| GAME 7: Northern Arizona (3-3, 2-1 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (0-7, 0-4) |
GAME NOTES (PDF)
NAU OPENING DRIVE
- NAU returns to action this week following a bye to take on Northern Colorado in a 11 a.m. MST kickoff that will be televised on ELEVEN Sports and Pluto TV (channel 241).
- Three of NAU's last five games will be on the road beginning with Saturday's clash at Northern Colorado.
- Three of the Lumberjacks' final four games will be against teams from the state of California beginning with next week's homecoming game vs. Cal Poly.
- The 'Jacks are currently 3-3 overall and have won two of their last three games following a 1-2 start in the initial three.
- NAU opened last season 0-2 before winning five straight games and eventually earning a berth to the FCS Playoffs following a 7-4 regular season mark.
- The Lumberjacks' defense has forced a total of 18 turnovers over the first six games this season - which ranks second among all FCS teams nationally and the Big Sky Conference.
- Senior Emmanuel Butler also ranks second all-time among NAU career leaders in receiving yards with 3,035 - seven shy of Clarence Moore's top total.
- The 'Jacks have dropped each of their last two meetings on the road vs. Northern Colorado with the last victory for NAU coming on Oct. 27, 2012.
GAMEDAY NOTES
NAU LOOKS TO RUN WIN STREAK TO TWO AT NORTHERN COLORADO
NAU is back in action this week following a bye as it travels to Greeley, Colo., to meet Northern Colorado in an 11 a.m. MST kickoff that will be televised on ELEVEN Sports and Pluto TV (channel 241).
The game will also be broadcast on the Lumberjack Radio Network with
Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens on the call.
NAU will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid in road games at Northern Colorado. The 'Jacks have lost their last two stops in Greeley but only by an average of 5.0 per game.
The last road victory in the series for NAU came by a 12-10 margin on Oct. 27, 2012. The home team has won each of the last five games in the series.
Northern Colorado enters Saturday's tilt with the 'Jacks winless on the season at 0-7 and 0-4 in the Big Sky Conference.
TIGHT GAMES IN GREELEY
In the Lumberjacks last five trips to Northern Colorado, the games have been tight affairs as no game has been decided by more than seven points and the average margin of victory for the winner is 4.4 ppg over the last five road contests dating back to 2008.
SERIES VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
NAU leads the all-time series vs. Northern Colorado 15-4. The first meeting between the programs came back during the 1964 season.
The Lumberjacks are 10-2 vs. the Bears since Northern Colorado joined the Big Sky Conference in 2006 and won the first eight meetings before dropping two if the last four.
GET ON THE BOARD FIRST
NAU is a perfect 3-0 this season when it scores first and winless at 0-3 when it allows its opponent to score the game's first points.
SETTING THE TABLE FOR THE LAST FIVE GAMES
The Lumberjacks will play three of their final five games on the road this season beginning with this weekend's clash at Northern Colorado on Saturday.
NAU will follow with a home game against Cal Poly on Oct. 27, road games at UC Davis (11/3) and Sacramento State (11/10) before closing out the regular season at home vs. North Dakota on Nov. 17.
In addition, each of the 'Jacks next three games following this week's trip to Greeley will be against opponents from the state of California.
NAU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lumberjacks own a record of 16-40 in games against ranked FCS opponents since the 2000 season following their week six victory over Weber State.
NAU has had solid success at home in recent seasons vs. ranked opponents. The 'Jacks boast a 5-2 mark against opponents ranked in the top 10 in home games since 2012 and are 6-4 overall at home vs. ranked foes since 2013.
NAU has lost four of its last six games against ranked opponents with the most recent victory against then-No. 6/7 Weber State by a 28-24 margin on Oct. 6, 2018.
SOUERS ALL-TIME AT HOME
NAU head coach
Jerome Souers has tallied an all-time home record of 73-36 during his 20-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 5-2 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.
THE 'JACKS ON THE ROAD
NAU is 31-36 in road games since the 2008 season entering Saturday's clash with Northern Colorado.
The Lumberjacks are 1-2 in road contests during the 2018 season.
DON'T THROW ON THE 'JACKS
The Lumberjacks picked off three passes in the most recent win over Weber State and have now recorded a total of 13 interceptions this season, which leads the Big Sky Conference and is tied for the national lead with Southern University and Georgetown.
Junior cornerback
Khalil Dorsey and senior safety
Kam'ron Johnson lead the 'Jacks with three interceptions apiece and rank 13th nationally among FCS players and first in the Big Sky Conference.
FORCING TURNOVERS
The Lumberjacks' defense has forced a total of 19 turnovers over the first six games this season - which is second nationally and second in the Big Sky Conference.
NAU has forced recovered six fumbles and hauled in a total of 13 interceptions.
'JACKS SHUT DOWN NATION'S TOP RUSHER
NAU's defense was strong in the 28-24 victory over Weber State on Oct. 6 as the 'Jacks limited the Wildcats' offense to just 176 total yards and the nation's leading rusher, Josh Davis, who entered the contest averaging 166.3 ground yards per game, to just 52 on 12 carries.
