Returning home for the final time this season, the Southern Utah University football team hosts the University of Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Eccles Coliseum.
This game can be streamed live on ESPN+ or you can listen live on Thunder 91.
Southern Utah
The T-Birds enter this week one of the hottest teams in all of the Football Championship Subdivision. SUU is 5-5 on the year and is 4-2 in the United Athletic Conference. Southern Utah is on a four-game win streak and is No. 3 in the UAC.
During the win streak, the defense has been finding their rhythm. SUU is allowing 16.25 points per game and has forced eight turnovers. One of the biggest contributors to this defensive success is Lando Brown. The senior defensive end is second in the nation with 11.5 sacks.
The secondary, led by sophomore corner Mikey Allen, has been playing their best football over the last month. Allen leads the team with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Along with the defense, the SUU offense continues to be propelled by running back Joshua Dye. The sophomore transfer student from University of Texas at El Paso is second in the FCS in rushing yards with 1,543 and first in touchdowns with 22.
Even though Southern Utah is on a four-game win streak, the passing game has taken a dip. Bronson Barron has passed for 200 or more yards once in the last four games and hasn’t recorded a touchdown pass since Oct. 18 against Abilene Christian University.
Central Arkansas
It hasn’t been a season to remember for head coach Nathan Brown and the Bears. Central Ark. is 3-7 on the season, 2-4 in the UAC and on a three-game losing streak. Additionally, the Bears are 1-5 on the road this year.
Central Arkansas doesn’t have a strong offense or defense. The Bears rank No. 7 in the UAC in total offense, averaging 24.5 points a game. The defense is allowing 34.5 points a game and 398.5 total yards per game.
Despite the offensive ranking, quarterback Austin Myers is coming off one of his best games of the season. Myers threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Two of Myers’ favorite targets have been wide receivers Malachi Henry and Tyrell Pollard. Henry, a sophomore from Van Buren, Arkansas, leads the team with 706 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Pollard, a junior wideout from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is second on the team with 443 yards and six touchdowns. Pollard can really hurt you down the field. He leads the team, averaging 23.32 yards per reception.
Southern Utah is 1-1 all-time against Central Arkansas, with the road team winning both contests.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Brooklyn Beard
