Coming off back-to-back bye weeks that followed back-to-back losses, Northern Colorado (2-3, 0-1 Great West) could use a “get-well game.” Especially for its injured quarterback, Nick Hager.
Saturday’s conference visit to Southern Utah (0-5, 0-1) just might qualify. Not only are the Thunderbirds winless, they have yet to lose by less than two touchdowns.
After more than three weeks of down time, Hager, who suffered a dislocated shoulder this season, remains questionable for the game. But he was able to practice this week and could be available. If he can’t go, T.J. Swanson, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound redshirt freshman from Sykesville, Md., is expected to get his second start.
Either way, coach Kay Dalton is likely to rely on his running game to wear down an outmanned opponent. Andre Wilson is the nation’s third-leading rusher in Division I-AA at 137.4 yards per game.
“We’re going to try to run on them, like we do everybody else,” Dalton said. “The biggest problem is they’re a very aggressive defense that does a lot of zone blitzing. And with the zone blitz, the defensive linemen are never where they lined up, so it messes up your blocking assignments.”
Despite its 33-21 loss to Cal Davis last week, Southern Utah produced the GWC’s co-offensive players of the week in quarterback Zac Connors and wide receiver Jerome Eason. Connors came off the bench when starter Wes Marshall was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter and rallied the Thunderbirds with two late touchdown passes to Eason.
But Southern Utah’s defense is what scares Dalton.
“Their offense isn’t anything to write home about,” Dalton said. “But in the games I’ve watched, they’ve scored once or twice a game with their defense. Against Cal Davis last week, they knocked the quarterback on the ground, picked up the fumble and ran in it in for a touchdown. Later, they intercepted a pass and scored a touchdown off that. So you better be protecting the ball.”
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at jsanchez@denverpost.com or 303-820-5458.
