CEDAR CITY, Utah-Saturday, Southern Utah football (1-7, 0-4 in Big Sky Conference play) hosts Idaho State (3-4, 1-2 in Big Sky) as the squads meet at Eccles Coliseum for a 2:05 pm kickoff.

The Thunderbirds rank 91st in the nation in scoring offense (22.5 points per game). Redshirt sophomore signal-caller Chris Helbig completes 63.5 percent of his passes (193-304), which ranks him 22nd nationally.

Helbig has thrown for 2,016 yards (14th nationally) for nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Redshirt junior tailback James Felila (78 car, 261 yards, 2 TD’s) and sophomore running mate Thomas Duckett (37 car, 140 yards, TD) have been the leaders in the running game for the Thunderbirds throughout the season.

Sophomore tailback Lance Lawson (62 rec, 592 yards, 3 TD’s) is the Thunderbirds’ leading receiver. Freshman receiver Zach Nelson (13 rec, 200 yards, 3 TD’s) and senior wide-out Carlos Baker (8 rec, 159 yards, a team-best 19.9 yards per reception) have also been solid targets for Helbig.

Junior kicker Manny Berz has made 2 of his 3 field goal attempts on the season since returning to the lineup.

Redshirt junior kicker/punter Kekoa Sasaoka, in Berz’s stead, has made 21 of 22 PAT’s for SUU.

The Thunderbirds’ defense remains among the worst in the nation. SUU ranks 113th nationally in scoring defense (38.6 points per game).

Sophomore defensive end Francis Bemiy (2 sacks, forced fumble) leads the Thunderbirds in sacks. In interceptions, redshirt senior safety Nathaniel Vaughn, redshirt freshman Carlton Johnson and junior cornerback Khalid Taylor each have one apiece to lead the squad.

In forced fumbles, SUU is led by redshirt sophomore linebacker Quaid Murray, Bemiy, redshirt senior safety Kyle Hannemann, sophomore defensive lineman Aaron Romero each have one apiece.

The Bengals come into Saturday’s game having lost 45-21 to Idaho at the Kibbie Dome at Moscow, Idaho last Saturday.

Idaho State is tied for 59th nationally in scoring offense (27.3 points per game) with Central Arkansas.

Junior quarterback Matt Struck completes 54.5 percent of his passes on the season (108-198) for 1,674 yards, 17 touchdowns (tied for 13th nationally with Shelton Eppler of Northwestern State and Cody Orgeron of McNeese) and three interceptions to pace the Bengals.

Senior tailback Ty Flanagan (125 car, 641 yards, 3 TD’s) is Idaho State’s leading rusher on the season.

In receiving, the Bengals are paced by junior receiver Tanner Conner (33 rec, 582 yards, 6 TD’s), senior receiver Michael Dean (30 rec, 500 yards, 4 TD’s) and senior receiver Mitch Gueller (30 rec, 465 yards, 4 TD’s).

Sophomore kicker/punter Kevin Ryan has made 8 of his 10 field goal attempts on the season and 23 of his 24 PAT attempts for the Bengals.

Idaho State ranks 69th nationally in scoring defense (29.3 points per game).

Senior linebacker Luke Holloway leads the Bengals in sacks (3.5) and forced fumbles (2).

Junior linebacker Oshea Trujillo (2 interceptions, 1.5 sacks, forced fumble) is also a solid overall leader for the Idaho State defense.

The Bengals lead the Thunderbirds 9-6-1 all-time but they have not beaten SUU since 2014.