Playoff Time! Lumberjacks Take on San Diego in Round 1
Playoff Time! Lumberjacks Take on San Diego in Round 1
Football / November 21, 2017
FCS Playoffs (Round 1): Northern Arizona (7-4) vs. San Diego (9-2)                                              
DATE Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017                                                                                             
TIME 6 p.m. MST
LOCATION J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome (10,000) | Flagstaff, Ariz.
TV ESPN3                       
RADIO Flagstaff: 93.5 FM & AM 930 KAFF Country Legends
Prescott: 97.9 FM The Eagle
Phoenix: Money Radio 1510 AM & 105.3 FM
Window Rock: KHAC 880 AM
MOBILE AUDIO TuneIn App
INTERNET Listen Live  | Watch Live
LIVE STATS Northern Arizona - San Diego Stat Feed
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GAME NOTES (PDF)

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GAMEDAY - NCAA FCS PLAYOFFS OPENING ROUND

NORTHERN ARIZONA
RECORD: 7-4, 6-2 Big Sky
HOME RECORD: 5-1
HEAD COACH: Jerome Souers (20th season)
RECORD AT NAU: 119-107
OVERALL RECORD: 119-107 (20th season)
PPG/ALLOWED PER GAME: 32.1/28.6

SAN DIEGO
RECORD: 9-2, 8-0 Pioneer
AWAY RECORD: 4-2
HEAD COACH: Dale Lindsey (5th season)
RECORD AT SAN DIEGO: 45-12 
OVERALL RECORD: 45-12 (5th season)
PPG/ALLOWED PER GAME: 39.0/16.3

NAU OPENING DRIVE...
  • Northern Arizona will be making its first NCAA FCS Playoff appearance since 2013 when it battles Pioneer League Champion San Diego on Saturday in a 6 p.m. MST kickoff on ESPN3 and the Lumberjack Radio Network.
  • The Lumberjacks earned an at-large berth to the 2017 FCS Playoffs following a 7-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Big Sky Conference.
  • The 'Jacks will be making their first NCAA FCS/I-AA Playoff appearance since 2013 and the sixth in the program's history.
  • The winner of Saturday's Northern Arizona and San Diego opening round game will travel to battle No. 2 seed North Dakota State on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Fargo, N.D. at 1:30 p.m. MST.  
  • The Bison claimed five consecutive NCAA FCS National Championships from 2011-2015.  James Madison won the 2016 NCAA FCS Title and is the No. 1 overall seed in this year's playoff bracket.
  • NAU dropped a 26-7 decision at home against South Dakota State in its most recent FCS Playoff berth.  In 2003, the Lumberjacks upset No. 1 seed McNeese State on the road in the opening round 35-3, before losing to Florida Atlantic 48-25 in the quarterfinals.
  • The 'Jacks lost to Furman 42-31 in their first-ever FCS/I-AA postseason appearance in 1996.  
  • NAU followed that with a 72-29 loss at the hands of Georgia Southern in a first-round road meeting in 1999 and an opening round setback in 2001 by a 34-31 margin at Sam Houston State.  
  • NAU is 1-5 all-time in its previous NCAA FCS/I-AA games overall.
  • This season's NCAA FCS Playoff berth marks the fifth overall under current NAU head coach Jerome Souers.
  • San Diego captured an automatic NCAA FCS Playoff bid after winning the Pioneer League regular season championship with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 8-0 conference mark.
  • The Toreros will be making their third postseason appearance in the last four seasons and own a 2-1 playoff record in that span.  San Diego defeated Cal Poly in the first round in 2016 before falling to North Dakota State.  In 2014, the Toreros dropped an opening round contest at Montana.
  • This season marked the second season in the Jerome Souers' era that NAU has opened with at least five consecutive wins in conference play.
  • The Lumberjacks have won as many as six straight games this season, outscoring its opponents during the stretch 237 to 114.
  • The Northern Arizona football team was ranked as high as No. 9 (Nov. 2) in the 2017 NCAA FCS Selection Committee Rankings, which were announced on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.
  • NAU has posted 400 yards or more of total offense in eight of its 11 regular season games of 2017.
  • The Lumberjacks 549 yards of total offense in its Nov. 11  win at home vs. Montana State ranked as the second-highest total posted by the team this season - bested by just the 562 yards amassed in the season opener at Pac-12 member Arizona (Sept. 2).
NORTHERN ARIZONA IN THE NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
  • NAU enters the FCS Playoffs ranked eighth overall nationally among FCS programs in passing offense (3rd in Big Sky) with an average of 312.2 yards per game.
  • Defensively, the 'Jacks lead the Big Sky and rank seventh nationally with 16 interceptions - four of which they have returned for touchdowns.
  • The Lumberjacks enter the weekend ranked 14th nationally (5th in Big Sky) among leaders in total offense (448.4) and 26th nationally (7th in Big Sky) in scoring offense (32.1).
  • NAU sits 68th nationally (2nd in Big Sky) in total defense (377.0) and 68th nationally (4th in Big Sky) in scoring defense (28.6).
  • The 'Jacks passing defense is slotted 16th nationally (1st in Big Sky) in passing yards allowed (169.4).
  • The NAU defense also is slotted sixth among NCAA FCS leaders with a total of five defensive touchdowns (2nd in Big Sky).