The 'Jacks' defense forced the Wildcats to punt a total of eight times, including six times on their first seven possessions and came away with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
For the game, the Lumberjacks rang up four sacks and a total of 11 tackles for loss that cost Weber State 48 yards in field position.
CASTEEL RECORDS 200TH CAREER TACKLE
Senior linebacker
Jake Casteel recorded the 200th tackle of his career in NAU's 28-24 victory over Weber State on Oct. 6.
The milestone came on his first stop of the game in the first quarter. Casteel is the seventh player in NAU career annals to record 200 tackles since the 2000 season.
GOSS NAMED BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR OCT. 6
Northern Arizona junior defensive tackle
Jalen Goss has been honored as the Big Sky ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 6.
Goss made a pivotal play in the Lumberjacks' 28-24 win over then-No. 6/7 Weber State on Saturday when he recovered a fumble following a sack by teammate
Chauntez Thomas and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 18-18 with 7:18 left in the third quarter.
The Dallas, Texas, native also recorded four tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries in win over the Wildcats.
He was as a key force in clogging the middle for an NAU defense that limited the Weber State offense to just 176 total yards and the nation's leading rusher, Josh Davis, who entered the contest averaging 166.3 ground yards per game, to just 52 yards on 12 carries.
For the game, the Lumberjacks rang up four sacks and a total of 11 tackles for loss that cost Weber State 48 yards in field position.
The 'Jacks' defense forced the Wildcats to punt a total of eight times, including six times on their first seven possessions, and came away with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Goss' Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honor marks the first time a Lumberjack has been recognized by the league this season.
GOSS RETURNS FUMBLE FOR SCORE
Junior defensive tackle
Jalen Goss returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown in NAU's 28-24 victory over Weber State on Oct. 6.
The play marked the first time a Lumberjack has taken a fumble in for a touchdown since Oct. 15, 2016 when Kelepi Fifita took one to the house vs. Idaho State.
NEXT MAN UP ON DEFENSE
Senior linebacker
Jake Casteel and sophomore safety
Anthony Sweeney have stepped up and performed admirably in place of injured teammates in recent weeks.
Casteel has racked up a total of 42 tackles the last four games against filling in for
Taylor Powell - an average of 10.5 per game. He has tallied double-figure stops in three of the last four games overall.
Sweeney also has shined as he recorded his first collegiate interception in the Sept. 22 win over Southern Utah and has 12 tackles and forced a fumble in the defensive backfield over the last four games.
STOKES TOSSES TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
Sophomore wide receiver
Justis Stokes tossed touchdown passes in consecutive games against Idaho State (9/29) and Weber State (10/6).
Stokes hit
Brandon Porter for a 43-yard scoring strike in the loss at Idaho State in week five and
Aramis Aldredge with a 30-yard touchdown pass vs. Weber State on Oct. 6.
BRIDGE-GADD SPREADS THE BALL AROUND IN WEBER STATE WIN
Sophomore quarterback
Daniel Bridge-Gadd was efficient in using his weapons in the 28-24 win over Weber State on Oct. 6.
Bridge-Gadd spread the ball around to seven different receivers while finishing 18-of-35 through the air for a total of 228 yards.
BUTLER BECOMES NAU'S ALL-TIME LEADER IN TOUCHDOWN CATCHES
Senior
Emmanuel Butler became NAU's all-time leader in touchdown receptions with the 29th of his career vs. Southern Utah on Sept. 22 at the 6:26 mark of the second quarter on a four-yard toss from
Daniel Bridge-Gadd.
Butler currently boasts 30 career touchdown receptions, surpassing Clarence Moore (28) (2000-03) for the most by a Lumberjack in a career.
BUTLER ALSO ON VERGE OF BECOMING NAU'S YARDAGE LEADER
Senior
Emmanuel Butler also ranks second all-time among NAU career leaders in receiving yards with 3,035.
Butler sits just seven yards shy of Clarence Moore's top mark in NAU annals of 3,042 receiving yards.
BUTLER EYEING CAREER RECEPTIONS MARK AS WELL
Butler boasts a total of 179 receptions in his career which sits fourth in the program's in the career annals.
Butler is currently 22 catches of catching Shawn Collins' NAU record total of 201 and eight shy of Clarence Moore's third-place total (182).
BRANDON PORTER - JACK OF ALL TRADES
Sophomore
Brandon Porter showed the multi-faceted talents he brings to the Lumberjacks' attack in the Sept. 22 win over Southern Utah.
Porter rang up a total of 188 all-purpose yards and saw time at wide receiver, quarterback and kickoff return specialist in the win over the Thunderbirds.
Porter hauled in five passes for 104 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown reception as a wide receiver, totaled 37 rushing yards when lining up at quarterback in the "Wild Jack" attack and returned the first kickoff of his career for 47 yards.
BRIDGE-GADD SHINES IN SECOND CAREER START
Sophomore quarterback
Daniel Bridge-Gadd had a tremedous second start while filling in for the injured
Case Cookus in NAU's win over Southern Utah in the Big Sky Conference opener on Sept. 22.
The University of Washington transfer and Phoenix native accounted for a total of four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) on Sept. 22 while completing 21-of-31 passes for 295 yards. He also registered 54 yards on the ground in the victory.
