Quickly: Southern Utah University wraps up a three-game road stretch this weekend when the Thunderbirds open Big Sky Conference play at Northern Colorado in a Saturday afternoon game.
Southern Utah (3-1/0-0 Big Sky) won it's second cliff-hanger of the season in overtime at Sacramento State last week, 24-21. After trailing the entire game the Thunderbirds scored and added a 2-point conversion with 31 seconds to go to send the game to OT, then pulled out the win with a 38-yard Colton Cook field goal in the first overtime period. SUU opened the season with a 22-21 win at South Alabama when Cook hit a 33-yarder as time expired in regulation.
Northern Colorado (1-3/0-0 Big Sky) opened with a 31-10 home win against Langston University but has lost its last three, including a 26-7 setback at home against then No. 7 Northern Iowa last week. The Bears also lost at home to Division II's fifth-ranked team, Colorado State-Pueblo (41-36) in the second week of the season and at Wyoming (35-7) two weeks ago.
The Game: Southern Utah (3-1/0-0) at Northern Colorado (1-3/0-0), Saturday at 1:35 p.m. (MDT) at Nottingham Field (8,533/Grass).
Radio: All of Southern Utah's 2013 football games will be available over the Thunderbird Sports Network. SUU flagship station KSUU (91.1 FM) will carry every game live as well as on the worldwide web at www.suu.edu/ksuu. SUU Athletic Media Relations Director Neil Gardner will handle the play-by-play while the T-Birds' regular voice, Dr. Art Challis, visits China on a two-week exchange program. Matt Roan, a former all-conference performer for the Thunderbirds, will provide color commentary.
Video Highlights: High definition video highlights of ALL of the Thunderbirds' home and road games will be available to accredited media outlets via SUU's FTP site. For information on obtaining those highlights contact SUU Director of Athletic Media Relations Neil Gardner.
Live Internet Video on WatchBigSky.com: Internet telecasts of all of SUU's home games as well as its Big Sky road games are available through WatchBigSky.com (formerly BigSkyTV). The broadcasts are free of charge but a subscription is necessary and viewers need to download the latest versions of Adobe Flash and Octoshape if they do not already have them (the downloads are available on WatchBigSky.com). Viewers who had an account with BigSkyTV will be able to use that account to access WatchBigSky.com.
TV: Saturday's game will not be televised.
Media Availability: Players and coaches are available for interviews on Tuesdays following practice, at approximately 7:00 p.m. To contact a player or coach on another day or time, or to arrange telephone interviews, contact Neil Gardner at gardner@suu.edu or 435-586-7753.
Thunderbird Practice Schedule: The players are off on Mondays, with daily practices Tuesday through Friday. Tuesday practices are scheduled to begin at 5:35 p.m., Wednesday practices will begin at 5:30, while Thursday and Friday practices will start at 4:45 p.m.
The Series: This will be just the fourth meeting between the two programs on the football field and UNC has won two of the previous three. The Bears won the first two match-ups, a 29-25 victory in Cedar City in 2003 and a 42-7 win the following year in Greeley, but SUU came out on top the last time the two met with a 20-17 overtime win in Cedar City during the 2005 season.
Thunderbird Club Luncheons: The Thunderbird Club's weekly no-host luncheon is held Mondays at noon at the Cedar City Crystal Inn. The public is invited to attend the luncheons where Southern Utah's in-season coaches talk about their upcoming contests and review the past week's action.
Next Up/Remaining Schedule:
The Thunderbirds return home to host UC Davis next Saturday in the first of back-to-back home games. The annual Homecoming contest is a week later, Oct. 12, when the Thunderbirds host Portland State.
Following a road trip to Eastern Washington on Oct. 19, the 'Birds return home for a game against Idaho State on Oct. 26 before a bye the week of Nov. 2. The final two road games of the season, at Weber State (Nov. 9) and Montana State (Nov. 16) follow.
The regular season wraps up with a home game against Northern Arizona (Nov. 23).
