HUNTSVILLE, Texas. - The Southern Utah football team buried the Bearkats, 17-7, on the road at Sam Houston State on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Bowers Stadium. With the victory, SUU improved to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in Western Athletic Conference play.
Defiant Defense
The Southern Utah defense stepped up for the second straight week causing three turnovers and forcing the Bearkats to turn the ball over on downs six times. The T-Birds held Sam Houston to just 4-16 on third down as well. Southern Utah opted for a bend don't break mentality allowing 349 yards of total offense but only one touchdown.
Big Time Performances
Junior wide receiver Isaiah Wooden led the Thunderbirds on offense with 99 yards on the ground and 33 yards receiving. Graduate student running back Elijah Burns found the endzone on the ground while junior quarterback Justin Miller hooked up with sophomore tight end Mata'ava Ta'ase through the air for a score. Miller finished the game 13-30 for 154 yards through the air. Wide receiver Brennon Hutchings had three receptions for 41 yards to lead the team in his final game as a T-Bird.
Graduate student defensive end Zach Strand led the charge for SUU's defensive effort. Strand notched six total tackles and two huge sacks. Sophomore defensive back Davin Wilson and junior defensive back Rodrick Ward each gathered interceptions in the second half of the game. Graduate student defensive back Mitchell Price picked up six tackles and freshman linebacker Kohner Cullimore added six stops of his own including a forced fumble.
Recap
First Quarter
Junior wide receiver Isaiah Wooden jump-started the T-Birds to a fast start with a huge 58-yard sweep, leading to a 44-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Micah Pettit to lead 3-0. The Thunderbirds took the ball back when Cullimore stripped the ball away from the Sam Houston quarterback returning it 35 yards out to the SUU 39-yard line. Southern Utah capped a successful drive with a short pass from Miller to Ta'ase for an eight-yard touchdown to lead 10-0.
Second Quarter
The Thunderbird defense stepped up in a big way during the second quarter coming up with two big-time fourth-down stops and a stuffed fake punt attempt. The Bearkats finally broke through on the scoring column with just under a minute to go in the first half when quarterback Trapper Pennell ran the ball in from two yards out to cut the SUU gap to 10-7.
Third Quarter
The Thunderbirds smothered the Bearkats on an early punt attempt giving the offense the ball with a short field. Southern Utah capitalized with a four-yard run into the endzone by graduate student running back Elijah Burns to take a 17-7 advantage. The Thunderbird defense once again came up big with another fourth-down stop near the end of the third quarter to keep its 10-point advantage.
Fourth Quarter
Redshirt junior defensive back Rodrick Ward and redshirt sophomore Davin Wilson each came up with big interceptions in the first part of the fourth quarter. The 'Bird defense would continue to be the story of the game as the Thunderbirds held on for the 17-7 win.
Notable Plays
Next Up
The Thunderbirds take this win into the offseason finishing with a 5-6 record overall. The first season under Southern Utah head coach DeLane Fitzgerald has been a turnaround for the Thunderbirds and the program will continue to grow and get better as the players and staff turn their focus to offseason growth.
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