SUU football: UND fears giving up big plays against Southern Utah

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The University of North Dakota football team made some purchases last week at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D. The purchases weren't cheap, either. And there is some concern UND can't cover the expenses.

"We bought ourselves some work defensively," said Sioux coach Chris Mussman, referring to a handful of big pass plays UND gave up in its 27-17 loss to the Coyotes. "Those plays are now on film for everyone to see."

Southern Utah, UND's Great West Conference opponent Saturday in the Fighting Sioux homecoming game, has big-play capabilities with receivers Fesi Sitake and Tysson Poots. The two have combined for 66 catches and 772 yards for the Thunderbirds through four games this season.

The two have hurt UND the last two seasons. In 2008, each caught a touchdown pass in SUU's 15-14 win at the Alerus Center. They combined for 12 catches and 131 yards in the 2008 game. Last season, Sitake and Poots hauled in 14 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-10 SUU win in Cedar City.

"Their offense is complex," Sioux safety Kris Ankenbauer said. "They do a lot of things well."

The Thunderbirds are throwing the ball well again this season, even with new starting quarterback Brad Sorenson (103-179-3, 1,191 yards).

Passes have been completed by SUU but wins have been tough to get.

The Thunderbirds are 1-4 heading to Grand Forks, though two of their losses were by a combined 13 points against FBS programs Wyoming and San Jose State.

Mussman believes SUU is as good as any Great West team.

"Southern Utah was my pick to win the Great West," Mussman said. "They return all but two guys on defense. Their offensive line is very good and their two receivers are outstanding. The rhythm between their quarterback and receivers didn't seem so good early on but it's been better lately."

SUU also lost to Texas State and Northern Arizona while beating San Diego. The narrow losses, however, don't count for much in Cedar City.

"We definitely have earned our record but we've played some good teams," SUU coach Ed Lamb said. "I want to own up to our losses and not take anything away from the teams we've played. We've just come up short."

The Thunderbirds, from what they saw from UND at South Dakota, hope to cash in on the Sioux inability to stop the big play. South Dakota completed eight plays of 15 yards or longer against the Sioux, including six in the decisive 21-point first half.

One of those big plays was a 65-yard scoring strike from quarterback Dante Warren to Jeremy Blount — a play that came immediately after a TV time-out.

"We have to eliminate giving up the big play," Mussman said. "But that's part of being a young football team. We're learning as we go. The effort is there."