hot and cold there.”

Tracy hit Keishaun Dudley on a screen, and the sophomore wideout from West Valley City did the rest.

Dudley broke outside and made a pair of defenders miss to get into the endzone.

Offense comes together late

It took until the second part of the spring game for Stutzmann’s crew to get its feet under them.

Learning a new system has taken its time this spring.

That was evident early on, as quarterbacks missed receivers and the Trailblazers' run defense allowed next to nothing on the ground.

Eventually, the Trailblazer offense was able to piece together drives and pick up yards on the ground and air.

Quali Conley was given limited touches on the ground game, and Malakai Fakuhua was consistently bottled up.

Calvin Ervin had the flashiest run of the day, shaking a couple of defenders at the line of scrimmage before using a spin move to bounce outside and pick up a first down.

“They had some good run plays,” said Stutzmann. “It would’ve been nice to see them fall forward a little bit more, especially on the opening drive where we have a 3rd and 1 and we just have to get one yard and we just get stuffed.”

Stutzmann said his team added new plays during the week and had hit-or-miss success with the new looks.

All in all, it was a win for the defense over the course of the two hours.

“I think they’re starting to see the reads a little bit sooner and they’re starting to trust what the reads are,” said Stutzmann of his passing game. “So now it’s just creating that bond, that chemistry, between quarterback and receiver.”

Stutzmann said his offensive line did a good job of holding up against the Dixie front seven.

Peterson presents Williams with a scholarship

After the scrimmage, Peterson gathered his club for parting words.

In those words, Peterson announced that redshirt freshman Jagger Williams would be brought on scholarship.

The defensive back from Culver City High School in California was subsequently mobbed by his teammates in celebration.

“It’s a blessing. I worked for it,” said Williams. “I knew that if I came in and went all out, I would get one so I’m just thankful for my coaches and thankful for my teammates. It’s just a blessing.”

Williams said he was in contact with other Division I programs, but COVID-19 put a halt on his recruitment.

“Coming out as a walk-on, that’s hard,” Peterson said. “You have your back against the wall, you’re fighting for a spot on the team, let alone a scholarship and he’s just embraced his role. He’s done everything right, and that part’s fun for me (is) to reward a scholarship to a guy who’s worked their tail off.”

Williams entered the spring with a chip on his shoulder and was part of the defensive backfield that was flying around all over the place on Saturday afternoon.

“In the secondary, we’re all ballhawks,” said Williams. “In the secondary, we call ourselves the Jack Boys because we take everything. Today we proved that. It’s just a testament to our coaches.”

Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: DSU defense dominates spring game; quarterback competition wide open