NAU Game Statsitics vs. Eastern Washington (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team lost to defending FCS national champion Eastern Washington 36-28 Saturday at the Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjacks dropped to 2-3, 1-2 in Big Sky play, while the Eagles improved to 2-4, 2-2.

"It was a difficult game with the game it finished in the fourth quarter," said Head Coach Jerome Souers. "Credit Eastern Washington. They made the plays when they needed to when it counted. We had too many turnovers and missed opportunities to play a team like this."

The Lumberjacks were hampered by four turnovers in the contest including three fumbles. The final miscue came with the Lumberjacks threatening to score a potential tying touchdown with 2:35 left when quarterback Cary Grossart was intercepted in the end zone by Eastern's Jeff Minnerly.

"I am proud of my guys for not giving up," said Souers. "They continued to battle and try and find a way to pull out of the hole we got into and put ourselves in a position to win."

NAU had one final possession with 38 seconds left and got down to the Eastern 30 but Grossart was sacked to end the game.

Grossart finished 31-for-38 for 355 yards and two touchdowns, while his counterpart for the Eagles, Bo Mitchell, was 27-for-40 for 356 yards and three touchdowns.

Zach Bauman rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and receiver Khalil Paden had nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

The game started off great for the Lumberjacks, who led 14-3 after the first quarter. Grossart hit Paden for a 35-yard score on the Lumberjacks' first possession to take a 7-3 lead. They added a second score, capping a 48-yard drive with a one-yard score by Bauman. Eastern came back in the second quarter to score twice and take a 17-14 advantage. NAU scored just before the half to a take 21-17 at the half.

Eastern scored the only points of the third quarter on a 61-yard pass from Mitchell to Greg Herd for a 26-21 lead. NAU missed two field goals in the period, failing to cut the deficit.

On NAU's opening drive of the fourth quarter, Bauman fumbled on the first play which was converted into an Eagle score on an 8-yard rush by Mitchell two plays later. Grossart led the Lumberjacks down the field on the next drive with Bauman scoring on a 22-yard scamper to cut the lead to 33-28.

NAU then forced a three-and-out but fumbled the ball on the punt, setting up a 37-yard field goal by Mike Jarrett and the deciding margin of victory.

NAU travels to Bozeman next week to take on third-ranked Montana State on the road. The Bobcats posted 38-36 victory over Portland State to improve to 5-1 and 3-0 in league play.