CEDAR CITY, Utah – Senior K.J. Gerard made an interception in the end zone with 23 seconds remaining to preserve a 19-14 win at Southern Utah Saturday night. NAU improved to 2-1 on the season, while SUU dropped to 1-3.

Senior Lance Kriesien led the Lumberjacks on the go-ahead drive, completing an 11-play drive with an eight-yard run in the end zone that was highlighted by the final push that bulldozed four Thunderbird players into the end zone. The two-point conversion failed, setting up the late-game opportunity for SUU with the Lumberjacks leading by five points.

After each team punted, SUU quarterback Cody Stone led the Thunderbirds to the NAU 2-yard line and the verge of the game-winning points with a 19-yard pass to Tysson Poots with under a minute to play. But NAU then stopped back-to-back rushing attempts, forcing SUU back to the six-yard line. Gerard then intercepted the Cody Stone pass that was intended for Poots in the right corner of the end zone on third down.

“It was a big interception,” said Gerard. “I knew Poots was their playmaker so I was going to go wherever he was going on the goal line I was going to go find him. “

Kriesien originally entered the game at running back, gaining 75 yards on 12 carries to assist the running attack when Alex Henderson was taken out of the game with a knee injury. He then took over at quarterback in the fourth quarter, finishing 4-for-5 for 27 yards. Sophomore Michael Herrick, who played the first three quarters behind center in his first career start, went 20-for-34 for 196 yards and one touchdown.

“Lance Kriesien is a great athlete and he showed some really special stuff out here tonight,” said Head Coach Jerome Souers. “He is a competitor and he made adjustments, assisting us in finding a way to win.”

NAU controlled the time of possession with a 42:54 to 17:06 advantage while running 93 offensive plays.

After a scoreless third quarter, SUU took the lead 14-13 briefly on a touchdown pass to Jared Ursua.

NAU led 13-7 at the break, converting two first half turnovers by SUU into 10 points. Dehaze kicked a 32-yard field after NAU recovered a fumble deep in Thunderbird territory for the first points of the game. Herrick then connected with Preston Saunders on a 10-yard score after NAU recovered a fumbled punt to setup a short field situation.

SUU put together a six-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 47-yard pass from Stone to Poots to pull within 10-7 late in the second quarter. NAU then setup Dehaze for his second 32-yard field goal of the game just before the half.

NAU opens Big Sky Conference play next weekend at Northern Colorado.