CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will head back out on the road this weekend to take on the Central Arkansas Bears. The game will take place on November 16 and kicks off at 3:00 p.m. MT. You can watch it live on ESPN+.
The Game
The Thunderbirds took on conference opponent North Alabama last week, scoring early and often en route to a 38-26 victory. The win brought Southern Utah's record to 5-5 on the year, with a 4-2 mark in conference play. The Bears suffered a conference loss last week, falling to Eastern Kentucky 31-24 on the road. Central Arkansas, the preseason favorite to win the United Athletic Conference, has a record of 3-3 against the UAC and sits at 6-4 overall.
Saturday's game will be the second all-time matchup between the two teams. The two teams met last season in Cedar City, where the Bears were able to come away with a close 29-27 victory.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
On this episode of the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by linebacker Trent Whalen. They discuss the win against North Alabama and the upcoming game with Central Arkansas.
UAC Recognition
This week, Kameron Rocha was named the United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Rocha, who is new to the T-Birds Secondary this season, had an impressive game in the win against North Alabama last week. He notched four tackles on the day, but the play of the game was his 48-yard pick-six. The Interception and return for a Touchdown sealed the game for the Thunderbirds and earned Rocha the honor of his first Conference Player of the Week award.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Thunderbirds' offense has thrived with a potent rushing attack led by Targhee Lambson, who leads all of FCS football with an impressive 1,597 yards on 260 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per rush and scoring 20 touchdowns. Lambson now holds the third-highest single-season totals in SUU history for both rushing yards and touchdowns. Complementing Lambson's efforts, Braedon Wissler has added depth with 220 yards on 58 carries. Through the air, quarterback Jackson Berry has passed for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns, efficiently spreading the ball among his top receivers. Gabe Nunez has become a go-to target, tallying 36 catches for 550 yards and three touchdowns, while Shane Carr has added 24 receptions for 472 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, George Ramirez leads with 75 tackles (50 solo), six tackles for loss (TFL), one sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. Lando Brown has been equally impactful, posting 39 tackles, a team-high 10 TFLs, and four sacks. In the secondary, defensive backs Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson, who has 27 tackles and two interceptions, and Kameron Rocha have been critical in limiting opponents' passing games, with Rocha ranking second on the team with 43 total tackles. Linebacker Trent Whalen has also made a strong impact, recording 38 tackles despite missing part of the season.
Breaking Down The Bears
Central Arkansas' offense has been propelled by a tandem rushing attack led by ShunDerrick Powell, who has racked up 1,236 yards on 151 carries, averaging 8.2 yards per carry and scoring 13 touchdowns. Powell is the focal point of the ground game, averaging 137.3 yards per game. Complementing him is Darius Hale, who has added 654 yards and 12 touchdowns on 119 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. In the passing game, quarterback Will McElvain has thrown for 2,094 yards and 16 touchdowns, spreading the ball to a talented group of receivers. Trejan Bridges has emerged as a go-to target with 45 catches for 601 yards and four touchdowns, while Malachi Henry has 29 receptions for 508 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Jace Benesch has led the charge with 98 tackles, including eight for loss, and has been a key playmaker in the secondary. Tamaurian Wilson has also been a standout, recording 67 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. On the line, David Walker has been dominant with 56 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Dillon Williams has been another key contributor, adding 62 tackles. In the secondary, Deorious Cobbs has been disruptive with seven tackles for loss and three sacks, while Bradley Clark and LJ Hewitt have helped shut down the passing game.
Tickets
Don't forget to purchase tickets for the upcoming Battle for the Axe! Also, tickets are available for the entire winter sports season. Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com
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