Postgame Notes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior quarterback Chase Cartwright came up big for No. 19/21 Northern Arizona as he helped stage a 17-point comeback victory at Sacramento State. After trailing by double digits late in the third quarter the Lumberjacks were able to record a 39-38 win and hand the Hornets their first Big Sky loss of the season.

"We knew looking at our schedule that these first three games were going to be tough," said head coach Jerome Souers. "We have a lot of respect for Sacramento State. I think our guys showed a lot of character today. The team rallied behind Chase and the defense made some plays in the fourth quarter that gave us the win."

Sacramento State (3-4, 2-1 Big Sky) struck first with a 32-yard field goal with 8:30 to go in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Hornets, Zach Bauman would help NAU get on the scoreboard five minutes later, as he rushed seven yards into the end zone.

The Lumberjacks (4-2, 2-1 Big Sky) were able to extend their lead to 14-3 early in the second quarter when Kyren Poe found Alex Holmes in the end zone to complete the four-yard touchdown pass.

By the time halftime struck, NAU clung to a 14-10 lead over the Hornets.

Shortly into the third quarter, Sacramento State's Garrett Safron connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Carter to give the home team the lead. Less than two minutes later, the Hornets were able to add to their lead when Robert Beale picked off Poe for a 37-yard touchdown return.

The touchdown gave Sacramento State its first pick-six of the season and with that control of the game. With momentum shifting towards the Hornets they were able to record another interception which led to a 10-yard touchdown run by Jordan Robinson to give Sacramento State a 31-14 edge.

Souers put in Cartwright at quarterback with 8:02 to go in the third quarter to give the Lumberjacks a new look. Cartwright was able to stabilize the Lumberjack offense and eight plays later he completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cole to cut into the Hornets' lead.

Safron was able to break through the Lumberjack defense and register a 50-yard touchdown run to increase the Hornets' lead to 38-21 with 3:24 to go in the quarter. However, the touchdown by Safron would be the last for the Hornets tonight.

With the NAU sideline refusing to give up, it was time to stage the comeback. Jesse Brantley was the third different NAU receiver of the game to record a touchdown when Cartwright found him in the end zone for the score with 1:10 left in the third quarter. After the extra point bounced off the upright, NAU found itself trailing Sacramento State, 38-27 with about 16 minutes left in the game.

After forcing the Hornets to punt to start the fourth quarter, NAU rattled off five plays for 66 yards that led to Cartwright finding R.J. Rickert in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.

Sacramento native Lucky Dozier came up huge when he intercepted Safron on the Hornets first play of the next drive which led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Bauman. The touchdown gave NAU its first lead of the game since the 12:16 mark in the third quarter and the eventual win.

Cartwright finished the game 16-19 for a total of 208 passing yards. He found three different receivers in the end zone for the most touchdown passes in a game this season for NAU.

After two straight weeks on the road, Northern Arizona returns home to the Walkup Skydome on Saturday, Oct. 12 to host Idaho State in its Think Pink Homecoming Game. Kickoff versus the Bengals is slated for 4:05 p.m. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Arizona Plus.