2009 Football Season
Highlights
* The Lumberjacks were ranked as
high as No. 21 by The Sports Network FCS College Football poll and
appeared in both prominent national polls for the second
consecutive week before the loss at Sacramento State.
* The offense had a breakout season
in 2009. Overall, NAU ranked fifth in the country in passing
offense (308.6) and total offense (439.5) and ninth in passing
efficiency (147.8), helping nine players garner all-conference
accolades.
* The Lumberjacks played hard
throughout the season despite dealing with 14 student-athletes
missing games during the season due to injury on defense. NAU
ranked third in the Big Sky and 35th in the nation in
rushing defense, holding opponents to less than 100 yards rushing
five times. NAU was at its best in conference games, ranking second
overall allowing 352.9 yards per game against the Big Sky.
* Michael Herrick was a Walter
Payton Award finalist, recording two of the top four, four of the
top 21 single-game passing performances in school history and the
top two single-game passing totals in Walkup Skydome history in
2009. He threw for a school record 574 yards and four touchdowns
against Eastern Washington, shattering the school record of 474 set
by Travis Brown against Montana in 1996. An All-Big Sky second team
selection, Herrick ranked third in the Big Sky and 15th in the
nation in passing efficiency at 149.5 and second in the Big Sky and
sixth in the nation in total offense (298.3).
* Running back Alex Henderson, who
earned All-Big Sky first-team honors, ranked sixth in the nation in
rushing per game. He finished his career as one of the top running
backs in school history, ranking second in school history with
3,462 career rushing yards and second in rushing attempts with 677.
He was a free agent signee of the St. Louis Rams.
* Wide receiver Ed Berry, whose 75
receptions and 1,075 yards are among the top-five single-season
totals in school history, was an All-American and ranked among the
national top 10 in receptions per game and receiving yards.
* NAU is one of three FCS schools
that played two FBS schools this season that both went to a bowl
game in 2008 and won the bowl game. Overall, there are 16 FCS
schools playing two FBS teams this season. Eight of the 16 are
playing two FBS schools that both went to bowl game in 2008.
Individual
Honors
Ben Bachelier
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Sheehan Barnhart
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Michael Battisti
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Shad Bride
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Ed Berry
All-American, Sports Network
(Second Team)
All-Big Sky First Team (WR)
Isaac Bond
All-Big Sky Second Team (DE)
Big Sky Player of the Week, 10/5
Dwight Boyd
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(DT)
Trey Clarida
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Mike Czyz
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Jeremy Dang
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Cody Dowd
Preseason All-Big Sky First Team
Matt Estrada
All-Big Sky First Team (S)
Shaun Fitzpatrick
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(TE)
FCS Academic All-Star Team
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Adrian Garcia
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Tanner Hansler
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Alex Henderson
All-Big Sky First Team (RB)
Big Sky Player of the Week, 9/21
Michael Herrick
Walter Payton Award Finalist
All-Big Sky Second Team (QB)
FCS Academic All-Star Team
Big Sky All-Academic
Big Sky Player of the Week, 10/12
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Jeff Hines
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(C)
Ryne Holstrom
All-Big Sky Second Team (OT)
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Nathan Johnson
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Taylor Julio
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Zack
Ka'ahanui
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Taylor Malenfant
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Conrad Meadows
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(WR)
Scott McKeever
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Zac McNally
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
John Morrison
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Alex Mott
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Matt Myers
All-Big Sky Second Team (K)
Big Sky Player of the Week, 10/26
Vinnie Paciulli
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Dan Pela
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Phil Pollock
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Kris Poindexter
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(OG)
Mana Purdy
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Nick
Ragland-Johnsen
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Ryan Rauschert
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Andy Saldana
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Aaron Schoenecker
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Ken Shaw
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Curt Sweeney
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(WR)
Stevon Thomas
All-Big Sky Second Team (LB)
Brandon Vance
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(DE)
Kyle Walker
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Andy Wilder
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Matt Wilson
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Reid Worthington
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(LB)
Big Sky All-Academic
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
Taelor Worrell
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team
(ST)
Maz Zemezonak
Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete
Recipient
