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Week 6
Southern Utah (1-4, 1-0 Big Sky) at Cal Poly (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky)
7:05 p.m. (MT) • Alex G. Spanos Stadium • San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Radio - www.suutbirds.com
Stream - www.watchbigsky.com
Live Stats - suutbirds.com | gopoly.com
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 30 - Southern Utah University football will open its Big Sky Conference road slate with a game at Cal Poly on Saturday night. The Thunderbirds will be looking to snap a 13-game losing streak against the Mustangs in San Luis Obispo, where CPU has never lost to SUU.
The T-Birds will enter the game coming of their first victory of the season, a 31-28 win over Weber State last Saturday. Southern Utah capitalized on four Wildcat turnovers and tuned the miscues into 14 points during the game. SUU also cut down on their own turnovers and finished the game without a fumble or interception for the first time this season.
The result was one of five conference victories for Thunderbird athletes over the weekend with volleyball and soccer also posting wins.
Scouting Cal Poly
Cal Poly will enter the game on Saturday with an overall record of 1-3 with its lone victory coming against Portland State, 42-14. The Mustangs lost a close 38-35 battle against Northern Arizona last week in their Big Sky opener.
CPU runs an option on offense and averages 306.5 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Chris Brown leads the attack with 403 yards rushing, averaging just over 100 yards per game (100.8). He is followed by slotback Kori Garcia with 323 yards on 54 attempts, averaging a team-best 6.0 yards per carry.
The system rarely throws the ball as Jordan Hines and Brandon Howe are tied for the team lead with six receptions apiece. Hines has been the big-play receiver, averaging 21.0 yards per catch.
The Mustang defense has allowed opponents an average of 31.0 points per game and 414.2 yards, including 222.2 yards on the ground and 192.0 yards through the air. Nick Dzubnar leads the defense with 54 tackles and is second on the team with 3.0 tackles for loss. The CPU defense have collected three interceptions, but have yet to force a fumble.
The Series
Cal Poly holds a 15-3 advantage over the Thunderbirds in the series and have not lost in 13 games in California. The two teams last met in 2011 when CPU bested Southern Utah 31-27 in San Luis Obispo.
Last time against Cal Poly
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Oct. 15, 2011 - Southern Utah got the fast start it wanted. It got somewhat of a running game going. It threw the ball successfully. The Thunderbirds either led or were tied for the first 59:15 of the game. But in the end, Cal Poly did what it has done since the second time the Mustangs hosted the Thunderbirds, in 1988, it won the game in the end for their 13 straight home win in the series.
Last Week
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 27 - Southern Utah University scored a season-high 31 points against Weber State and sealed its first victory of the season by way of an interception by Josh Smith to improve to 1-4 on the season.
Player of the Week
Ahanonu received multiple Player of the Week honors following the Weber State game, including Root Sports Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week and CFPA National Linebacker of the Week.
Interception Streak
Southern Utah has picked off a pass in each game this season, including two interceptions against Weber State last weekend.
Looking Ahead
Southern Utah will be back at home on Oct. 11, hosting Eastern Washington.
