NAU Game Notes vs. Montana State (PDF)

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Northern Arizona football teams takes on its toughest challenge to date in conference play this season when they take the field against No. 3 Montana State Saturday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 Arizona time. The game can be seen on Big Sky TV and heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network on 105.1 FM The Big Talker in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott, as well as online on the Big Talker website or on the Big Talker mobile application.

NAU will host a watching party on the big screen at Porky's via the Big Sky's streaming broadcast. Porky's will open at 11 a.m. for the noon kick-off and will be running discount food and beverages for all NAU fans. Porky's is located on 2285 E. Butler Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. 

"Montana State's defense is very well coached and they are executing what they run," said Head Coach Jerome Souers. "There is nothing easy. We try to be balanced on offense, try to be able to run some things and throw it as well. They challenge both aspects very well."

Montana State leads the Big Sky in pass defense and total defense. The Bobcats are 5-1 and lead the league after a close game with Portland State last week.

"It will be a great opportunity," said Souers. "They are playing very well in their house with the noise. It is going to be a challenge for us."

Bobcat quarterback DeNarius McGhee was named the Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one against the Vikings.

"He is as good as we have had in this conference," said Souers of McGhee. "He gets smarter all the time. Every game the guy makes better decisions. His accuracy has improved and he can make plays with his feet. He extends the play if you have it defended."

NAU enters the game with the top offense in the conference at 449.8 yards per game, while the Montana State defense is tops in the league at 300.2 yards per game. The Lumberjacks are No. 3 in defense at 352.4 with Montana State fourth in offense at 428.3. The Lumberjacks have recorded 400 or more yards of total offense in three straight games.

 "Versatility is the key," said Souers. "They are doing very well some of things we are trying to do. The key to their offense is their quarterback. They do not make many mistakes. They are smart with the ball. They run when they you are playing with a conservative posture. If you are too aggressive they have great receivers to get down the field and attack with the passing game. Offensively they have the type of balance to keep a defense on its heels."

NAU leads the all-time series with Montana State 24-20 after defeating the Bobcats in Flagstaff last season. The series has provided some tight games over the last 14 games with nine decided by a touchdown or less and four decided by four points or less.

"I have been here four years and they have won three of the four and we had to kick a last second field to win the game we did win," said Montana State coach Rob Ash. "They have been tough on us and they are 2-0 up here in Bozeman. The matchup seems to be favorable for them and they are a good football team." 

NAU has won the last two meetings, defeating ranked Montana State team both times. The win over the 24th-ranked Bobcats in 2009 was the first victory for the Lumberjacks over a ranked team since its win at No. 1 ranked McNeese State in 2003, breaking a streak of 20 consecutive losses to ranked teams at the FBS and FCS levels. Last season, NAU upset ninth-ranked Montana State in Flagstaff. The win marked the highest ranked team defeated by NAU at home since 2002 when the Lumberjacks defeated then-No. 9 Portland State in the Walkup Skydome.

"I don't put much into it," said Souers of the series history. "All those years are different years just like this year is a different year. Any success we had was that given day. They are motivated to play and are leading the conference and have a lot of momentum. I am sure they are anxious to get after us. Our team has been playing well. We just have not been as consistent of our opponent."