JEROME SOUERS TO REMAIN NORTHERN ARIZONA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
  • In a move to ensure stability for the Northern Arizona University football program, as well as consistency for current and potential student athletes, Jerome Souers will continue to serve as head football coach and Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Andy Thompson will be promoted to associate head coach. 
  • President Rita Cheng made the announcement to athletics staff on Nov. 20 following conversations with Souers and Thompson.
  • "Maintaining stability in the athletics department is extremely important as NAU begins its search for a new athletics director," Cheng said. "It will be a key consideration for those interested in NAU's athletics director position to know they are walking into a strong and stable program and will have the time and ability to make coaching decisions."

TOTAL OF 15 LUMBERJACKS EARN BIG SKY HONORS
CASE COOKUS NAMED AS FINALIST FOR WALTER PAYTON AWARD
  • Northern Arizona sophomore quarterback Case Cookus has been selected as one of 25 finalists for the STATS Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top offensive player in NCAA FCS Football.
  • Cookus has directed an NAU offense that finished ranked 14th nationally in total offense (448.4 yards per game), 26th nationally in scoring offense (32.1 points per game) and eighth among FCS leaders in passing offense (312.3 yards per game) in 2017.
  • The sophomore signal caller has posted 3,235 yards, while completing 58.4 percent (253-of-433) of his pass attempts and adding a total of 21 touchdowns against just five interceptions.  Cookus sits 10th among FCS leaders in completions per game (23.0), 10th in passing yards and 19th in passing touchdowns.
  • He has registered six 300-yard passing efforts this season and a pair of 400-yard plus performances, while committing just two interceptions over the last nine games of the regular season.
  • The award will be presented at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, scheduled for Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the NCAA FCS National Championship Game.
  • The voting panel for the honor consists of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. Voting is based on regular-season performances only.

NAIL BITERS VS. MONTANA AND MONTANA STATE
  • After not having a single game decided by less than 14 points over the first eight weeks of the 2017 regular season, the Lumberjacks had two of their last three regular season games decided by a total of three points.
  • On Nov. 11, NAU held on for a dramatic 37-36 victory over Montana State after the Bobcats scored a touchdown to get within a single point with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation, but the NAU defense held firm as the Bobcats decided to go for two points and the win, rather than kicking the extra point to tie the game and force an overtime scenario.
  • On Nov. 4 on the road at Montana, the Lumberjacks were forced to play the majority of the game without starting quarterback Case Cookus, who was ejected following a questionable targeting call with 7:34 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
  • Despite that adversity, the game came down to the final moments as backup quarterback, freshman Stone Smartt drove the 'Jacks for a touchdown with 50 ticks left in the fourth quarter to make the score 17-15 Grizzlies, but NAU's ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed to seal the Lumberjacks' lone Big Sky defeat this season.

SOUERS ALL-TIME AT HOME
  • NAU head coach Jerome Souers has tallied an all-time home record of 71-35 during his 19-plus seasons at the helm in Flagstaff.
  • Souers has posted winning home records in 18 of his first 20 seasons in charge of the Lumberjack football program, including a 5-1 mark in 2017.
  • The only losing records came during the 1999 (2-3) and 2000 (2-4) seasons.  The 1999 record included one loss that was due to forfeit for having an ineligible player in the lineup.