The Coaches
A 2010 Eddie Robinson Award nominee, SUU's Ed Lamb (BYU, 1996) has a record of 29-30 in his sixth season as the Thunderbird head coach and his sixth season as a head coach overall. Last year Lamb guided the Thunderbirds to a 5-6 record, including a 4-4 mark in SUU's first season in the Big Sky Conference. In 2011 he led the T-Birds to their second straight winning season and their first win over an FBS-level opponent (UNLV) since 1997. He led the team to a Great West Conference championship in 2010 when the Thunderbirds went undefeated in GWC play and finished the season with a 6-5 overall mark. Prior to taking over at SUU, Lamb spent three seasons at the University of San Diego where he coordinated the special teams and recruiting and was the Toreros' defensive backs coach. Lamb also spent two seasons as defensive coordinator at Idaho, a season at BYU as a linebackers coach and four seasons at the University of Redlands, three as defensive coordinator and one as defensive line coach. Lamb is 0-0 vs. the Bears.
Northern Colorado's Earnest Collins, Jr. (Northern Colo., 1996) is 6-20 in his third season at the helm of the Bear program and 14-32 overall in his fifth season as a head coach. Collins is 0-0 vs. the Thunderbirds.
Affiliations: Southern Utah is a member of the Big Sky Conference in the majority of its sports, including football (gymnastics is an independent while men's golf will compete in the American Sky Conference this season). Northern Colorado is also a member of the Big Sky Conference.
Martin Named National Player of the Week by CSN
Southern Utah true freshman running back Raysean Martin has earned National All-Star honors from College Sporting News for his play at Sacramento State, CSN has announced. Martin is one of five players so honored by CSN this week.
Martin, a freshman running back from Hayward, Calif. (Tennyson HS), helped lead the Thunderbirds to the 24-21 overtime win by carrying 26 times for 131 yards and all three of the SUU touchdowns. He also completed a 33-yard pass for a first down during the team's game-tying drive at the end of regulation play. His carries, yards and touchdowns were all career-highs and the three TDs were the most by an SUU running back since Major Gray had four scoring runs against UC Davis in 2009.
Martin is Southern Utah's first player to be honored by College Sporting News this season.
He is joined by Stephen F. Austin running back Gus Johnson, Southern Illinois linebacker Bryan Presume, Gardner-Webb defensive tackle O.J. Le'iatua Mau and Richmond defensive back Wayne Pettus as CSN honorees this week.
Notes from the Sacramento State Game:
• Raysean Martin carried 26 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns, career-high numbers in all three categories. He also completed a pass to Fatu Moala for 33 yards and a first down on the team's final drive of regulation.
• Martin's three rushing TDs were the most on the ground by a Thunderbird since Major Gray ran for four touchdowns at home against UC Davis in 2009.
• SUU went without forcing a turnover for the first time this season and just the second time in the last two seasons. SUU was also on the short end of the turnover battle for the first time this year, as the Hornets notched an interception.
• Colton Cook's game-winning field goal was the 38th of his SUU career, tying him with Herkey Marxen (1987-90) atop the SUU career chart. It was also Cook's second game-winner on the final play of the game this year, as he lifted the team to a 22-21 win at South Alabama as time expired.
• It was SUU's first win in Sacramento since the 1993 season but just the third meeting in Sacramento since '93.
• WR Fatu Moala had 11 catches for 127 yards, both team single-game highs this year; the 11 catches tied a career-high while the 127 yards are his second-most in a game. Moala moved from 10th place into a tie for sixth on SUU's career receptions list (110) and from 10th into seventh on the career receiving yards list (1,363) with the effort.
• Griff McNabb had two official receptions in the game but had another that won't show up in the official statistics as he caught a tipped ball to complete the 2-point conversion and tie the game at 21-21 with 31 seconds to play, effectively sending the game into overtime.
• Brock Miller punted seven times, pinning the Hornets inside the 20 with four of them.
• Chad Hansen tallied a personal season-high 12 tackles to lead the team.
• James Cowser had eight tackles, including two for losses. One of the TFLs was a sack on third down in overtime that effectively forced the Hornets to attempt an unsuccessful 45-yard field goal. It was the T-Birds' only sack on the night.
SUU In The FCS National Ranks:
SUU has nine players ranked among the FCS top-50 in 10 statistical categories, while the team figures among the top-30 programs in 13 categories.
Defense: DE James Cowser is the highest-ranking Thunderbird this week, in fifth in tackles per loss with 2.1 per game, while Matt Holley ranks 20th in TFLs with 1.6 per game. Holley also ranks 29th in fumbles recovered with 0.5 per game while Tommy Collet Jr.'s average of 0.5 interceptions per game ranks 30th and Austin Anderson's 0.33 fumbles forced per game is 42nd.
