Cedar City • Texas-San Antonio isn't the best team Southern Utah will play this season.

If the Thunderbirds hope to reach the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, however, they can't afford to stumble against the Roadrunners on Saturday night at Eccles Coliseum.

SUU already used a mulligan by dropping its season opener at South Dakota State, 29-28.

The Thunderbirds rebounded last week with a dominating 35-14 victory over Big Sky Conference contender Sacramento State.

The momentum Southern Utah gained from the win will disappear, though, if it can't beat Texas-San Antonio.

In their first year of playing football, the Roadrunners are 1-1 so far. They defeated Northeastern (Okla.) State, 31-3, but lost to little McMury University, 24-21, in front of 31,000 fans at the Alamodome.

"They have a very high talent level on offense," Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb said, "and they have speed and size at all positions."

Still, Texas San-Antonio's program is in its infancy. Most of the players on its roster are freshmen, sophomores or transfers.

"If we have an advantage," Lamb said, "I hope it's that we are older and more mature. … [But] they're a good young team that is looking to find their stride. They probably see this week as the perfect opportunity to do that."

Southern Utah comes off a playoff-worthy performance against Sacramento State, which had opened its season with a 29-28 overtime win over Oregon State of the Pac-12.

Against the Hornets, SUU junior quarterback Brad Sorensen completed 30 of 37 passes for 271 yards. He did not throw an interception after suffering three at South Dakota State.

Defensively, the Thunderbirds shut down Sacramento State, which gained only 286 yards of total offense in the game, including 125 in the second half.

"We need to take care of our assignments," Lamb warns. "We'll have to play pretty well. We learned a good lesson in Week 1: Anyone can beat us." —

Texas-San Antonio at Southern Utah

P Saturday, 6 p.m.

TV • KMYU (Digital 2.2 and 12.1, Comcast 22, Baja 20, Bresnan 18 and Dish 12).

Radio • 590-AM, 91.1-FM

Records • Southern Utah, 1-1; Texas-San Antonio 1-1

Series • First meeting