The Southern Utah University football team is set to host Football Championship Subdivision University of California, Davis on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. This will be a rematch of last year’s exciting 23-21 finish where UC Davis came out with the win. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
UC Davis
The No. 15 ranked UC Davis enters this week 1-1, and with a win against Texas A&M Commerce. The Aggies primarily use a pass heavy offense, averaging 270 passing yards per game. After struggling in week one throwing three interceptions and zero touchdowns, senior quarterback Miles Hastings threw for 320 yards and scored three touchdowns against Texas A&M Commerce.
Senior wideout C.J. Hutton has been Hastings favorite target, hauling in 13 receptions for 152 yards. Hastings has done a good job at distributing the ball, throwing completions to nine different receivers. Samuel Gbatu Jr, Chaz Davis, and Winston Williams have recorded a receiving touchdown.
On the defense, redshirt junior David Meyer has been all over the field. The linebacker leads the team with 18 total tackles and is tied for first with an interception. The struggle for the Aggies has been rushing the passer. They have only one sack in two games and only four quarterback hits while giving up 318 yards per game through the air.
The positive note for UC Davis is their run defense. The Aggies have held their opponents to just 46.5 yards per game on the ground. Junior cornerback Lamont Shamburger leads the team with three tackles for loss.
Southern Utah
Southern Utah is coming off one of their biggest wins in school history, as they recently beat the University of Texas at El Paso 27-24 in overtime. It was the third win over an FBS team in school history. The Thunderbirds will also look to snap a two-game losing streak against UC Davis. Their last win against the Aggies came in 2017 in a 47-27 win.
The Thunderbirds are a team focused on the running game. SUU averages 173.5 rushing yards per game. Senior running back Targhee Lambson is averaging 113 yards per game on the ground, and ranks No. 12 out of all FCS players with 227 total rushing yards.
Senior defensive end Walker Harris leads the Thunderbirds with 2.5 sacks, and he is tied for No. 1 with one force fumble. Redshirt senior Lacarea Pleasant-Johnson was everywhere on the field against UTEP, recording three total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and half a sack.
If the Thunderbirds want to defeat their two-game losing streak against UC Davis, they will need to run the ball effectively as well as get a little more out of the passing game. Quarterback Jackson Berry is just 16 of 28 for 129 yards in the two games he has started in. He has yet to record a passing touchdown.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: SUU News Copy Editor
