CEDAR CITY, Utah - Thunderbirds Football is back in Eccles Coliseum this Saturday, August 30th, at 6:30 p.m. MT. Southern Utah will take on the Idaho State Bengals in the 2025 home opener. Southern Utah is coming off a 7-5 season in 2024, continuing on the trend of consistent improvement under Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald.
The Game
The Thunderbirds enter the season looking to get a hot start against future Big Sky foe Idaho State. The Bengals began their season last Saturday, falling on the road at UNLV. The matchup will be the first of six home games this season for Southern Utah.
Last season, Idaho State took the Thunderbirds by surprise in Pocatello when the Bengals earned the 38-28 victory. Southern Utah trails the all-time series 7-12, falling in two of the last three games dating back to 2019 before the Thunderbirds left the Big Sky Conference.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
On this episode of the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and host Jon Smith are joined by Josh Dunn as they break down fall camp and preview the matchup with Idaho State.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
With redshirt-senior QB Bronson Barron back to lead the huddle, Southern Utah's passing game features playmakers at every level. Shane Carr returns as the vertical threat after a breakout freshman year, averaging 20.2 yards per catch for a team-high 627 yards and six touchdowns. Gabe Nunez is the all-purpose weapon with 44 receptions for 627 yards and elite punt-return skills, while 6'3" Mark Bails gives Barron a big, contested-catch target who is now healthy again. Add in route-savvy Devin Downing, and the Thunderbirds have a receiver room capable of stretching defenses sideline-to-sideline and deep.
On the ground, Southern Utah relies on a deep backfield led by steady, explosive Braedon Wissler, with bruiser Niko Alailefaleula, UTEP transfer Joshua Dye, and JUCO touchdown machine AJ Tillman ready to keep the chains moving. The tight ends raise the ceiling: veteran Hayden Erickson sets the edge, while Joey Garza and Connor May add pass-game versatility, and Mason Thueson and Hayden George create mismatches in the red zone. It all operates behind a veteran offensive line anchored by two-time All-UAC center Edward Riley, the heartbeat of a unit built to take another step forward this fall.
Southern Utah's defense in 2025 is led by redshirt-senior Lando Brown, a preseason Second-Team All-American and Buck Buchanan Award Watch List honoree after recording 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, and 10 QB hurries last season. He is joined up front by veteran tackle Joe Tongamoa and returning end Henry Harper, giving the Thunderbirds experience and toughness in the trenches. Redshirt senior Josh Dunn has the linebackers ready to tackle anything that moves. In the secondary, safeties Blake Stillwell and Baron Taylor provide leadership and versatility, while nickels Raymon Crump and Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner bolster a unit built to play fast, physical, and disruptive.
Breaking Down The Bengals
The Bengals' offense showed explosive potential in their 38-31 battle with UNLV, outgaining the Rebels 555 to 532 and averaging 7.2 yards per play. Quarterback Jordan Cooke was steady under pressure, completing 30-of-50 passes for 380 yards and even catching a 15-yard touchdown on a trick play. Dason Brooks powered the ground game with 132 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Ian Duarte delivered a career-long 64-yard touchdown reception, the longest offensive score for Idaho State since 2020. Sophomore kicker Trajan Sinatra also contributed, opening the scoring with a 26-yard field goal on the Bengals' opening drive. Overall, Idaho State's offense balanced big-play ability with steady execution, giving them multiple opportunities to take the lead.
Defensively, the Bengals played physical and aggressive football under new coordinator Grant Duff, creating turnovers and pressuring UNLV consistently. Senior safety Mason Young forced a fumble in the end zone, while Cam'ron Willis and Noa Calaycay each recorded sacks to disrupt Rebel drives. Linebacker Teilor Tuioti led the team with 13 tackles, and safety Rylan Leathers added a career-best 12 tackles and a tackle for loss. While UNLV scored on a couple of late explosive plays, Idaho State's defense showcased toughness, and cohesion, limiting big plays for most of the game and giving the Bengals a chance to compete with an FBS opponent throughout.
Gameday Information
Fans attending Southern Utah Athletics events at Eccles Coliseum should plan ahead for adjusted traffic flow this season. Due to ongoing construction near the northwest corner of the stadium, all vehicle entry will be directed through the south side of the venue. We encourage fans to arrive early to allow extra time for parking and entry. As a reminder, the clear bag policy remains in effect for all Southern Utah Athletics events, so please plan accordingly to help ensure a safe and smooth game day experience. A link to the Clear Bag Policy can be found Here.
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