CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds are coming off the bye week and ready to get back to the grind as they hit the road to take on West Georgia in another United Athletic Conference Battle. The game will take place on Saturday, October 26, in Carrollton, Georgia, and kicks off at noon MT. You can watch it live on ESPN+.
The Game
The Thunderbirds dominated the Easter Kentucky Colonels 42-21 before going on bye last week. The homecoming win brought SUU's record to 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. The Wolves are coming off an impressive 41-13 home victory against Shorter University. The victory brought West Georgia's record to 2-5 on the year with a 0-5 mark in UAC play.
Saturday's game will be the first-ever matchup between the two universities, as West Georgia just moved up to FCS from Division II football this season.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
This week on the Thunderbird Coaches Show, Coach Fitzgerald and Jon Smith are joined by Jackson Berry. QB1 talks about the bye week and how he came to be at SUU before previewing the matchup with West Georgia.
National Recognition
Freshman Jayden Robertson has been named to the 2024 Jerry Rice Award Watchlist. The award is given to the top freshman in FCS football every season. Robertson has been named to the list for his incredible play in the secondary this season with the Thunderbirds. The Freshman from Henderson, Nevada, has racked up a team-leading four interceptions and two pass breakups on the season, including a pick-six. The four interceptions are tied for the third most in FCS football this season.
Key T-Birds to Watch:
The Thunderbirds' offense is roaring to life, driven by an explosive ground game. Targhee Lambson is leading the way, amassing an impressive 1,098 yards on 172 carries, boasting an average of 6.4 yards per rush, and hitting paydirt 12 times. Braedon Wissler has also chipped in with a solid 148 yards on 40 attempts, adding depth to the rushing attack. Under center, Jackson Berry has thrown for 559 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing his arm strength while distributing the ball effectively to his primary targets. Gabe Nunez stands out among the receivers, with 23 catches for 378 yards and three touchdowns, while Shane Carr isn't far behind, securing 15 receptions for 293 yards and another trio of scores.
On the defensive side, the Thunderbirds are anchored by standout performances from their key players. Senior defensive lineman Walker Harris is making his presence felt with 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and a solid 19 total tackles. Redshirt junior Lando Brown has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, racking up three hurries along with 5.5 tackles for loss and 29 total stops. Inside linebacker Trent Whalen has returned to the lineup with gusto, tallying 19 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. Leading the charge, George Ramirez tops the team with 47 total tackles—28 of them solo—plus five tackles for loss and a sack, showcasing the Thunderbirds' tenacity on both sides of the ball.
Wolf Watching
Karmello English leads the West Georgia receiving corps with 604 yards on 39 catches, averaging 15.49 yards per catch and 86.29 yards per game. Dylan Gary has been a key red-zone target, contributing six touchdowns and 550 receiving yards. T.J. Lockley has matched English with 39 receptions, adding 357 yards. On the ground, Rajaez Mosley leads the rushing attack with 323 yards and two touchdowns on 95 carries, while Chase Belcher has been effective in the red zone with three rushing touchdowns. Senior Quincy Casey has been steady under center since taking over two weeks ago, throwing for 804 yards and completing 52.68% of his passes. Casey has given up three interceptions but has also contributed to seven passing touchdowns for the team.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jay Carter leads the Wolves Defensive unit with 50 total tackles, including 35 solo efforts and 4.0 tackles for loss, along with a sack. Junior linebacker Micah Thurman follows closely with 47 tackles and a team-high 6.5 Tackles for a loss. Junior defensive back Malachi Williams has added 41 tackles and has been a key playmaker with three pass breakups. Sophomore defensive back Mar'Quavious Moss has been disruptive in the backfield, recording 7.5 TFLs and four sacks, alongside 38 tackles. Malik Charles stands out as a pass rusher. The sophomore defensive lineman leads the team with five sacks and 7.5 TFLs. Preston Puni and Solomanie Bambara have also contributed with multiple sacks and backfield pressures. At the same time, Kyeaure Magloire and Festus Davies have played key roles in the pass defense, contributing several pass breakups each. This defense thrives on creating negative plays, as evidenced by 60.0 TFLs and 21 sacks across seven games.
Tickets
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