NAU Game Notes vs. Idaho State (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University football team opens Big Sky Conference play Saturday against Idaho State in Holt Arena in Pocatello. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. Flagstaff time.

For the Lumberjacks, it will be the first Football Championship Subdivision game of the season after opening against Division II Western New Mexico and playing at FBS member Arizona State two weeks ago.

Head Coach Jerome Souers says the bye week has given a chance for his team to recover from fall camp and the first two ball games.

"The advantage is in the form of way of rest and recovery," said Souers. "We had a very challenging camp and first couple ball games and all the nicks and bruises you have as a result of that. But there is some time when you lose game flow and any of the traction and momentum in the first two games. It is hard to keep hold of. We are trying to maintain that."

Souers will look to his team to get off to a quick start.

"The concern is coming into a ball game being a little off tempo, off speed and coming out of the gate slow," said Souers of a team coming off a bye week. "This is not a game we can afford to do that."

One of the reasons for the concern is Idaho State returner Tavoy Moore, who opened the game last week at Northern Colorado with a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

"Every time he touches the ball he goes to the house," said Souers. "He is a great player. We have to know where he is all the time."

Moore, a 5-7, 195-pound junior from Long Beach, Calif., returned a kick 91 yards for a touchdown and scored on an 81-yard punt return in Idaho State's 35-21 conference loss to Northern Colorado. Moore set an ISU record with 318 all-purpose yards, eclipsing the previous record of 310 set by Alfredo Anderson in 1994. His 81-yard punt return with 9:34 remaining in the fourth quarter cut Northern Colorado's lead to 28-21. Moore finished with 128 yards on kick returns, 109 on punt returns, 57 receiving yards and 24 rushing yards. His average of 54.5 yards on punt returns tied the Big Sky single-game record. Moore also had another punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty.

"He is a pretty phenomenal returner," said Souers. "If he is as fast as he looks on tape, he is going to be an impact all year long. He is a very talented athlete. He handles open space very well with quickness and explosiveness. He has great vision and feel for returns and angles and getting himself free. He was a challenge last week and I am sure he will be a challenge this week."

The Lumberjacks will counter with a defense that has been solid against the run and an offense looking to find its rhythm. The Lumberjacks rank fifth in the nation in rushing defense at 67.5 yards per game.

Idaho Sate Head Coach John Zamberlin showed concern this week for the potential of the Lumberjack offense and for good reason. NAU has scored 30 or more points against the Bengals in each of the last five meetings and posted 52 points in Pocatello in the last meeting in 2008. It was the highest point total by NAU in the series that dates to 1951.

"We're going to have a challenge this week," said Zamberlin. "This quarterback from NAU is probably one of the best in the conference. He was a transfer a couple of years ago from Ole Miss. (He is) very accurate, very good thrower, very good quarterback. They are good and stout up front in the offensive line. So, we'll be challenged. We have to get pressure on the quarterback to be successful."

NAU leads the all-time series 29-17-1 with Idaho State. NAU is 12-14 overall in Pocatello but have won the last two meetings on the road against the Bengals and each of the last five overall meetings in the series.

The game can be heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network on 105.1 FM in Flagstaff and on the internet at www.bigtalkerradio.com. The pregame show starts at 1:35 p.m. in Flagstaff with Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens calling the action from Holt Arena.

DID YOU KNOW…Thirty-nine Northern Arizona University student-athletes participated in spring commencement ceremonies on the NAU campus and were commissioned degrees as part of the Class of 2010.