ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — The undefeated Tarleton State Texans showcased a dominant ground attack, led by a record-setting performance from quarterback James Paige, to overpower the Utah Tech Trailblazers 41-23 on Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium.

Paige, a quarterback from Newnan, Georgia, was the engine of the Texans’ offense, rushing for 114 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. He also threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Danny Joiner in the first quarter. His four rushing touchdowns tied a single-game program record, cementing his pivotal role in the victory.

The win pushes Tarleton State’s record to a perfect 6-0 for the season, while Utah Tech falls to 1-5.

The Texans seized control early, scoring on their first two possessions. After Utah Tech’s opening drive stalled, Tarleton State embarked on a methodical 75-yard march capped by Paige’s first touchdown, a 1-yard plunge. The Texans’ defense then forced a quick punt, and the offense needed just one play to strike again. On the ensuing drive, a 29-yard completion from Daniel Greek to Peyton Kramer and a 36-yard burst from Braelon Bridges set up Paige’s second 1-yard scoring run, giving Tarleton State a 13-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.

Utah Tech responded with its most impressive drive of the game. A mix of runs from Reggie Graff and Asa Chatman, coupled with a key 15-yard completion from Graff to Eric Olsen, moved the Trailblazers deep into Texans territory. Graff, a local product from St. George, finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 13-7.

Tarleton State answered immediately, embarking on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that consumed over eight minutes of game clock. The drive was kept alive by a critical third-down conversion from Greek to Trevon West and a 17-yard run from Deangelo Rosemond. It culminated with Paige finding Joiner in the end zone for a touchdown, extending the lead to 20-7 as the first quarter ended.

The second quarter saw both teams trade field goals. Utah Tech’s Ilya Uvaydov connected from 35 yards after a promising drive stalled in the red zone. The Texans, in turn, mounted another long drive but were forced to settle for a Brad Larson field goal. Just before halftime, Utah Tech managed another Uvaydov field goal, this time from 37 yards, to make the score 23-13 at the break.

Any momentum for the Trailblazers was stifled in the third quarter. After a Uvaydov field goal brought Utah Tech within a touchdown at 23-16, Tarleton State delivered a decisive blow. The Texans engineered a 67-yard drive, keyed by a 40-yard connection from Greek to West and a 16-yard scramble by Paige, who finished it with his third 1-yard touchdown run of the day.

The Texans put the game completely out of reach in the fourth quarter. Paige added his record-tying fourth rushing touchdown on a 2-yard run with just over four minutes remaining. Utah Tech managed a late consolation score when Bronson Barben hit Daniel Thomason for a 28-yard touchdown pass, but Tarleton State provided the final exclamation point. Daniel Greek, the starting quarterback from Argyle, Texas, capped the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run with under a minute to play.

While Paige was the star, the Texans’ offense was balanced and efficient. Greek managed the game effectively, completing 13 of 21 passes for 169 yards and adding 19 yards on the ground. The rushing attack amassed over 250 yards, with Rosemond contributing 59 yards and Bridges adding 70.

For Utah Tech, the quarterback combination of Barben and Graff provided sparks. Barben finished 18 of 35 for 174 yards and a touchdown, while Graff was a dynamic threat with his legs, rushing for 57 yards and a score on 12 attempts. Tight ends Eric Olsen and Kaden Eggett were frequent targets, combining for 12 receptions and 122 yards.

The victory keeps Tarleton State, which was projected as a 28.5-point favorite by oddsmakers, on its unbeaten trajectory as it heads into a home contest against West Georgia next Saturday. The Texans have now scored at least 41 points in five of their six games this season. Utah Tech, which saw its total points fall under the betting over/under line of 58.5, will look to regroup during its bye week before hosting Southern Utah on Oct. 25.