NAU Game Notes vs. Idaho State (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Junior Taylor Patton had a breakout game last week at Portland State. The San Clemente, Calif., native had a team-high 10 tackles with a fumble recovery and his first career interception.

"It was kind of a breakout game for me," said Patton. "I had some mistakes in the first half. I was really trying to make plays and make up for those mistakes. We ran a couple of calls that made it easy for me to make plays."

The pick came late in the final quarter at the Portland State 20-yard line. He returned it 17 yards to setup the Lumberjack score to cut the lead to 31-29 and give them the opportunity to tie the game.

"Pre-snap I heard their coach yell, 'Ball out quick, ball out quick", said Patton. "I had a feeling it was going to be play action. I played my responsibility and saw him drop back. I saw the tight end dragging across so I dropped in the lane and he threw it right to me."

A shoe-string tackle by a Viking receiver kept him from the end zone.

"I was trying my best to get there," said Patton. The receiver clipped my ankles. I did not see him coming."

Patton and his secondary mates will face a pass-happy Idaho State team this week. Bengal quarterback Kevin Yost threw for 508 yards and tied a Big Sky Conference record with 47 completions on 68 attempts and four touchdown passes last week against Northern Colorado.

 "(It will be different) especially coming off Portland State where they ran the ball the whole time," said Patton. "We are going to do what we are coached to do. We need to keep our tips and leverage and assignments. Tackling is going to be a big point to focus on."

Coach to Cure MD patch…The Northern Arizona coaching staff will be wearing Coach to Cure MD patches today to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. Fans are encouraged to donate online at www.CoachtoCureMD.org  or donate $5 by texting CURE to 90999. The event is sponsored by the American Football Coaches Association. NAU is one of more than 400 institutions wearing the patches today.

Walker Gets First Touchdown…True freshman Dejzon Walker (pronounced dee-shon) caught a 12-yard touchdown against Portland State.  The Basha High School product finished with three catches for 36 yards in his first Big Sky Conference game.

"It felt good for my first time," said Walker. "I give credit to the line and the quarterback for hitting me and the coaches for calling my number."

Walker caught 19 touchdowns in his prep career and had more than 1,500 receiving yards.

"It is a big honor to be out on the field with the rest of the guys and the seniors," said Walker. "They have been showing me support and giving me help along the way."

Academic Honoree…Senior long snapper Ben Bachelier is the NAU nominee for the 2011 National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments. The Rio Rico, Ariz., native received the 2010 and 2011 Cynthia Bennett Awards for excellence in academics award. He is a two-time Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete recipient and 2010 Big Sky All-Academic selection. He has a 3.97 grade point average in exercise science and plans to study physical therapy in graduate school. The NFF Awards Committee will select a scholar-athlete class from all divisions of football, granting each $18,000 toward postgraduate studies. Among the finalists, one will be selected as the nation's top scholar-athlete. He will be awarded the esteemed William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and an additional $7,000 for a total scholarship of $25,000.

Flip one for the Gipper…The Ronald Reagan National Football Coin Toss will be taking place all over the country from Sept. 23-26. Teams will "Flip one for the Gipper" to commemorate President Ronald Reagan in conjunction with the year-long Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration. "The National Football Coin Toss celebrates the values that football teaches such as leadership, teamwork, and drive, which Ronald Reagan embraced and exemplified throughout his life," said Stewart McLaurin, Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration.