CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Thunderbird football team will wrap up their regular season this weekend on the road, as they'll face off against the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota. The contest in Grand Forks is slated to kickoff at 12 p.m. MT.

Last Time Out

When the T-Birds were back on the field they were busy reclaiming the Grand Canyon Rivalry Trophy over Northern Arizona. 

The Thunderbirds were able to score on their opening drive of the game, as Manny Berz knocked home a 24-yard field goal attempt. That gave SUU a 3-0 lead. NAU responded with a field goal of their own to tie up the game at 3-3. 

After the first quarter ran out, the Lumberjacks were able to strike again as Case Cookus found Brandon Porter from 31 yards away to put NAU up 10-3. 

The Thunderbirds responded with a touchdown of their own, as a trick play resulted in a 44-yard touchdown pass from Chris Helbig to Thomas Duckett and tied up the game 10-10. 

On NAU's next drive, they were able to put seven more points on the board to take a 17-10 lead. 

The scoring continued on the next drive for SUU, as Duckett broke into the endzone for SUU for the second time. To tie the game up at 17-17, though, he did it on the ground. 

With about two minutes remaining before the opening half ran out, the Lumberjacks added another field goal to take a 20-17 lead. That remained the score at the break. 

The high scoring continued as the second half commenced. On SUU's first drive of the second half the Thunderbirds scored on an 11-play, 90-yard drive capped by a Karris Davis touchdown run. SUU took the lead at that point, 24-20.  

The Lumberjacks were quick to respond, as they had a seven-play, 69-yard drive to re-take the lead 27-24. 

Southern Utah scored again on their next drive, keeping the momentum switching back-and-forth. Duckett scored his third touchdown of the game from 54 yards away, and the T-Birds went back ahead 31-27. 

As the fourth quarter started the Lumberjacks added another field goal to cut the T-Bird lead to one, 31-30. 

From there, the T-Bird defense took over. The Thunderbirds didn't give up another point to NAU, including a fourth down stop on their one yard line, and SUU secured their third victory at home this season. 

Offensive Leaders

Following his big individual performance, Duckett became the team's leading rusher with 377 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. 

Helbig continues to be consistent through the air, with 252 completions for 2,694 yards and 14 touchdowns to his name this season. He has also accounted for six rushing touchdowns and has caught one as well this year. 

Lance Lawson has remained the top target for the T-Birds with 71 catches for 668 yards and three touchdowns. He is now second in the Big Sky in total catches. 

Top Defenders

Alex Sims will likely finish the year with the most tackles for the T-Birds, entering the final week with 74 total. He also has five tackles for loss this season. 

AJ Stanley is second on the team in tackles with 63 total and 2.5 for a loss. 

Nela Otukolo and Aaron Romero lead SUU with six tackles for loss a piece. Romero leads the defense with 4.5 sacks. 

Carlton Johnson is the lone T-Bird with multiple interceptions, sitting with three heading into the 12th game. 

Opponent Preview: North Dakota Fighting Hawks (6-4)

Coming off a victory over the Northern Colorado Bears, the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota will host the Thunderbirds in their final regular season contest of the year. 

Nate Ketteringham has been the primary quarterback for the Fighting Hawks this season, completing 196 passes for 2,057 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Through the air, Noah Wanzek has been his top target. Wanzek has caught 61 passses for 835 yards and four touchdowns. Travis Toivonen has caught six touchdown passes this season as well for UND.

On the ground, James Johannesson has been the primary back rushing for 484 yards and seven touchdowns. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Donnell Rodgers leads UND in tackles with 109 total, along with seven tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception. He's also forced two fumbles. 

UND head coach Bubba Schweigert is in his sixth season as head coach of the Fighting Hawks. 

The Fighting Hawks were receiving votes in both major FCS polls this week after moving in and out of the top-25 throughout the season. 

This contest will count as a Big Sky game for the Thunderbirds, while North Dakota transitions to another FCS league. 

