FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.-Saturday, Southern Utah University commences its Big Sky Conference season and seeks for their first win in 2018, having lost to North Alabama, Oregon State and Arizona previously this season.
The Thunderbirds have had great success against Northern Arizona in their Big Sky era, having won five of six against the Lumberjacks since 2012.
Furthermore, SUU has wont their last four games in the series against the Lumberjacks. In this series, which features two Big Sky Conference travel partners for men’s and women’s basketball and Olympic sports, the squads contend for the Hinton-Burdick Grand Canyon Trophy.
Northern Arizona leads the all-time series 11-9, but the Thunderbirds have a 7-6 record all-time at Flagstaff, Ariz. in the series, where this weekend’s game occurs at the Walkup Skydome.
SUU signal-caller Chris Helbig continues to be one of the bright spots for the Thunderbirds as he has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 926 yards (308.7 yards per game), 5 touchdowns and one interception.
Thunderbirds tailbacks James Felila and Jay Green Jr. each average 4.7 yards a carry and SUU’s leading receiver is Ty Rutledge, who has hauled in 13 grabs for 214 yards and a score. Rutledge averages 71.3 receiving yards per game.
Defensively, SUU is led by linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu, who has 26 total tackles through three games.
Safety AJ Stanley has 13 total tackles for the Thunderbirds and two forced fumbles.
After defeating FBS Texas-El Paso 30-10, the Lumberjacks dropped games to fellow FCS foes Eastern Washington and Missouri State, bringing a record of 1-2 into this game.
The Lumberjacks have an NFL-caliber signal-caller in junior Case Cookus, who despite being injured against Missouri State, has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
Meanwhile, Northern Arizona’s leading receiver is Emmanuel Butler who averages 107 receiving yards a game and has posted two receiving scores on the season.
This is the Thunderbirds’ third straight game away from Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City and they will be on the road again October 6 at Eastern Washington before returning home for an October 13 home date against Sacramento State.
