CEDAR CITY, Utah - The showdown between Southern Utah University and Brigham Young University on September 8th, 2023, promises to be an exciting matchup at LaVell Edwards Stadium, kicking off at 1 p.m. MT. Both teams are coming off contrasting results in their previous games, setting the stage for an intriguing clash.

Game Information

Southern Utah at BYU

Date: September 8th, 2023

Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM MT

Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium

Stream: ESPN+

Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said

"We are going to play as hard as we can on Saturday and BYU is a great football program."

"The BYU Alumni… is in a little bit of a panic because of how they played on Saturday night, but we don't expect that same team to show up against us on Saturday, they have good coaches who are going to fix some problems and they will play better."

"College football programs that are coached well, and BYU is, make their biggest jump of the year from week one to week two, and we are going to make a jump as well… Offense, defense, and special teams are all going to improve."

"We will be ready, they will be ready, and it should be a fun football game on Saturday."

Check out this Week's Coaches Show

The Game

BYU is coming off a dominant, albeit understated, 14-0 shutout victory against Sam Houston State. In that game, the BYU defense proved to be formidable, holding their opponents to zero points and just 38 rushing yards. The BYU offense managed to score two touchdowns and displayed a balanced attack with 112 rushing yards and 145 passing yards.

On the other hand, the Thunderbirds are coming off a hard-fought 24-21 loss to Arizona State. While they fell short, the Thunderbirds showed their resilience and competitiveness outlasting a more than two-hour weather delay. Their offense generated 87 rushing yards and 139 passing yards in the game. The defense held the Power 5 program to just three second-half points.

Key T-Birds to Watch:

Southern Utah has several players who could be impactful in this game. Quarterback Justin Miller has demonstrated his abilities with 123 passing yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions so far this season. He has been a pivotal figure in the team's offensive strategy for years and is on the verge of several program records for the T-Birds.

In the rushing department, Braedon Wissler has been a standout performer, amassing 46 yards in the season opener. Targhee Lambson was productive in his debut, gaining 23 rushing yards and a touchdown. In the receiving game, Zach Mitchell has contributed significantly with 52 yards on four receptions, including one touchdown. Isaiah Wooden picked up 52 yards in his lone reception of the game. These players collectively form a strong offensive core for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

The T-Bird defense will look to its returning linebackers to once again lead the charge. Kohner Cullimore and Aubrey Nellems are back on the field for SUU. Each raked up an impressive number of tackles last season and will look to do the same this year. Cornerback Jehvonn Lewis and linebacker George Ramirez led the team last week amassing seven tackles each in the game with the Sun Devils. Ramirez also scored late in the game returning a punt that was blocked by Jordan Washington, 47 yards for the touchdown.  

Checking In with The Cougars

BYU's 2023 campaign kicked off with a victory over Sam Houston State, largely thanks to their stellar defense. The Cougars intercepted the opposition three times, showcasing their ability to create turnovers. They held Sam Houston State to a mere 38 rushing yards, highlighting their control of the line of scrimmage. Consistently applying pressure on the opposing quarterback is a vital component of their defensive strategy.

BYU's offensive game plan tilted towards a strong rushing attack. In the game with the Bearcats, the Cougars relied heavily on their running game, amassing 112 rushing yards. While they didn't score through the air in their previous game, the Cougars maintain a potent passing game with several productive targets.

Special teams played a pivotal role in field position and momentum during week one. BYU excels in placing kicks and punts strategically, affecting field position. Punter Rehkow averaged over 50 yards per punt and pinned Sam Houston deep in its own territory four times. 

Last Time Out: Southern Utah vs. Arizona State 

TEMPE, Arizona - In the highly anticipated season opener for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, fans were treated to a thrilling contest that saw the T-Birds fall just shy of history with a final score of 24-21 in favor of Arizona State. The game featured exciting plays, key turnovers, and impressive performances on both sides of the ball for Southern Utah.

First Quarter: ASU Takes an Early Lead (7-0)

The Sun Devils wasted no time getting on the board, with Cam Skattebo rushing for a 6-yard touchdown with 9 minutes left in the first quarter. ASU drove 68 yards in just under 2 minutes to take a 7-0 lead.

Second Quarter: Thunderbirds Strike Back (7-7), But ASU Responds (21-7)

Southern Utah responded in the second quarter when Targhee Lambson rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, capping off an 11-play, 62-yard drive. The game was tied at 7-7. The touchdown marked the first points of the season for SUU and Lambson's first score in a Thunderbird uniform. 

The Sun Devils quickly regained their lead with two impressive touchdown passes from Jaden Rashada. The first was a 47-yard connection to Xavier Guillory in a fourth down and eight situation. The second was a 3-yard pass to Troy Omeire. ASU entered halftime with a 21-7 advantage.

Bad Weather Break

Just as the Thunderbirds were preparing to return for the second half, Officials delayed the game due to lightning in the area. The delay would turn halftime into a two-and-a-half-hour break while lightning flashed all around the stadium. 

Third Quarter: Thunderbirds Cut the Deficit (21-14)

When Play was finally resumed in the third quarter, The Thunderbirds immediately made a big defensive stop and forced the Sun Devils to punt. Southern Utah's Justin Miller then connected with Isaiah Wooden for a huge 52-yard play to set up Zach Mitchell for a 17-yard touchdown pass. The score closed the gap to 21-14.

Fourth Quarter: ASU Secures Victory (24-21)

Arizona State's defense held strong in the final quarter, preventing Southern Utah from mounting a comeback. Dario Longhetto added a 38-yard field goal to extend ASU's lead to 24-14. However, the Thunderbirds weren't done yet.

With 7 minutes and 50 seconds remaining, Jordan Washington broke through on an ASU punt blocking the kick. The ball was then collected by George Ramirez who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown.  With the score at 21-24,  Southern Utah had a chance to tie or take the lead, but ASU's defense held firm for the win. 

Individual Standouts Shine for Thunderbirds in Tight Tilt

In the closely contested football game between Southern Utah and Arizona State, individual performances played a crucial role in keeping the Thunderbirds in the game until the very end. Despite falling short, several Thunderbird players showcased their impressive skill on the field.

Justin Miller had a solid performance, completing 8 of 17 passes for 123 yards and throwing one touchdown. His completion percentage was 47%, and he had a passer rating of 127.2.

Zach Mitchell was one of the standout performers for the Thunderbirds. He caught 4 passes for 52 yards, including a crucial 17-yard touchdown reception. Mitchell demonstrated his reliability as a target, with a catch rate of 67%.

Isaiah Wooden made a significant contribution with 52 receiving yards on a single reception, showcasing his big-play ability. Despite not scoring a touchdown, his 52-yard catch was a highlight for the Thunderbirds.

Braedon Wissler was the force behind the Thunderbirds' ground game, rushing for 45 yards on 15 attempts. Wissler had the long run of the game, an impressive 21-yard dash early in the third quarter. Targhee Lambson added 23 yards on 7 attempts. He found the end zone in the first quarter for the first rushing touchdown of the 2023 season. 

George Ramirez was named the player of the game for his efforts on defense. Ramirez totaled seven tackles and two pass break-ups. Ramirez had a game-changing moment with a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown, bringing the Thunderbirds within striking distance in the fourth quarter. 

Alyas Vigil had a strong debut performance as the new punter for the T-Birds, averaging 42.4 yards per punt and pinning ASU inside their 20-yard line three times.

Single Game Tickets

Single-game tickets for the 2023 season are now available. Get over to tbirdtickets.com to get your seats for this year's home games!

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