The Southern Utah University football team is preparing to host their annual spring football game on Saturday, April 13, at 3 p.m. in Eccles Coliseum. The game comes following weeks of spring practice to re-acclimate players.
The game offers SUU fans a chance to get a preview of the roster for the upcoming season. There will be a lot of new faces on the team, mainly within the quarterback spot due to the graduation of four-year starter Justin Miller. One of the new faces looking to become the new signal caller for the Thunderbirds is Bronson Barron, a transfer from Western Kentucky University.
Another position group the fans should be on the lookout for is the wide receivers, who are looking to replace first-team all-conference member Isaiah Wooden, who put up 904 receiving yards to go along with 14 touchdowns last season for Southern Utah. New signees Exavier Williams from Hoover High School in San Diego and Jayden Robertson from Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, will be two names to watch for in the spring game.
The spring game features a unique style of scoring with the offense still being scored with the standard rules, a touchdown being worth six points, a field goal being worth three and an extra point being worth one. However, the offense can also score if they can pull off an “explosive play,” which is counted as either a run of over 15 yards or a passing play of over 25 yards.
The defense is also scored separately: any play resulting in a defensive touchdown is worth six points. The defense can also score by intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble, which awards them three points. Forcing a three-and-out from the offense also results in three points being awarded to the defense. Finally, if the defense forces a punt or records a sack, they will be awarded a single point.
Head coach DeLane Fitzgerald spoke on the game, saying, “The spring game is not just about showcasing our team’s progress but also about engaging our fans. It’s an opportunity for our community to witness the hard work and dedication of our players firsthand.”
The game will be open to the public and will also be streamed on KSUU Thunder 91.1.
Author: Aidan Mortensen
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
sports@suunews.net
