The Thunderbirds (3-1; 5-2) will travel to Greeley to take on Northern Colorado (1-3; 2-4) at Nottingham Field on Saturday, Oct. 28. SUU claimed a 30-3 home win in 2015 when the schools last played each other.
SUU is coming off of consecutive wins against ranked opponents. This season the Thunderbirds have beaten three ranked teams. Last week was a 46-28 upset victory over No. 8 Eastern Washington. In the win, SUU gained 455 yards and allowed 382. Senior quarterback Patrick Tyler passed for 183 yards, one TD and one interception.
SUU has the seventh best scoring offense in the Big Sky, averaging 31.6 points per game. Patrick Tyler has thrown for 1,502 yards, 13 TD and eight interceptions. Tyler has also rushed for 268 yards and scored a pair of TD. Sophomore James Felila leads all rushers with 581 yards and seven TD. Freshman Landen Measom is the top receiver, totaling 426 yards and four TD.
The Thunderbird defense has allowed 32 points per game this season which ranks eighth in the Big Sky. The team’s leading tackler, junior Chinedu Ahanonu, was injured last week and will possibly be sidelined for the rest of the season. With him gone, senior linebacker Mike Needham emerges as the new leader. Needham has 62 total tackles.
Northern Colorado is eighth in the Big Sky offensively, averaging 31.2 points per game. It is questionable whether junior starting quarterback Jacob Knipp will be able to play this weekend. He was sidelined last game due to an injury. Sophomore Conor Regan threw for 218 yards and two TD in his absence. Junior Trae Riek leads the team in rushing with 382 yards and six TD. Junior wide receiver Alex Wesley has 512 yards and three TD.
The Bears’ defense ranks twelfth in the Big Sky, allowing 36.7 points per game. Senior safety Stone Kane leads the team with 52 tackles and two interceptions.
The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. MST and can be viewed on Pluto TV-Ch. 241 or listened to on KSUB 590.
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Story By
Aaron Peterson for SUU News
aapete3232@gmail.com
Featured Photo Courtesy of SUU Athletic Strategic Communications
