NAU Football Game Notes vs. Portland State (PDF)

Northern Arizona (1-1, 0-0 BSC) at Portland St. (1-0)
5:07 p.m., Sept. 17, 2011, Portland, Ore.
Sodexo Lumberjack Radio Network-105.1 The Big Talker/Comcast Sportsnet

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Northern Arizona football team opens Big Sky Conference play Saturday at 5:05 p.m. against Portland State, a team the Lumberjacks hosted and defeated in the final game of the 2010 season. The game can be heard on 105.1 The Big Talker and seen on Comcast SportsNet in Washington and Oregon and on the internet on Big Sky Television.

"They are a different team than they were a year ago," said Head Coach Souers. "We are concerned about the number of things they can prepare in two weeks that we have not seen on tape. They kept it pretty vanilla in their opener. We have to really be on our toes and be ready to make a lot of adjustments."

Portland State (1-0) opened the season with a 52-0 victory against Southern Oregon. This week's game is the second of six at home for Portland State. The Vikings, at 1-0, are the only Big Sky Conference team without a loss after two weeks, although the lone win came against NAIA Southern Oregon. With a 52-0 non-conference opening win over Southern Oregon, the Vikings ended a seven-game losing streak that consisted of the last seven games of 2010. PSU still has a seven-game Big Sky losing streak, which is the team's longest-ever Big Sky losing streak.

Two of the leaders of the 2011 Lumberjacks will be playing near their hometowns this weekend, providing a "hometown" game for each. Defensive lineman Isaac Bond is from Vancouver, Wash., just north of Portland.  A 2007 graduate of Skyview High School, Bond played for Steve Kizer and was a three-time all-league at tight end and linebacker.

Center Alex Mott is from Troutdale, Ore. He is a 2007 graduate of Sam Barlow High School. He played for Terry Summerfield, earning Mount Hood All-Conference second team honors as a senior.

"When I came here as a freshman I definitely planned it out and looked to see if I was going to be playing Portland State at home or in Portland for my senior season," said Mott. "It happened to be playing in Portland which is real cool. I am going to have a bunch of family there."

NAU leads the all-time series 14-4 and holds a 7-2 advantage in Portland and 7-2 mark in Flagstaff. The Lumberjacks have won the last four in the series, including a 62-14 victory in Flagstaff in 2010. Head Coach Jerome Souers is 9-4 all-time against the Vikings.  Giovanni Dixon and Zach Bauman combined for 317 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in last year's meeting. The Lumberjacks averaged a Big Sky single-game record 10.9 yards per carry.

"Switching to conference level of play, we need to play effective offense, defense and kicking game without the penalties and turnovers that tend to plague teams at the beginning of the season," said Souers. "Finding out exacting what we do and what we do well will be important."