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Show T-birds tangle with Western States in action Saturday CEDAR CITY "Its for real now, and if we can make everything ev-erything function at the same time , we'll make some believers believ-ers around the conference." Tom Kingsford, head coach of the Southern Utah State College football team, insists. The Thunderbird record to date (0-3) might make even the midly skeptical wonder i if Kingsford isn't guilty of a little wishful thinking. Little problems, tough opposition oppo-sition and sparodic lapses are blamed for the SUSC losses to Montana Tech (14-29), Cal Poly Pomona (7-9) and Cal State Fullerton (13-42). "Once we get it all together, we can still (be a tough club," Kingsford insists. "But we have irun out of time; we've got to perform this week." Kingsfird's Thunderbirds host surprisingly tough Western West-ern State Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Thunderbird stadium. "This game could go a long way toward determining the eventual winner of the Mountain Moun-tain Division of the conference particulary if Western State is a tough as they appear to be," the 'Bird' coach said. The Mountaineers from Gunnison, Colorado, hold a win over , Southern Colorado State (10-7) and they played rugged University of Northern Colorado to a wild 35-35 'tie. Western is expected to keep the ball in the air all afternoon. after-noon. Against UNC, the Mountaineers Moun-taineers threw the iball 43 times and completed 24 of those 43 passes. "Mike Busby is a veteran quarterback, the type who can pick holes in a defense," -Kingsford worries. Busby has a horde of fine receivers, led toy all confer- .- , ence Terry Williams, a tailback, tail-back, and ends Jim Overfelt, Tom Leonard and Larry Sam-uels. Sam-uels. : " We are worried that this may toe a match of their " strength against our weakness ' pass defense," Kingsford said. "Our defensive secondary v just hasn't jelled the potential ' is there we saw it last year " but hasn't come together yet this season." Offensively, the Birds have been a bit spotty, but quarterback quarter-back Andy Gawaldo has prov- ed ihe can pass (over 60 per-cent per-cent completions), and Steve Clodfelter has proved to 'be a premier runner. Good receivers in Don Gross Tex Anthony and Bill Jones make the T-Bird attack bal- ; anced. , "One thing is for sure," ;" Kingsford prophesied, "both teams will go into this game. . ' ' knowing that is is vitally im- ' ' portant to any conference championship plans. . Ky.v- '..'imI:.;;: t'j.Xi .v.,.;: V : '-''ft i ; t - "H; , : ,. 1 v- STRONG VETERAN. Don Conrad, who wears jer- " sey No. 66, is one of the strong defensive standouts .... for the Thunderbirds this season. Last year Conrad earned a berth on the all Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team as a linebacker. He hits hard and thrives on gritty football. He has the speed to be where the action is and is a aggressive ballplayer. Fans will see a lot of Conrad Saturday afternoon as the T-Birds take on the Mountaineers of Western; State. Kickoff is at 1:30 p. m. - - . |