FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 25, 2017) – The Northern Arizona football team suffered a 41-10 defeat against the University of San Diego on Saturday evening in the opening round of the 2017 FCS Playoffs at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.
The loss ends the Lumberjacks' season as they finish with a 7-5 overall record. San Diego advances to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs and will face No. 2 seed North Dakota State on Saturday, Dec. 2.
NAU senior linebacker
Byron Evans registered 17 tackles for the Lumberjack defense – tied for the second-highest single-game total for the program since 2010.
Jacks' sophomore quarterback
Case Cookus completed 22-of-41 pass attempts for 178 yards along with a touchdown and an interception.
The Lumberjacks played without the services of four starters due to injury in Saturday's FCS Playoff game including All-Big Sky First Team wide receiver
Elijah Marks, running back
Joe Logan, strong safety
Wes Sutton and nickel back
Josh Clarke.
San Diego dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball throughout the contest as it outgained Northern Arizona 439-238 for the game. The Toreros posted a total of 211 rushing yards, while limiting NAU to 60, including just 11 in the first half.
The 238 yards of total offense marked the lowest total for the Lumberjacks since a 232-yard performance against Montana State on Oct. 5, 2013.
The Toreros' ground attack was led by Emilio Martinez, who posted 117 yards on 20 carries along with a touchdown in the win.
The San Diego defense posted a total of five three and out possessions against the 'Jacks offense along with forcing three turnovers (one interception and two fumbles).
USD junior quarterback Anthony Lawrence led the Toreros' air attack by completing 16-of-28 pass attempts along with three touchdowns. His top targets were Ross Dwelley and Justin Priest who combined for 11 receptions, 167 yards and three scores.
San Diego took the game's first lead at 3-0 on a 24-yard field goal by Patrick Murray with 7:08 remaining in the first quarter. The score was set up by 49 rushing yards by the Toreros, including a 22-yard burst by junior Joseph Binda.
The Toreros increased the advantage to 10-0 on a one-handed touchdown grab by Priest, that capped off a seven-play, 49-yard drive with 3:45 left in the opening quarter.
Following a fourth consecutive three and out by the Lumberjack offense, San Diego added another score with a drive that took just four plays and 1:09 off the clock which ended with Lawrence hitting a wide-open Dwelley for a 26-yard score to make the margin 17-0 at the 13:41 mark of the second quarter.
Cookus used his arm and legs to get the 'Jacks on the board as he set up a six-yard scoring toss to freshman
Terrell Brown with a season-long 32-yard scramble to get NAU to within 17-7 with 11:32 left before halftime.
San Diego's defense got in on the act on the next Lumberjack possession as Jon Petersen sacked Cookus and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Toreros at the NAU 14. Martinez sprinted 14 yards for a score two plays later to give USD a 24-7 lead with 5:28 remaining in the opening half.
The Lumberjacks capitalized on back-to-back pass interference penalties on San Diego with a 28-yard field goal by sophomore
Griffin Roehler at 1:12 of the second quarter to get back to within 24-10.
The NAU defense came out strong in the second half as it forced the Toreros into a three and out on their first series. San Diego was able to answer on defense as well when two plays later David Tolbert broke in front of a Cookus' pass and pulled down an interception – just the third in the last 10 games for the Lumberjack quarterback.
San Diego then drove 22 yards on four plays before Murray booted his second field goal at the 11:14 mark of the third quarter, this one from 27 yards out, to increase the Toreros' lead to 27-10.
NAU was forced into its fifth three and out on its following possession before San Diego added its fourth touchdown of the game on a one-yard plunge by Zach Nelson, which was set up by a 42-yard reception by Priest, to extend its lead to 34-10 at 7:59 of the third quarter.
Dwelley pulled down his second touchdown reception of the game from 13-yards out to increase the Toreros' advantage to 41-10 with 9:24 left in regulation.
Postgame Notes – San Diego – FCS Playoffs – First Round
- Saturday's game marked Northern Arizona's first FCS Playoff appearance since the 2013 season.
- The Lumberjacks 2017 FCS Playoff berth marks the sixth in the program's history and the fifth overall under current head coach Jerome Souers.
- Following Saturday FCS opening round loss to San Diego, NAU moves to 1-6 all-time in FCS/I-AA Playoff games.
- NAU is 0-4 in home FCS/I-AA Playoff games after Saturday's loss to San Diego.
- NAU played without the services of four starters due to injury in Saturday FCS Playoff game including All-Big Sky First Team wide receiver Elijah Marks, running back Joe Logan, strong safety Wes Sutton and nickel back Josh Clarke.
- San Diego held Northern Arizona to (-29) yards of total offense in the first quarter.
- NAU picked up its initial first down of the game on its fifth drive with 13:26 left in the second quarter.
- NAU quarterback Case Cookus' 32-yard run in the second quarter marked his longest of the season.
- Freshman Terrell Brown made the first touchdown reception of his career in the second quarter on a six-yard pass from Case Cookus.
- NAU was limited to a total of 73 yards of total offense in the first half on 32 plays (11 rushing yards, 62 passing yards)
- Case Cookus' third quarter interception was only his third in the last 10 games.
- Northern Arizona's three turnovers marked its first game with three or more giveaways since Sept. 9 vs. Western Illinois.
- The NAU posted five three and outs and committed three turnovers in Saturday's opening round FCS Playoff loss to San Diego.
- NAU linebacker Byron Evans recorded a career-high 17 tackles in Saturday's loss to San Diego – tied for the second-most by an NAU player since the 2000 season.
- NAU failed to convert on its first 11 third down opportunities in Saturday's loss.
- The 238 yards of total offense marked the lowest total for the Lumberjacks since a 232-yard performance against Montana State on Oct. 5, 2013.
- The 31-point loss represented NAU's worst at home since a 60-14 loss vs. Montana State on Oct. 30, 2004.