LUMBERJACKS AT HOME IN 2017
  • NAU boasts a record of 5-1 in home games during the 2017 season following a win in its home finale vs. Montana State.
  • The 'Jacks have outscored their opponents 224-158 over six home contests.
  • Northern Arizona has dominated the second (81-42) and fourth (62-34) quarters in the six home games in 2017.
  • NAU has posted 151 first downs at home this season while limiting its opponents to just 112.
  • The Lumberjacks have tallied 1,909 passing yards at the Skydome in 2017 while limiting their opponents to 1,192.

LUMBERJACKS SIT AT NO. 26 IN FCS COACHES TOP 25, NO. 25 IN STATS POLL
  • The Lumberjacks dropped two spots to No. 26 in the most recent FCS Coaches Poll, which was released Nov. 20.
  • Northern Arizona received a total of 51 points - six behind No. 25 Furman.
  • In addition, this week's STATS FCS Top 25 saw Northern Arizona ranked No. 25, receiving 354 points.
  • Northern Arizona is one of four Big Sky teams ranked in both the FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS Top 25 along with Eastern Washington, Weber State and Southern Utah.
  • NAU made its first appearance of the 2017 season in the FCS Coaches Top 25 at No. 24 (40 points) in the poll which was released Oct. 9.
  • The last time the Lumberjacks were ranked in the FCS Coaches Top 25 prior to this season was during Week 4 of the 2016 when it was slotted at No. 25 (Sept. 19, 2016).
  • The week of Oct. 30 the 'Jacks were ranked No. 16 (Coaches) and No. 18 (STATS) which represented the highest that the 'Jacks have been ranked since they checked in at No. 8 on Nov. 30, 2013.

COOKUS ON FIRE
  • NAU QB Case Cookus has tossed a total of 19 touchdown passes during Northern Arizona's last nine games – while committing only two interceptions.  
  • Overall, Cookus has gone a total of 381 pass attempts while allowing only a single interception entering Saturday's game vs. San Diego.
  • Cookus has totaled 2,664 passing yards over the last nine games, which have the seen NAU post a 7-2 overall record.

ALL-PURPOSE MARKS
  • Senior wide receiver Elijah Marks ranks fourth in the FCS with an average of 151.5 all-purpose yards per game.
  • Marks has tallied a total of 1,170 receiving yards, 279 kickoff return yards, 62 punt returns yards and four rushing yards while seeing action in 10 games overall.
  • Marks returned to action in the game at Montana on Nov. 4 after sitting out the contest vs. Sacramento State on Oct. 28.

COOKUS NAMES TO MIDSEASON WATCH LIST FOR NATIONAL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Sophomore quarterback Case Cookus has been named to the 36-player midseason watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year.
  • The 2017 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal tower with eight-inch crystal football on top.
  • All FCS players are eligible for the award. The winner will be announced January 10, 2018.
  • Cookus was the 2015 recipient of the of the CFPA National Performer of the Year award.

DEFENSE PLAYING LIKE ITS 1995
  • The NAU defense has limited six of its last 10 opponents to 20 points or less.
  • The UC Davis game on Oct. 21 snapped a stretch of four consecutive games in which the 'Jacks defense limited their opponents to 20 points or less.
  • The last time that the Lumberjacks defense had posted four consecutive games allowing 20 points or less came back during the 1995 season when it pulled the trick against Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State and Weber State in succession from Oct. 21 - Nov. 11, 1995.
  • The last time NAU had five straight games with an opponent held to 20 points or less was also during the 1995 season against Sacramento State, Abilene Christian, CSU Northridge, Montana State and Boise State (Sept. 9 - Oct. 7). 

BALL HAWK LUMBERJACKS
  • The Lumberjacks secondary enters Saturday's game against San Diego ranked seventh nationally (first in Big Sky) in interceptions (16) and 16th nationally (1st in Big Sky) in passing yards allowed (169.4).
  • Over the last nine games, NAU has pulled down 14 of those 16 interceptions and has returned four for touchdowns.  NAU had a total of eight picks all of last season (2016).
  • Junior Kam'ron Johnson leads the Lumberjacks with a team-best four interceptions, which ranks 32nd nationally and fourth in the Big Sky Conference.  Maurice Davison and Khalil Dorsey each have  pulled down three picks, which sits them 72nd nationally and eighth among Big Sky leaders.

