In the wake of a three-game losing streak, the Southern Utah University football team will host the No. 18 University of West Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m. This will be SUU’s homecoming game as well as their first conference game of the year.
This game will be played in the Eccles Coliseum and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Southern Utah
The T-Birds remain in the midst of a tough schedule. SUU is 1-3 on the year and have lost three straight games. Southern Utah is in the middle of a five-game stretch where they will face top 25 teams.
Despite the record, Southern Utah has produced a top 15 offense in the Football Championship Subdivision. The T-Birds are averaging 39 points a game and 492 yards per game of total offense.
One of the biggest reasons for SUU’s success on offense is quarterback Bronson Barron. The redshirt senior from American Fork, Utah is No. 4 in the FCS with 1153 passing yards. Barron also has thrown for nine touchdowns to just one interception.
Bronson’s favorite target so far has been Gabe Nunez. The wideout from Beaumont, California leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Nunez has recorded 25 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
As for the ground game, Joshua Dye has been one of the nation’s best running backs. Dye is No. 2 in the FCS with 538 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Despite the strong offense, Southern Utah’s defense has been a major liability. SUU ranks No. 101 in the FCS, giving up 39 points per game. If Southern Utah wants to upset West Georgia, their defense needs to get stops.
Although the defense has struggled, Middle linebacker Sebastian Adamski and defensive end Lando Brown are off to great starts. Adamski leads the team with 34 total tackles and has 4.5 tackles for loss.
Brown, a redshirt senior from Gardena, California continues to make a big impact in the trenches. In three games, Brown has four sacks and two additional quarterback hits.
West Georgia
After starting 4-0 to begin the season, the Wolves are ranked in the FCS top 25 for the first time this year. West Georgia has dominated on both sides of the ball and will look to avenge last year’s loss to SUU.
Even though West Georgia has a 4-0 record, the passing offense has been very inconsistent all year long. Quarterback Davin Wydner has completed just 49.51% of his passes for seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The Wolves have had the most success when leaning on the run game. Latrell Murrell and TJ Lester have been a dominant one-two punch for West Georgia. Murrell leads the team with 422 yards on the year, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
Lester, a freshman from Milton, Georgia has made an instant impact. Lester is averaging 3.9 yards per carry and leads the Wolves with five rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, West Georgia has been solid, holding teams to 14 points per game. One of the biggest reasons for their success has been their ability to get to the quarterback. West Georgia has 13 sacks on the year with four different players with at least two sacks.
Southern Utah is 1-0 all-time against West Georgia.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Heather Turner
