Cedar City • Southern Utah opens defense of its Great West Conference championship Saturday, when the high-flying Thunderbirds face North Dakota at Eccles Coliseum.

Southern Utah is 3-1 so far, including a 41-16 win at UNLV last week that vaulted it to 17th in the Football Championship Subdivision national rankings.

North Dakota is 2-2, including a 27-22 loss at Fresno State two weeks ago.

The Fighting Sioux come off a 53-19 victory over Black Hills (S.D.) State.

The Southern Utah-North Dakota game matches two solid defenses.

At UNLV, Southern Utah forced five turnovers and, in the second half, allowed only one meaningless touchdown in the final seconds.

"They fly around," said North Dakota coach Chris Mussman. "They get after it."

Defensive lineman Nick Witzmann, linebacker Blake Fenn and safety Erron Vonner returned interceptions for touchdowns at UNLV.

Coach Ed Lamb says his defense is a little deeper and more athletic than it has been in past season.

The fact his defensive coaching staff has stayed together also helps.

"We've been able to run the same schemes the last couple of years," Lamb said. "The players know what they're doing."

Meanwhile, North Dakota arrives with the seventh-ranked rushing defense in the country.

Opponents, including Idaho and Fresno of the Western Athletic Conference, have averaged only 77 yards per game against the Fighting Sioux.

"They play defense," Lamb said, "like they are proud to wear a North Dakota jersey."

According to Mussman, the Fighting Sioux offense can help its defense by controlling the football and limit the opportunities of SUU quarterback Brad Sorensen.

"That quarterback is very special," Mussman said. "He's exceptional. He's the one who makes them go. We've got to keep him off the field by extending drives offensively."Sorensen rebounded from a sub-par first half against UNLV. In the second half, he helped Southern Utah score 31 straight points.

"It's not like they got lucky against UNLV," Mussman said. "They took it to them." —

North Dakota at SUU

P At Eccles Coliseum, Cedar City

Kickoff • 1 p.m.

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

Radio • 590 AM, 91.1 FM

Records • Southern Utah 3-1, North Dakota 2-2.

Series • SUU leads, 3-1

Last meeting • SUU, 31-21 (2010)