LUMBERJACK AIR FLYING HIGH
  • Northern Arizona ranks eighth among all FCS programs nationally with an average of 312.2 passing yards per contest through 11 games.
  • The Lumberjacks have tossed for over 300 yards in six of 11 games this season.
  • Sophomore quarterback Case Cookus ranks 10th nationally with 3,235 passing yards and 19th with 21 passing TDs.
  • Senior receiver Elijah Marks sits fifth among national FCS leaders with an average of 117.0 receiving yards per contest and seventh in total receiving yards (1,170).
  • Marks also sits eighth among FCS National leaders with an average of 7.1 receptions per contest.

LUMBERJACKS DOMINATE PLAYER OF WEEK AWARDS
  • Junior cornerback Maurice Davison has been named as ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, for the period ending Oct. 21.  
  • Davison's selection marked the fifth consecutive week that at least one Lumberjack had received a Big Sky Player of the Week award.
  • The most consecutive weeks in which a Big Sky program has captured a conference player of the week honor is six - by Eastern Washington in 1997 and the University of Idaho in 1993.
  • NAU earned a total of six Big Sky Player of the Week honors through the first seven games of 2017.

COOKUS HITS 7,000 YARDS
  • Cookus eclipsed 7,000 yards career passing yards with his 314-yard performance on Nov. 11 vs. Montana State.
  • Cookus currently sits in fifth place on the NAU career passing list with his current total of 7,525.
  • He also ranks third among NAU's career passing TD leaders with his current total of 71 entering Saturday FCS Playoff game vs. San Diego.

MARKS HITS THE 100-YARD MARK OVER AND OVER
  • Senior Elijah Marks finished with 174 yards receiving in the Oct. 21 victory over UC Davis – his fifth consecutive game with over 100 yards. 
  • Marks has tallied over 100 yards in and seven of 10 games in which he has played this season.
  • Marks leads the 'Jacks with six touchdown receptions in 10 games (Marks missed the 10/28 game vs. Sacramento State due to injury).

400 YARDS ON OFFENSE AND COUNTING...
  • Northern Arizona has posted a total of 400 yards of total offense in eight of 11 games this season, the most recent being a 549-yard effort against Montana State.
  • The Lumberjacks have posted 400-plus yards of offense in seven of the last nine games overall entering Saturday's clash vs. San Diego.
  • NAU's only games this season below 400 yards came on Sept. 9 vs. Western Illinois (278), Nov. 4 at Montana (322) - which saw quarterback Case Cookus ejected with 7:33 left in the opening quarter for targeting and the regular-season finale at Southern Utah (379).

LEADING AT HALF HELPS
  • Northern Arizona is 7-1 in 2017 when it leads at halftime.  The Lumberjacks are 0-3 this season when it trails at intermission.
  • The Lumberjacks are a perfect 7-0 when leading after three quarters.

MARKS CLIMBING RECEIVING LISTS
  • Senior receiver Elijah Marks currently sits in seventh place on the NAU all-time receiving yards list with his current total of 2,359 – 32 shy of Johnny Marshall (2,391) for sixth place overall.
  • Marks also ranks fifth among NAU's all-time leaders in touchdown receptions with 20 - three behind Alex Watson (23) for fourth place.
  • Marks needs just two more receptions to move equal current teammate Emmanuel Butler (152) for seventh and six to match Gibbons St. Paul for sixth place.
  • Marks ranks seventh all-time in NAU career annals with 3,761 all-purpose yards - 301 short of walter Payton Award winner Archie Anderson's (4,062) fifth-place total.

BALDWIN AND KEMPTON - THE TOUCHDOWN MAKERS
  • Junior tight end Jonathan Baldwin's first-quarter touchdown catch at Portland State marked the fourth game over the initial six this season that he hauled in a scoring reception.
  • Baldwin has totaled 23 receptions and four TDs over the first 11 games this season.
  • Fellow tight end, Matthew Kempton has a knack for the TD grab as well, with four of his 12 receptions on the season resulting in six points.




 
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