CEDAR CITY, Utah - It's Homecoming Week in Cedar City, and the Thunderbirds are ready to defend Eccles Coliseum. On Saturday, October 12th, they will take on Eastern Kentucky in a United Athletic Conference battle. The game will kick off at 2:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
The Game
The Thunderbirds are coming off a heartbreaking 38-37 overtime loss to #14 Tarleton State. The loss brought SUU's record to 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. The Colonels were idle last week, but in their previous matchup, they defeated Robert Morris 31-7 at home. The victory brought Eastern Kentucky's record to 3-2 on the year with a 1-0 mark in UAC play.
Saturday's game will be the second overall matchup between these two teams. The Thunderbirds fell in a close game at EKU two years ago.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and guest host Spencer McLaughlin are joined by wide receiver Gabe Nunez as they discuss last week's tough loss to Tarleton State and the upcoming Homecoming game against Eastern Kentucky.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Senior defensive back Geroge Ramirez earned UAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his incredible effort against #14 Tarleton State last week. The safety from Mesa, Arizona, has been wreaking havoc on opposing offenses all season long, leading the team with 42 tackles. Ramirez was a force for the Thunderbirds as he led the defensive effort against the Texans with 13 tackles, including nine solo stops. Ramirez recorded three tackles-for-loss among his game-high double-digit total.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Thunderbirds' offense is hitting its stride, fueled by a potent ground game. Targhee Lambson leads the charge with an impressive 928 yards on 138 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per rush and scoring nine touchdowns. Braedon Wissler has contributed 141 yards on 36 carries. Bronson Barron has thrown for 749 yards and six touchdowns at quarterback, while Gabe Nunez and Shane Carr have emerged as key targets. Nunez leads the receivers with 20 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns, while Carr has 14 receptions for 255 yards and two scores.
On defense, standout performances have anchored the Thunderbirds. Senior defensive lineman Walker Harris has tallied 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and 18 total tackles. Redshirt junior Lando Brown has been a disruptive force, registering three quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, and 26 total tackles. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore has been solid in the middle with 33 tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks. George Ramirez leads the team with 42 total tackles, including 28 solo, five tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman Jayden Robertson has been a ball hawk in the secondary, recording four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Charting the Colonels
Eastern Kentucky's offense is clicking on all cylinders, powered by a balanced attack on the ground and through the air. Leading the charge is Joshua Carter, who's been a force in the rushing game with 425 yards on 85 carries, averaging five yards per attempt and punching in four touchdowns. Brayden Latham has chipped in with 276 yards on 60 carries, while Cameron Hergott has added 124 yards on 19 attempts. At quarterback, Matt Morrissey has been efficient, completing 78 of 133 passes for 943 yards and seven touchdowns. His favorite target, Dequan Stanley, leads the receiving corps with 13 catches for 202 yards and three scores, while Marcus Calwise Jr. and Jakob Dixon have combined for 25 receptions and 261 yards. With over 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving through five games, Eastern Kentucky's offense is proving to be a dynamic, well-rounded threat.
Eastern Kentucky's defense has been anchored by standout performances from several key players. Maddox Marcellus and Braden Sullivan lead the team in tackles, both registering 27 total stops through five games. Marcellus has been a disruptive force with 11 solo tackles and one tackle for loss, while Sullivan adds a fumble recovery to his tally. Mike Smith Jr. has contributed 23 tackles and snagged an interception for 5 yards. Jaheim Ward and Gabe Stephens have been effective at getting into the backfield, combining for 3.5 tackles for loss, with Stephens adding two sacks and two quarterback hurries. Defensive back Jordon Thomas has also been active in coverage, breaking up five passes. The Colonels have forced five fumbles on the season, with several players like Darrian Baker and Vito Tisdale stepping up to generate key turnovers and defensive stops.
Tickets
Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com
Also please remember that we have adopted a clear bag policy which can be found by clicking on the following link. Clear Bag Policy
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