Offense: On the offensive side of the ball RB Raysean Martin has tallied five rushing TDs this season, the 12th-best mark in the FCS and he is 46th in total rushing yards with 287. TE Anthony Norris is 22nd in receiving touchdowns with three while QB Aaron Cantu's five passing TDs ranks 42nd.
Special Teams: Punter Brock Miller ranks 16th in the nation with a 43.4 yards per punt average while kicker Colton Cook is 23rd in field goals per game with 1.3.
Team: In the team categories, SUU is tied for first in fourth down conversion percentage (100 percent) and fumbles lost (zero), is seventh in fumbles recovered with five and ranks eighth in both red zone defense (61.5 percent conversion rate) and time of possession (34:43). The Thunderbirds are 11th in net punting (40.12 ypp), 15th in turnover margin (plus-1.3), and are 16th in red zone offense (93.8 percent success) and total turnovers gained (nine). SUU is 22nd in turnovers lost with four, 25th in both third down conversion defense (.327) and rushing defense (121.5 ypg), and are 27th with four total interceptions.
T-Birds Receiving Votes In Polls: Southern Utah was listed among the others receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches and the Sports Network's top-25 polls this week. SUU was 32nd in the coaches poll with eight points and 33rd in the Sports Network poll with 154 points.
ROOT Sports Players of the Week:
Junior linebacker Matt Holley was named ROOT Sports Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week following the Fort Lewis game. Holley tallied three tackles for loss, including a sack, forced one fumble and recovered two more fumbles on the night. All three of the fumble plays resulted in scores, either directly or indirectly. He returned his first fumble recovery 18 yards for SUU's second touchdown of the game while the other came at the FLC 19 yard line and the Thunderbirds scored on the next play. His solo sack and fumble-forced came on the same play when FLC QB Jordan Doyle coughed up the ball and Toi Taufa picked it up and returned it 40 yards, setting up another SUU touchdown.
Senior placekicker Colton Cook was named ROOT Sports Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week following the South Alabama game. Cook, a senior from Bountiful, Utah (Viewmont HS) was 3-3 on field goals and 1-1 on extra points in the Thunderbirds' 22-21 win at South Alabama. He scored the first and last points of the game, on a 33-yard field goal to stake SUU to a 3-0 first quarter lead and a 28-yarder as time expired to lift the Thunderbirds to the 22-21 victory. He also had a 37-yarder in the third period and was perfect on his only point after touchdown attempt.
College Football Performance Awards:
Raysean Martin earned honorable mention from the CFPA for his play at Sacramento State. The freshman running back from Hayward, Calif., helped lead the Thunderbirds to the win by carrying 26 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns. His carries, yards and touchdowns were all career-highs and the three TDs were the most by an SUU running back since Major Gray had four TD runs against UC Davis in 2009.
Quarterback Aaron Cantu was named National Quarterback of the Week for his play against Fort Lewis by College Football Performance Awards, while punter Brock Miller, linebacker Matt Holley and safety Miles Killebrew each earned honor roll recognition. Cantu completed 15-of-16 pass attempts for 136 yards and four touchdowns, giving him a quarterback efficiency rating of 247.65 for the game. Miller averaged 48 yards per punt and pinned the Skyhawks inside the 20 twice, including once on the two. Holley had three tackles, all for losses, forced a fumble and recovered two more and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery. Killebrew also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery, an 89-yarder which was the second-longest in SUU history, and had three solo tackles.
Cook and Holley were both honored for their play at South Alabama. Cook was named National Placekicker of the Week, while Holley, a junior from Las Vegas, Nev. (Centennial HS) earned honorable mention from the CFPA for his performance in the game. Holley led SUU with a career-high 13 tackles. He also led team with six solo tackles and three tackles-for loss. On USA's final drive he had a tackle for a 4-yard loss on second down and a QB hurry on third, forcing the Jaguars to punt and setting up SUU's winning drive. Cook's contributions are detailed above.
Records Watch: Colton Cook's 38-yard game-winning field goal against Sacramento State put him into a tie atop SUU's career-field goals list with Herkey Marxen at, appropriately, 38. His four points against the Hornets give him 181 career points, which is eighth on the SUU list (17 behind seventh place Kelvin Minefee, 1988-89) and his 67 PATs are just one shy of Joe Wells' (1978-80), who is currently fourth on the list. Senior WR Fatu Moala shot up the SUU career top-10 in a pair of categories against SAC as his season-high 11 catches for 127 yards give him 110 career catches for 1,363 yards, numbers which rank sixth and seventh, respectively, on the SUU career lists. He now needs two receptions to move past former teammate Jared Ursua (2008-11) and into fifth place on the receptions list and 21 yards to pass Tex Anthony (1969-71) and into sixth on the yardage list. With two touchdowns he will also move into a tie for ninth in SUU's career receiving TDs list (he is currently 11th with nine). Brock Miller's seven punts for 293 yards at Sac State dropped his career average from 42.85 yards to 42.79 yards per kick but it is still the highest career average in SUU history.
