CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will open their home slate on Saturday, September 14, at Eccles Coliseum. Southern Utah will take on FCS-ranked opponent #15 UC Davis in the third non-conference matchup of the season. 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 huge road victory over FBS opponent UTEP. The victory over the Miners was the first FBS win for Southern Utah since they took down South Alabama in 2013. With this win, the T-Birds improved to 1-1 on the season so far. UC Davis is also 1-1 in the year, dropping its opener at the University of California before beating Texas A&M-Commerce at home last week. 

The Aggies are a familiar foe for the Thunderbirds, with the former being a member of the Big Sky conference. UC Davis holds a slight 13-9 advantage in the all-time series. Southern Utah will look to avenge a very close 23-21 loss from a year ago.

Check out this Week's Coaches Show

This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald is joined by guest host Spencer McLaughlin as they discuss the big win over UTEP and the upcoming matchup with #15 UC Davis. 

Offensive Linemen Colin Gardner and Lyle Santos join the show to share their thoughts on both games as well. 

Players of the Week

Two players for Southern Utah earned Player of the Week honors from the United Athletic Conference for their performance last week against UTEP. 

A senior running back, Targhee Lambson, led a strong offensive performance by the Thunderbirds in their shocking win over FBS foe UTEP. Lambson finished with 183 yards rushing on 20 carries while scoring two touchdowns. He also recorded an impressive zero negative plays in his 20 rushing attempts and delivered a back-breaking 46-yard touchdown run to put the T-Birds in front in the fourth quarter.

Redshirt junior kicker Daniel King helped the T-Birds to a victory over UTEP, scoring a pair of crucial field goals and his lone PAT attempt. With the game on the line, King booted a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and followed it with the game-winning field goal in overtime from 33 yards out. King also had five kickoff attempts, scoring four touchbacks. In addition, he recorded a 41-yard punt late in the fourth quarter, pinning the Miners back in their own territory. 

Key T-Birds to Watch:

The Thunderbirds are led on offense by a few standout players so far this season. Senior running back Targhee Lambson has led the team on the ground this season with 227 yards on 26 carries, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. Lambson has two touchdowns on the ground so far this season. Through the air, senior Mark Bails has been a great addition to the team, picking up 52 yards on five catches through the first two games. The Thunderbirds will attempt to build on these performances in the home opener this week.

Players at all three levels have bolstered the Thunderbird defense. On the defensive line, senior Walker Harris has been a disruptive force, leading the team with 2.5 sacks and three total tackles for a loss in the first two games. Redshirt junior defensive end Lando Brown has also been impressive, providing two quarterback hurries and one tackle for a loss among his seven total tackles this season. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore leads the team in total tackles with 13 in the 2024 campaign. Meanwhile, in the secondary, Kameron Rocha has an impressive 11 takedowns, including seven unassisted stops. Redshirt senior defensive back Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson and freshman defensive back Jayden Robertson have each added an interception.

Answering the Aggies

The UC Davis offense has been versatile in its first two games of the season. Running back Lan Larison stands out with 185 net yards on 45 carries, averaging 92.5 yards per game and a long run of 28 yards. His consistent ground performance gives UC Davis balance in their offensive attack. In the passing game, quarterback Miles Hastings has completed 50 of 89 attempts for 541 yards, with a completion rate of 56.18%. Hastings has thrown for three touchdowns, including a long pass of 54 yards, averaging 270.5 passing yards per game. Receivers like C.J. Hutton, with 152 yards on 13 receptions, and Chaz Davis, who has 109 yards and a touchdown, provide reliable targets downfield, while Samuel Gbatu Jr. adds a big-play threat, highlighted by a 54-yard reception. Together, these players form the backbone of UC Davis' offensive strategy.

Standout performances from several key players have anchored the UC Davis defense. Redshirt junior linebacker David Meyer leads the charge with 27 total tackles, including 19 solo tackles and one tackle for loss, along with an interception and a quarterback hurry. Defensive back Kavir Bains has also made a significant impact with 14 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Utah natives Porter and Rex Connors have contributed 25 total tackles combined for the Aggies from the linebacker position. Lamont Shamburger has 13 tackles, including three for loss, while Jayden Stanley and Semaj Verner have combined for solid defensive support with six and five tackles, respectively. The defense has collectively produced ten tackles for loss, one sack, and two interceptions, showing their ability to apply pressure and make crucial stops.

Food Drive

Southern Utah University and Lin's Fresh Market are hosting a food drive to fight food insecurity among SUU students. The food drive began Saturday, Sept. 7th, and will wrap up on Saturday the 14th. Please bring donation items to the game, where we will have a food drop-off at the gate.  

The Community Engagement Center's HOPE Pantry works to help support students when they're struggling. The donations will be weighed and displayed at the football game on Saturday. 

Tickets

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

Follow Us

For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page.

Donate

Consider donating today to support Thunderbird athletics. To learn more about how you can help, click here.