CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will finish their non-conference slate on Saturday, September 21, on the road at Idaho State. Idaho State hosts its home games in the ICCU Dome, formerly known as Holt Arena, the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States. The game will kick off at 4:00 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
The Game
The Thunderbirds are coming off a hard-fought 24-21 loss to #15 UC Davis. Despite losing, the T-Birds received votes in the FCS Top 25 polls this week. The Thunderbirds currently sit at 1-2 on the year with a chance to spoil the Bengals Homecoming game this week. Idaho State has also posted a 1-2 record on the season and is coming off a road loss to #10-ranked North Dakota.
Saturday's game will be the first matchup since SUU's departure from the Big Sky Conference. Their last meeting in Spring 2021 ended in a heartbreaking 26-24 loss for Southern Utah, as Idaho State clinched the win with a last-second field goal in Cedar City. Over the last five matchups, Southern Utah holds a 3-2 edge, with most games seeing large margins. Despite the close 2021 result, the average margin of victory in the last ten meetings has been 18 points.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by Defensive back Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson as they discuss the tough battle with UC Davis and the upcoming matchup with Idaho State.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Thunderbirds' offense is fueled by a solid rushing attack, led by Targhee Lambson with 376 yards on 50 carries, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt and scoring four touchdowns. Braedon Wissler and Jackson Berry contribute with 94 and 84 rushing yards, respectively. In the passing game, Berry has thrown for 178 yards with a 56.1% completion rate, while Bronson Barron adds 130 yards and one touchdown. Mark Bails leads the receiving corps with 12 catches for 97 yards, supported by Zach Mitchell's 62 yards and the team's only receiving touchdown.
Players at all three levels have bolstered the Thunderbird defense. Senior Walker Harris has been a disruptive force on the defensive line, leading the team with 2.5 sacks and three total tackles for a loss as part of his 11 total tackles. Redshirt junior defensive end Lando Brown has also been impressive, providing two quarterback hurries and one tackle for a loss among his nine total tackles this season. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore leads the team with 18 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. Kameron Rocha and George Ramirez also contribute with 15 and 13 total tackles, respectively. Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson adds ten tackles and two interceptions, including a pick-six.
Breaking Down the Bengals
The Idaho State Bengals' offense is driven by a balanced passing attack led by quarterback Kobe Tracy, who has thrown for 529 yards, five touchdowns, and a 58.11% completion rate across three games. Hunter Hays has also been efficient, completing 75.86% of his passes for 263 yards and five touchdowns. The rushing game is headlined by Hays, who has gained 90 yards on the ground, followed by Keoua Kauhi and Donald Austin, both averaging over 6.5 yards per carry. In the receiving corps, Ian Duarte leads with 221 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 73.67 yards per game. Jeff Weimer and Christian Fredrickson have also been key contributors, combining for 239 yards and three touchdowns on the receiving side.
The Idaho State Bengals' defense is led by standout players like Cortland Horton, who has accumulated 19 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks across three games, making him a dominant presence in the pass rush. Teilor Tuioti and Mason Young follow closely with 16 total tackles each, while Young has also contributed one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Calvin Pitcher and Nathan Reynolds have also been key contributors, both recording 14 total tackles. Logan George has been highly impactful, with four tackles for loss and two sacks, providing additional pressure on opposing offenses. This collective defensive effort has also seen contributions from David Rowe, Jayden Bell, and others, making the Bengals a formidable force on defense.
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