Thunderbird Quick Hits:
• At 3-1 the Thunderbirds have equalled their best start in the Ed Lamb era. The team also started 3-1 in 2011 when it lost the opener at South Dakota State but came back to post home wins over Sacramento State and UT San Antonio and a road win at UNLV before falling at home to North Dakota in game five and eventually finishing 6-5. SUU hasn't started 4-1 since 1997.
• SUU is now 4-1 in overtime games. Since losing a 42-34 decision at Hampton in 2000 in their first OT game the Thunderbirds have won their last four extra session games: a 23-17 double-overtime win at home over South Dakota State in 2004, a 20-17 home win over Northern Colorado in 2005, a 35-29 triple-OT win at Northern Arizona last season and the 24-21 win at Sacramento State on Sept. 21.
Scouting the Bears:
In contrast to the Thunderbirds, who have played just one home game so far this season, Northern Colorado will be playing its fourth home game of the 2013 campaign on Saturday.
Northern Colorado's statistics and those of the opponents are very similar this season, belying the 1-3 overall record. The Bears have put up 1,580 yards of total offense this season while their opponents have 1,553. UNC has averaged 94.2 yards per game on the ground and 300.8 through the air while allowing opponents an average of 139.2 rushing and 248.8 passing yards per game.
Senior quarterback Seth Lobato, who did not play last week and is questionable for Saturday's game, has completed 60-of-98 passes for 828 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions, while senior Tim Tancik, who started against Northern Iowa, has completed 33-of-56 for 375 yards and a score with three picks.
Senior WR Jace Davis – who is sixth on the Bears' career receiving yards list with 2,026 and fifth on the receptions list with 139 – leads the team with 23 receptions and three touchdowns despite missing a game, while junior Dimitri Stimphil has a team-high 391 receiving yards and two touchdowns via 18 receptions. Junior Will Jefferson also has 18 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown but the Bears spread the ball around as 10 players have at least one reception this season and five are in double-figures.
Senior Tromaine Dennis leads the team in rushing with 57 carries for 221 yards and two scores in just three games while freshman Darius Graham has carried 30 times for 135 yards and a pair of scores.
Defensively LB Max Flores leads the Bears with 38 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while all-Big Sky LB Clarence Bumpas has 30 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and has broken up a team-best two passes. NG Lexington Smith also has two sacks and a pair of Bears, FS Kyle Griffin and LB Conor Sparacio, have each intercepted two passes. Twelve Bears have tallied tackles for losses and six have been in on at least one sack.
Big Sky Teleconference: The Big Sky Conference holds a weekly coaches teleconference, Wednesdays beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain). For information on accessing the teleconference, contact SUU Director of Athletic Media Relations Neil Gardner. The schedule follows:
10:00 a.m. MTN (9:00 PCT) – Rob Ash, Montana State
10:08 a.m. MTN (9:08 PCT) – Chris Mussman, North Dakota
10:16 a.m. MTN (9:16 PCT) – Ed Lamb, Southern Utah
10:24 a.m. MTN (9:24 PCT) – Jody Sears, Weber State
10:32 a.m. MTN (9:32 PCT) – Mike Kramer, Idaho State
10:40 a.m. MTN (9:40 PCT) – Mick Delaney, Montana
10:48 a.m. MTN (9:48 PCT) – Earnest Collins Jr., No. Colorado
10:56 a.m. MTN (9:56 PCT) – Jerome Souers, No. Arizona
11:04 a.m. MTN (10:04 PCT) – Nigel Burton, Portland State
11:12 a.m. MTN (10:12 PCT) – Marshall Sperbeck, Sacramento State
11:20 a.m. MTN (10:20 PCT) – Beau Baldwin, E. Washington
11:28 a.m. MTN (10:28 PCT) – Tim Walsh, Cal Poly
11:36 a.m. MTN (10:36 PCT) – Ron Gould, UC Davis
