STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive shootout, the Tarleton State Texans remained undefeated, outlasting the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 52-42 in a non-conference matchup Saturday night at Tarleton Memorial Stadium.

The game, which featured a combined 1,093 yards of total offense, saw the Texans improve to 5-0, while the Thunderbirds fell to 1-4.

Tarleton State quarterback Daniel Greek was surgical, completing 16 of 21 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. His primary target was Trevon West, who hauled in six catches for 120 yards and a score. The Texans’ ground game was equally potent, led by Tre Page III, who gashed the Thunderbirds’ defense for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Southern Utah kept pace for three quarters behind a spectacular performance from running back Joshua Dye. Dye carried the ball 19 times for 189 yards and four touchdowns, including a 48-yard scoring run on the game’s opening drive and a 59-yard dash in the third quarter.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair. After Dye’s opening touchdown, Tarleton State answered with a 10-yard scoring run from Caleb Lewis. Southern Utah quarterback Will Burns then broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run, but the Texans closed the first quarter with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Greek to West, tying the game at 14.

The second quarter saw both teams trade blows. Lewis scored his second touchdown from 3 yards out, only for Southern Utah to respond with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Burns to Shane Carr. After a 46-yard touchdown run by Page III put the Texans up 28-21, Dye capped another Thunderbird drive with an 18-yard touchdown run, sending the teams into halftime tied at 28.

Tarleton State began to pull away in the third quarter. Greek connected with Peyton Kramer on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Dye answered immediately with his 59-yard run, but the Texans reclaimed the lead for good on Page III’s 4-yard touchdown run. A 32-yard field goal from Brad Larson as time expired in the third quarter extended the Texans’ lead to 45-35.

The decisive blow came early in the fourth quarter when Greek found Cody Jackson for a 30-yard touchdown strike, pushing the lead to 52-35. The Texans’ defense then sealed the game, as defensive back Ja’Voni Melidor intercepted a Burns pass on Southern Utah’s ensuing possession, effectively halting the Thunderbirds’ comeback hopes.

Burns finished with 121 passing yards and a touchdown through the air while adding 101 yards and a score on the ground for Southern Utah.

The final score of 94 points sailed well over the pregame over/under line of 63.5. The result defied the pregame spread, which had installed Southern Utah as a 20.5-point underdog, as the Thunderbirds covered in the high-scoring loss.

Tarleton State looks to continue its perfect season on the road next Saturday at Utah Tech. Southern Utah returns home for a bye week before hosting Abilene Christian on Oct. 18.