In 2003, the Northern Arizona football team was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky by the media and fourth by the league head coaches…boy were they all wrong. The 2003 season would turn out to be one for the ages as the players and coaches took the City of Flagstaff on an enjoyable ride into the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs.

        The season started out great for the team. In their season opener the Lumberjacks axed Saint Mary's (Calif.) 44-3 to win its 11th straight home opener. NAU would then take a hit at Arizona State on the road, but it bounced back with no problem as it rattled off five-straight wins; two of those wins coming over Top 25 opponents.

        During the win streak, NAU outscored its opponents 173-88. Four out of the five wins came by two touchdowns or more. The Lumberjacks went from being unranked to reaching as high as No. 10 in the national polls during their winning spree.

        Despite a slip against Montana State and Montana, the Lumberjacks were able to win their final regular season game and with an 8-3 regular season record NAU earned its second NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs at-large bid in three years.

        The committee did not go easy on NAU as it sent the Lumberjacks to Lake Charles, La. to take on top-seeded McNeese State.

        "We drew No. 1 ranked McNeese State in the first round of the playoffs," said head coach Jerome Souers. "With the hard work that we had showed throughout the season, mixed with our great leadership, we knew that if we went out there and played our best game anything would be possible. This was one of the most talented group of players that I have ever coached and they were able to pull out a tremendous victory for the program."

        To say the win over McNeese State was big would be an understatement. It was GIGANTIC. Before the Lumberjacks' win over the Cowboys, the only other time NAU had won a game in the postseason was in 1958, when it advanced to the NAIA championship game before losing to Northeastern Oklahoma 19-13.

        So when the clock struck 00:00 and the Lumberjacks stormed the field, the football team had made history. Taking down the No. 1 team would appear to be a challenge to most, but NAU routed McNeese State 35-3 leaving the Cowboys trotting back to their locker room in complete and utter shock.

        "It was so surreal," said Chris Nash (a senior at the time). "We just physically dominated them in every facet of the game. The score was indicative of our performance. We were better prepared than them.  To add icing on the cake, that victory afforded us the opportunity to have home field advantage the rest of playoffs."

        Backed by freshman quarterback Jason Murrietta, the Lumberjacks sailed to their first postseason win. Murrietta completed 24-for-35 passes for 285 yards and five touchdowns. He connected with nine different receivers on the night. Four different receivers caught touchdowns, led by Nash, who pulled down two.

        "Every game our offensive coordinator would hand out this wooden stick to the player that needed to have a stand out game in order for us to have a chance to win," Nash said. "I was given that stick and ended up having one of the best statistical games in my career."

        NAU jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the home team. Although the Cowboys were able to connect on a field goal in the second quarter, that would be the only points McNeese State would manage the whole night. The Lumberjacks held the Cowboys scoreless in the second half to complete one of the biggest upsets in NCAA I-AA playoff history.

        The win over McNeese State earned NAU a home game for the quarterfinals as the Lumberjacks were paired up against Florida Atlantic. Fresh off the upset win over the Cowboys, NAU was ready to hit the field once again. As 9,314 screaming fans piled into the Walkup Skydome it was show time.

        The Owls were able to use their speed to their advantage which helped them jump out to a 24-3 advantage at halftime. Florida Atlantic was able to jump out to a 41-3 lead after a few turnovers by NAU, but the Lumberjacks weren't willing to give up. NAU logged 22 points in the fourth quarter to cut down the Owls' lead, but the Lumberjacks' Cinderella Story would end in the quarterfinals with a loss at home.

        Although NAU did not make it to the championship game, Lumberjack fans of all ages were able to witness history. It was the highest win total for NAU since the 1996 season and let's not forget that it was the first Division I playoff win for the school.

        The 2003 roster was filled with stars from top to bottom. Head coach Jerome Souers had brought NAU its second Big Sky Championship in school history and eight players (Bruce Branch, Mark Gould, Johnny Marshall, Clarence Moore, Jason Murrietta, Matt Raivio, Roger Robinson and Tom Winn) were selected to either the Big Sky First or Second Team.

        Several players also finished amongst the best in the nation in their respective categories. Murrietta was named the Big Sky Top Offensive Player as he finished 11th in the nation in pass efficiency and 17th in total offense. Gould finished second in the nation in punting, Moore finished 14th in receiving yards per game and Paul Ernster finished seventh in field goals per game.

        A total of eight players on the 2003 roster went on to play professionally, while five of them made an NFL roster. Ernster went on to play for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. Gould made the New York Giants' roster, while Moore (Baltimore Ravens), Roger Robinson (Arizona Cardinals) and Jeremy Thornburg (Philadelphia Eagles) all earned roster spots as well.

        Gould is the only player on the 2003 roster that has been elected to the NAU Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2008 and still holds the NCAA FCS record for most yards per punt in a season with an average of 48.2.

        Ten years later the 2003 season is still one of the most prestigious seasons in NAU history. The way the town of Flagstaff came together in support of the Blue and Gold was remarkable and NAU fans still brag about the team today and how proud they made them.

        "I'll always remember after hammering the Cowboys by 32 points, how everyone in Flagstaff wanted to talk my ears off about how 'we' beat the number one team in the country," said The Voice of the Lumberjacks Mitch Strohman. "NAU Football gave our mountain town something special to rally behind in 2003, I'll never forget that!"