CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds are back in Cedar City for the final regular season game of the 2024 campaign. Southern Utah will take on Utah Tech in the Battle for the Axe on Saturday, November 23, in Eccles Coliseum. The game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
The Game
The Thunderbirds earned their first ranked win of the season last week, taking down #24 Central Arkansas 38-31 on the road. The T-Birds offense was stellar, and SUU won the turnover battle en route to the road victory. The win brought Southern Utah's record to 6-5 on the year, with a 5-2 mark in conference play. The Trailblazers were stymied by the West Georgia Wolves last week at home. Utah Tech dropped to 1-10 with the loss and now sits at 1-6 on the season against the United Athletic Conference.
The two teams have a lot of history but only a limited number of games in the Division I era. The teams have met five times in the last 15 years, with the Thunderbirds holding a 4-1 advantage. The last time the two teams met resulted in a 24-16 victory for the T-Birds in St. George last season.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
On this episode of the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by Niko Alailefaleula and Tevita Fuimaono. They discuss the 38-31 win against Central Arkansas and this week's Battle for the Axe!
UAC Recognition
This week, Jayden Rogers was named the United Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Rogers, a redshirt freshman kicker, delivered a flawless performance on Saturday against Central Arkansas, going three-for-three on field goals. He nailed kicks from 21, 33, and 37 yards, showcasing his consistency. Additionally, Rogers was perfect on PATs, converting all three attempts, contributing an impressive 12 points to the T-Birds' 38-point total.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Thunderbirds' offense has been electric this season, powered by a dominant ground game and efficient play through the air. Leading the charge is Targhee Lambson, who has been nothing short of spectacular. Lambson leads all of FCS football with 1,758 rushing yards on 288 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt and finding the end zone 21 times. He's now just 70 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record at SUU and already owns the third-most touchdowns in a season in program history. Adding a solid one-two punch in the backfield, Braedon Wissler has chipped in with 226 yards on 59 carries.
Through the air, quarterback Jackson Berry has been a steady hand, throwing for 1,364 yards and ten touchdowns while spreading the wealth to his playmakers. Gabe Nunez has emerged as a clutch target, hauling in 38 passes for 565 yards and three scores. Shane Carr has been just as dangerous, with 29 receptions for 547 yards and five touchdowns, providing Berry with plenty of firepower.
On the defensive side, George Ramirez has been a tackling machine, leading the Thunderbirds with 84 stops, including 54 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Lando Brown has wreaked havoc up front, notching 44 tackles, a team-high 10 TFLs, and four sacks. The secondary has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, with Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson snagging three interceptions to go with 27 tackles. Kameron Rocha has also been a standout, ranking second on the team with 49 tackles. Despite missing part of the season, linebacker Trent Whalen has made his presence felt with 43 tackles, solidifying a strong defensive unit.
Talking About the Team Down South
Utah Tech's offense this season has been powered by the dynamic play of quarterback Reggie Graff, who has proved to be a dual-threat weapon. Graff led the Trailblazers in passing and rushing, throwing for 1,086 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 57.7% of his passes. He has racked up 410 yards and three scores on the ground, averaging 37.3 rushing yards per game. Wide receiver Bryce Parker was his go-to target, hauling in 23 receptions for 381 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard strike. Chris Street added versatility to the attack, contributing 226 rushing yards and a touchdown while tallying 129 receiving yards and two scores.
Defensively, Brevin Hamblin has led the defense with 80 total tackles, including 43 solo efforts, along with two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. Quincy Lejay was another key contributor, tallying 60 total tackles and leading the team with five pass breakups, highlighting his ability to disrupt plays in the secondary. Jared Fotu made his presence felt on the defensive line with 54 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry. The most explosive impact came from Rick Mua'e, who recorded 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, both team highs, while Spencer Rich and Jayden Sheridan added consistent support with their tackling and pass coverage skills. Fisher Jackson and John Sniffen also played pivotal roles, combining for 13.5 tackles for loss and multiple sacks, showcasing Utah Tech's ability to pressure opposing offenses effectively.
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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