Football 9/10/2014 11:40:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

Southern Utah to Host South Dakota State in 2014 Home Opener

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CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 10 - Southern Utah University and No. 10/11 South Dakota State University will meet on the football field for the first time since 2011 when the two teams square off in the Eccles Coliseum on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. (MT). The game will coincide with 2014 Homecoming festivities.

SUU and SDSU are both former members of the Great West Football conference when the two schools battled four times during the 2004-2007 seasons. The Jackrabbits then joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference, following the 2007 season, while Southern Utah moved to the Big Sky in 2012.

The Jackrabbits hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series with Southern Utah taking its only game in a 23-17 double-overtime victory in Cedar City in 2004. SDSU then rattled off four straight wins, including a 29-28 nail-biter in the last meeting in 2011.

Southern Utah has opened the year 0-2 after suffering defeats at Nevada (28-19) and at No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana (41-14). The start is part of one of the toughest schedules in all of FCS football as the Thunderbirds will face four 2013 FCS playoff qualifiers, two FBS opponents and three of the top four teams in the nation this year.

Aaron Cantu has taken the majority of snaps for the Thunderbirds this season, compiling 421 yards on 41-of-63 passing with three interceptions. The senior has connected with Chris Robinson and Mitch Jessop for his two touchdowns this season.

Robinson leads all receivers with 13 catches so far, totaling 148 yards and averaging 11.4 yards per catch. Justin Brown follows with six catches for 87 yards with Chandler Allphin leading the tight ends with five catches for 50 yards.

On the ground, Raysean Pringle leads the team with 133 yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Malik Brown leads the team with 22 carries, rumbling for 75 yards so far this year. The Thunderbirds have used a total of four running backs this season and have yet to be stopped in the backfield.

Defensively, Chinedu Ahanonu leads the team with 39 tackles, including a 28-tackle performance in the season-opening game at Nevada. The total set a Big Sky Conference record and was the most tackles by any FCS defender in week one. James Cowser has picked up where he left off in 2013, leading the team in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.0) and is currently second on the team with 22 tackles this season.

Safeties Miles Killebrew and Michael Byrd are just behind with 21 and 20 tackles, respectively. Killebrew also provided a highlight play at Nevada, picking off a pass and running it back 85 yards for one of three Thunderbird touchdowns during the game.
Scouting South Dakota State

South Dakota State will enter the game ranked No. 10/11 in the nation and with one of the most decorated running backs in the history of FCS football.

Zach Zenner (#31) has put together back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons, running for 2,044 yards as a sophomore and 2,015 yards as a junior. Zenner broke the Missouri Valley Conference career record in rushing yards last week at Cal Poly, totaling more than 4,800 yards.

So far this season, Zenner has run for 109 yards in game one at Missouri and 200 yards against Cal Poly last week. Zenner is also third on the team with seven catches this season with 41 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per grab.

Quarterback Zach Lujan also brings a bite to the SDSU offense, passing for 423 yards this season and averaging 211.5 yards per game. Lujan, a transfer from Chabot College in California, has recorded 33 completions on 48 attempts, throwing two picks and three touchdowns.

Jake Wieneke and Jason Schneider have shared the load at receiver and are tied for the team lead with eight catches apiece. Wieneke leads the team with 144 yards, averaging 18.0 per grab and Schneider is second with 102 yards and 12.8 yards per catch.

Defensively, T.J. Lally leads the team with 18 tackles, including a team-best 13 solo stops. The Jackrabbits have only recorded three sacks this season shared between Jake Gentile, Auston LaBlance, Cole Langer and Kellen Soulek. SDSU has yet to record an interception.

SUU - SDSU Series
2011   SDSU, 29-28   Brookings, S.D.
2007   SDSU, 52-27   Brookings, S.D.
2006   SDSU, 31-21   Cedar City, Utah
2005   SDSU, 55-7   Brookings, S.D.
2004   SUU, 23-17 (2OT)   Cedar City, Utah

Last time against South Dakota State

BROOKINGS, S.D., Sept. 3, 2011 - Southern Utah won the first and fourth periods while South Dakota State won the second and third but in the end the Jackrabbits pulled out a 29-28 season-opening win over the Thunderbirds.

After allowing 29 unanswered points to fall behind 29-7 the Thunderbirds made a furious comeback in the fourth period, taking advantage of an interception and a fumble to score 21 points in the frame and holding a chance to tie or win after Brad Sorensen hit Jared Ursua for a 3-yard touchdown with two seconds to play.

The Thunderbirds opted to go for the win, but Sorensen's pass to Daryl Brown in the end zone was knocked away by Dirk Kool, spoiling the Thunderbirds' come-back bid.

Last Week

HAMMOND, La. - Sept. 6 - SUU was unable to catch No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana who pulled away for a 41-14 win over the Thunderbirds. The Lions took the lead on the first play from scrimmage and held off Southern Utah's attempt at a comeback to improve to 2-0 on the year while sending the visiting T-Birds away at 0-2.

Looking Ahead

Southern Utah will face its second FBS opponent of the season when the Thunderbirds travel to Fresno State on Sept. 20.

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