Thunderbirds Take Aim at #14 Tarleton State in Key UAC Matchup

10/2/2024 12:24:00 PM | By: Regan Hunsaker- Assistant AD for Sports Information

CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will continue United Athletic Conference play on Saturday, October 5th, with a home game against #14 Tarleton State. Southern Utah will take on the Texans in Eccles Coliseum with early conference expectations on the line. The Thunderbirds entered the 2024 campaign picked third, while the coaches ranked the Texans second in the preseason poll. The game will kick off at 6:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

The Game

The Thunderbirds are coming off a solid 28-17 win on the road at Austin Peay. The victory brought SUU's record to 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Texans hosted Southeastern Louisiana last week for what turned out to be a very close matchup. The Texans emerged victorious in a 36-33 shootout, bringing their record to 4-1 this year with a 1-0 mark in UAC play.

Saturday's game will be the third overall matchup between these two teams. The Thunderbirds hold a 2-1 edge over Tarleton State in the all-time series, with the only loss coming the last time the Texans made a trip to Utah.

Check out this Week's Coaches Show

This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by quarterback Bronson Barron as they discuss last week's matchup with Austin Peay and the upcoming home game against Tarleton State.

Key T-Birds to Watch:

The Thunderbirds' offense is beginning to fire on all cylinders, driven by a potent rushing attack. Leading the charge is Targhee Lambson, who's been unstoppable with 711 yards on 100 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per rush and punching in seven touchdowns. Braedon Wissler has also chipped in with 133 yards on 33 carries. Under center, Bronson Barron has thrown for 463 yards and three touchdowns, while Gabe Nunez and Shane Carr have become reliable targets in recent games. Nunez leads the receiving corps with 16 receptions for 255 yards and two scores, while Carr has 11 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown.

On the defensive side, the Thunderbirds have been anchored by standout performances across the board. Senior defensive lineman Walker Harris has made his presence felt with 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and 15 total tackles. Redshirt junior Lando Brown has been a disruptive force, recording three quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, and 24 tackles on the season. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore has been a rock in the middle with 24 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks. George Ramirez leads the team with 29 total tackles, 19 of them solo, while also adding two tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman Jayden Robertson has been a ball hawk in the secondary, notching four interceptions, one of which he took to the house for a touchdown.

The Tape on the Texans

Tarleton State's offense has shown solid production across both the rushing and passing games. Running back Kayvon Britten leads the rushing attack with an impressive 834 yards on 113 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and six touchdowns. Derrel Kelley III has contributed with 237 yards on 56 carries, scoring three touchdowns and averaging 4.2 yards per carry. In the air, quarterback Victor Gabalis has been the primary quarterback, completing 32 of 57 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Darius Cooper is the standout receiver with 24 catches for 324 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 13.5 yards per catch. The team has spread the ball effectively across the board, averaging 25.6 points per game.

Tarleton State's defense has been anchored by defensive lineman Brandon Tolvert, who leads the charge with 28 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Linebacker Bam Smith is close behind with 27 tackles and two quarterback hurries, while linebacker AJ Owens adds 26 tackles and two tackles for loss. Defensive back Kasyus Kurns has been a disruptive force with 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for 31 yards. Defensive backs Donta Stuart and Blake Smith have also contributed to the turnover battle, each recording an interception. With 24 tackles for loss and seven interceptions on the season, the Texans' defense has been making big plays and keeping opposing offenses on edge.

Tickets

Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com