Last Time vs. UND 

The last time the Thunderbirds and Fighting Hawks squared off, the Thunderbirds were pushing for a Big Sky Championship in 2017. The T-Birds were able to win the contest at home 47-21. 

Patrick Tyler was the starter at quarterback for SUU, completing 31 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler's top targets were Logan Parker and Alex Croyle. Parker caught seven passes for 87 yards and Croyle snagged four passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. 

Jay Green Jr. led the rushing attack with 62 yards and three touchdowns. 

Defensively, Mike Needham led the T-Birds with eight tackles and two tackles for loss. SUU had three interceptions and four sacks in the contest as well. 

Recent Series History 

Since the T-Birds joined the Big Sky Conference ahead of the 2012 season, the two teams have met on four occasions. 

The home team has won each of the contests, with the Thunderbirds claiming home games in 2014 and 2017, while the Fighting Hawks won their home contests in 2016 and 2012. 

Big Sky At A Glance 

For the second week in a row and the third time this season, the Big Sky Conference has four teams in the top 10. With the final weekend of the regular season upon us, the Big Sky is clogging up the top spots quite nicely in the STATS FCS and AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 polls.

Montana (9-2) is up to its highest ranking this season at No. 3 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' and STATS FCS Poll. The Griz knocked off then-No. 3 Weber State, 35-16, to propel its way into the top three. Montana will go up against another Top 10 team when it plays at Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild this Saturday.

Sacramento State (8-3) defeated Idaho on the road, 31-7, to earn its highest-ever ranking in school history. The Hornets are slotted No. 4 in both polls. Sacramento State will host UC Davis (5-6) in the Causeway Classic.

Weber State (8-3) suffered its first FCS loss of the season, as it fell on the road to Montana. The loss dropped the Wildcats down to No. 6 in the STATS FCS Poll and No. 7 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll. The Wildcats close out the regular season at home against Idaho State (3-8).

Montana State (8-3) earned its third consecutive win with a 27-17 win over UC Davis. The Bobcats were voted No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches and STATS FCS Polls. Montana State will go up against No. 3 Montana in the ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week. 

Eastern Washington (6-5) received a vote in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and 20 votes in the STATS FCS Poll. UC Davis earned eight votes in the STATS FCS Poll.

Words From The Thunderbirds 

Head coach Demario Warren on closing out the season out right...

"To win three out of four to end the year would be huge," he said. "We're going to play another really tough opponent on the road, and we've got to see if we're ready for it. We were not ready for Montana State and now we get one more crack at this thing. We've got to make sure we're ready for the future. Our guys are battle tested on the road, and now we've got to go into a hostile environment and see if we can steal one form North Dakota."  

Zach Larsen on reclaiming the Grand Canyon Rivalry Trophy...

"It's the best feeling ever," he said. "They asked me what my favorite moment was since I've been here, and I said winning the championship, but this is definitely my new favorite moment. Winning on Senior Day was awesome." 

Thomas Duckett on finding success…

"I just give thanks to my offensive line, I wouldn't be able to do anything without them," he said. "The play calling was great, and I knew I had to do it for them."  

Where To Watch / Listen / Follow Along

Saturday's contest will be livestreamed on the PlutoTV App and www.WatchBigSky.com. 

The contest can be heard on the local airwaves, both on KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City and ESPN 97.7 FM in St. George. On the call will be legendary Thunderbird broadcaster Art Challis, and ESPN 97.7's Devin Dixon, host of the Devin Dixon Show. 

Live stats will be available on www.suutbirds.com prior to kickoff. 

Follow Us

Keep tabs on the Thunderbirds throughout the entire Big Sky Kickoff by following @SUUFB on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the Southern Utah Football page on Facebook. 

Tickets

Single game tickets are available for the remainder of the 2019 campaign online at www.tbirdtickets.com or at the America First Event Center Ticket Office.