Coming off a heartbreaking loss on homecoming, the Southern Utah University football team will head to Texas to face No. 3 ranked Tarleton State University on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas.
This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
Southern Utah
It has been a disheartening start to the season for head coach DeLane Fitzgerald and the T-Birds. SUU is 1-4 on the season, with three of the four losses being within three points..
Despite the poor record, SUU’s offense, led by quarterback Bronson Barron and running back Joshua Dye, has been lethal. Barron ranks No. 5 in the Football Championship Subdivision with 1,339 passing yards and No. 8 in passing touchdowns with 10.
Dye, a sophomore from Gilbert, Arizona, ranks No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards with 595 and 10 rushing touchdowns. Southern Utah has also utilized backup quarterback Will Burns in the rushing attack. Burns is second on the team with 162 rushing yards.
On the outside, Gabe Nunez has been Barron’s most reliable target in the passing game. Nunez leads SUU with 31 receptions for 407 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Southern Utah continues to struggle containing their opponents. Teams are averaging 36.6 points and 419.2 yards per game.
Even with the defensive struggles, linebacker Sebastian Adamski has been a leader for Southern Utah. Adamski leads SUU with 45 total tackles and ranks second on the team with five tackles for loss.
Tarleton State
Head coach Todd Whitten has once again built a winning football team at Tarleton State. Now in his 16th season as head coach, Whitten has the Texans 5-0 and ranked No. 3 in the FCS.
The Texans are led by a stingy defense this year. TSU has allowed only 12.8 points per game and has forced 17 turnovers in five games.
In the secondary, Kasyus Kurns is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Along with Kurns, Jadan Aubert has been a strong second option in the secondary.
Along the defensive line, senior Angelo Anderson has been a force up front, leading the Texans with five sacks. This will be a key matchup to watch as SUU ranks No. 104 in the FCS in sacks allowed.
On offense, quarterback Victor Gabalis has been a leader for the Texans. Gabalis has thrown for 966 yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
His top target has been senior wideout Peyton Kramer. The senior from Aledo, Texas has hauled in 20 receptions for 399 yards and three touchdowns.
Southern Utah is 2-2 all-time against Tarleton State, with the Texans winning the most recent matchup 38-37 in overtime.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Briar Adams
