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CEDAR CITY -- The Southern Utah football team opens its home game schedule Saturday when it hosts the University of San Diego.
The Toreros lost to Azusa Pacific University last Saturday 42-14. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime; however, the Toreros were unable to match the 28 points put up by the Cougars in the second half of the game.
SUU also came up short last weekend against the University of Wyoming losing 28-20. Despite having the statistical advantage, penalties were the deciding factor in the loss.
Thunderbird Head Coach Ed Lamb said the team is focused on being penalty free this week in practice.
"We lost the penalty battle last week," Lamb said. "We felt like that was the phase where we got beat last week, and that cost us a game. We want to put a big emphasis on avoiding penalties in practice as well as in the game."
Senior wide receiver Fesi Sitake said he feels good about the offense and where they are heading with new sophomore quarterback Brad Sorensen behind the center.
"By getting over the practice phase and facing a team with a new look of players, he didn't surprise us at all," Sitake said. "He met the expectations that we had. Now seeing what he can do, it excites us to get open because he's definitely going to give us the ball."
Lamb, who coached at San Diego before signing on as head coach at SUU, said the defense is going to have to pressure the Torero offense in order to come out with the victory.
"They've got some good quarterbacks and receivers," he said. "A big key to the game is can we pressure the quarterback. If he has time, he and the receivers will hurt us."
Sitake said the T-Birds need a quick start to take the momentum early from San Diego.
"People on the outside have a mind set (from the previous week) that we can afford to make some mistakes, but that's not it at all," he said. "We have to look at them as another great opponent, which they are, get out to a quick start and try our hardest to play a great game."
