CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds will open United Athletic Conference play Saturday, September 28th, on the road at Austin Peay. Southern Utah will take on the Governors in Clarksville for the first time since the teams became conference foes. The game will kick off at noon MT and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

The Game

The Thunderbirds are coming off a tough road loss to Idaho State. Southern Utah currently sits at 1-3 on the year. Austin Peay also has a record of 1-3, with coach Jeff Francis earning his first career coaching victory in week four of the season. The Governors put on a show last week for their home crowd, beating Alabama A&M 59-16. This will be the second UAC conference game for Austin Peay, who fell in week three to Central Arkansas 45-17.  

Saturday's game will be just the second matchup between these two teams and the first ever played in Clarksville. The T-Birds will look to avenge last season's heartbreaking 48-45 double overtime home loss.

Check out this Week's Coaches Show

This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by defensive end Walker Harris as they discuss the game at Idaho State and this week's matchup with Austin Peay. 

Key T-Birds to Watch:

The Thunderbirds' offense is fueled by a strong rushing attack, led by Targhee Lambson with 548 yards on 76 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt and scoring five touchdowns. Braedon Wissler and Jackson Berry have contributed 126 and 91 rushing yards, respectively. In the passing game, Berry has thrown for 355 yards with a 59% completion rate, while Bronson Barron adds 220 yards and two touchdowns. Mark Bails and Gabe Nunez lead the receiving corps. Bails has 12 catches for 97 yards, supported by Nunez's nine catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. 

The Thunderbird defense has received significant contributions from players across all positions. Senior Walker Harris has excelled on the defensive line, recording 2.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, and a total of 13 tackles. Redshirt junior Lando Brown has also made an impact with two quarterback hurries, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 15 total tackles this season. Junior linebacker Kohner Cullimore leads the team with 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. Kameron Rocha and George Ramirez have contributed 16 and 19 total tackles, respectively. Additionally, Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson has added 12 tackles, one pass breakup, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown against UC Davis.

Gauging the Govs

Austin Peay's offense has been a balance of both rushing and passing efforts so far this season. La'Vell Wright leads the rushing game with 251 net yards on 34 carries, averaging an impressive 7.4 yards per carry and 62.75 yards per game. Wright posted a long run of 62 yards and has three touchdowns this year. Corey Richardson has also contributed 104 net yards on ten carries, boasting an impressive 10.4 yards per carry and a touchdown. In the passing game, Austin Smith has been the primary quarterback, completing 60 of 92 passes (65.22%) for 618 yards and four touchdowns, with a passer rating of 129.47. Leading the receiving corps is Jaden Barnes, who has caught 13 passes for 215 yards, averaging 16.54 yards per reception and scoring two touchdowns. Romon Copeland Jr. follows closely with 16 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns, providing strong support in the air. The offense's versatility has kept defenses on edge throughout their performances this season.

Leading the Governors in tackles is Jaden Lyles, who has accumulated 35 total tackles over four games, along with two pass breakups. Dion Hunter follows closely with 29 total tackles, including a tackle for loss and a sack, while also applying pressure with a quarterback hurry. Jesse Johnson III has shown his play-stopping ability with 17 total tackles and an interception, which he complements with a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Bo Spearman adds 17 tackles of his own, with two TFLs and a sack. Other notable contributors include Dorian Davis, who has 14 tackles, and Cinque Williams, who has 14 tackles and a pass breakup. The defense has been relentless in their pressure, recording 27 tackles for loss and eight sacks through their games, forcing turnovers with four interceptions and one fumble recovery.

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