CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will return to Eccles Coliseum this weekend to take on the North Alabama Lions. The game will take place on November 9 and kicks off at 1:00 p.m. MT. You can watch it live on ESPN+.

The Game

Last week, the Thunderbirds' game against Abilene Christian was a tale of two halves, with Southern Utah coming out on the wrong end of heartbreak. Despite a nearly 200-yard and three-touchdown effort by Targhee Lambson, the Thunderbirds fell to the Wildcats 28-25 on the road. The loss brought Southern Utah's record to 4-5 on the year, with a 3-2 mark in conference play. The Lions also suffered a conference loss last week, falling to Austin Peay 31-17 at home. North Alabama has a record of 3-3 against the United Athletic Conference and sits at 3-7 overall.

Saturday's game will be the second all-time matchup between the two teams. In 2018, the Lions stunned the Thunderbirds in Cedar City. North Alabama scored a late touchdown drive to make the score 34-30 and take home its first FCS win in program history. 

Check out this Week's Coaches Show

This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and Jon Smith are joined by Payton Payne, who tallied four tackles in last week's tough battle at Abilene Christian. They talk about the trip to Texas and the upcoming home game against North Alabama.  

Key T-Birds to Watch:

The Thunderbirds' offense has thrived with a dynamic ground game led by Targhee Lambson, who has rushed for an impressive 1,431 yards on 229 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and scoring 17 touchdowns. Lambson now ranks fourth in single-season rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns in SUU history. Adding to the depth, Braedon Wissler has contributed with 202 yards on 53 carries. In the passing game, quarterback Jackson Berry has thrown for 892 yards and six touchdowns, efficiently distributing the ball to his key receivers. Gabe Nunez has emerged as a top target with 29 catches for 456 yards and three touchdowns, while Shane Carr has 19 receptions for 400 yards and four touchdowns.

On defense, George Ramirez has anchored the team with 69 tackles (45 solo), including six tackles for loss (TFL), one sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. Lando Brown has been equally disruptive, recording 37 tackles, a team-high 8.5 TFLs, and three sacks. Defensive backs Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson, with 27 tackles and two interceptions, and Jayden Robertson, who leads with four interceptions, have been key in shutting down opponents' passing attacks. Linebacker Trent Whalen has also made a strong impact, tallying 34 tackles despite missing part of the season.

A Look at the Lions

The North Alabama offense is firing on all cylinders this season, driven by quarterback TJ Smith. Smith has 1216 yards through the air to rack up 12 passing touchdowns. Smith is also a danger to run, tallying 272 net rushing yards and five scores on the ground. The top running threat for the Lions is Jayvian Allen, who has 461 yards rushing and has added four touchdowns to the North Alabama scoreboard. Jalen Fletcher has added to the depth of the Lions' backfield with 312 yards on 44 carries and two touchdowns. Dakota Warfield leads the receiving corps in receptions with 39 catches totaling 471 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow wideout Takairee Kenebrew has 37 grabs and 549 yards, reaching the goal line three times. In all, the Lions boast a balanced attack that averages 24.20 points per game. 

North Alabama's defense is anchored by playmakers like Gregory Reddick and Josh Anglin. Reddick leads with 74 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and a handful of breakups, proving he's everywhere on the field. Anglin backs him up with 63 tackles and a team-high 5.5 TFLs. Jackson Bratton adds 54 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and three sacks, while Edwin White Schultz still posted 33 tackles and two sacks despite playing in just six games. With solid help from Ike Rowell and Kaleb Brown, this defense keeps the pressure on every down.

Tickets

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

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