CEDAR CITY, Utah (November 8, 2024) – The Lions will be over a mile high on Saturday, as the University of North Alabama football team clashes with the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in Cedar City, Utah on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. CT.
Eccles Coliseum, the site of Saturday's United Athletic Conference showdown, is the fourth-highest college football stadium in elevation at 5,796 feet. It is one of only five stadiums in Division I football stadiums over a mile high.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. Southern Utah
Date: Saturday, November 9
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Cedar City, Utah
Stadium: Eccles Coliseum
Capacity: 8,500
TV: ESPN+ (Spencer McLaughlin, Dallin Richards, Kendall McGuire)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media:
@UNAFootball
UNA Game Notes |
Opponent Game Notes |
UAC Website
NOTABLES
ABOUT THE LIONS: North Alabama has a 3-7 record and a 3-3 record in the UAC with wins over West Georgia, Utah Tech and Abilene Christian. Last week, the Lions fell 31-17 to Austin Peay in Florence. The Lions have the fourth-ranked defense in the UCA with 371.0 yards allowed per game, while ranking sixth in total offense with 378.6 yards per game.
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah has a 4-5 overall record with a 3-2 mark in UAC play. The T-Birds have wins over Austin Peay, EKU and West Georgia, as well as a non-conference FBS win over UTEP, coached by former Austin Peay coach Scotty Walden. SUU is similar to UNA in yards per game on offense and defense, ranking fifth in the UAC with 387.2 yards per game and seventh defensively with 408.6 yards allowed per game. Southern Utah has the leading rusher in FCS, as Targhee Lambson averages a whopping 159.0 yards per game.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the second all-time meeting between UNA and Southern Utah. The first meeting was UNA's first-ever game as a member of FCS, as the Lions defeated the Thunderbirds by a 34-30 final for the first win of the FCS era.
COACHING CONNECTION: UNA head coach
Brent Dearmon has a special connection with Southern Utah head coach DeLane Fitzgerald. When Dearmon was playing quarterback at Bethel College from 2005-08, Fitzgerald was the offensive coordinator for one of those seasons.
RECEIVING VOTES…AGAIN?: In two seasons under Dearmon, UNA has played one of the toughest schedules in FCS football. On Saturday, the Lions will play their 16th opponent that have been either ranked or receiving votes the last two seasons, including two FBS teams in No. 4 Florida State and Memphis who was one spot away from No. 25. This week, Southern Utah received three votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
FCS TEAM OF THE WEEK: Three weeks ago, UNA was honored as the Stats Perform FCS Team of the Week following a 47-34 win over No. 10 ranked Abilene Christian. This is the second time UNA has won the national award. The first recognition came in 2018 following the 34-30 win at Southern Utah, which was the first win at the Division I level in school history.
JERRY RICE WATCH LIST: UNA had two players named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list this season in freshman linebacker
Josh Anglin and freshman running back
Jalen Fletcher. The national award is given each year to the top freshman in FCS football. Past winners include NFL players Cooper Kupp, Trey Lance and Chase Edmonds, as well as Heisman contenders Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. UNA was the only team with two players on the 30-player list this year.
KENEBREW WATCH: Seventh year season
Takairee Kenebrew currently holds the career touchdown reception record at UNA with 29 touchdown catches. He also ranks fifth on the career receptions list with 135, needing one more to tie former teammate Dexter Boykin. He also has 2,387 career receiving yards to rank third behind UNA Hall of Famer Michael Edwards. He needs 457 to catch Edwards over the final two games.
HERE COMES THE PAYNE: Graduate transfer
Scott Payne, who spent four years at MTSU as a kickoff specialist, joined UNA this season and is kicking field goals for the first time since high school. He ranks among the top-30 kickers in FCS, going 10-13 for a 76.9 percentage.
SMITH THE STAPLE: Redshirt senior
TJ Smith has been the team's starting quarterback for six straight games. For his career, Smith has 1,356 passing yards, 286 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns — most of which has come this season. He was the UAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14 following the win at Abilene Christian. Depsite only six starts, he ranks 32nd among FCS players with 102 points responsible for.
NEXT ON THE DOCKET: UNA will go on bye next week before closing the season on Nov. 23 at Eastern Kentucky University.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
