DAVIS, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2018) – The Northern Arizona football team fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter before dropping a 42-20 decision at No. 6/9 UC Davis on Saturday afternoon.
The loss marked the Lumberjacks' third straight and moves their overall record to 3-6 and 2-4 in Big Sky action. UC Davis improves to 8-1 with the victory and a perfect 6-0 in the conference. The Aggies were the third ranked opponent that NAU has faced this season and the first on the road. The 'Jacks are 1-2 vs. ranked opponents in 2018.
"When you play a team as talented and as explosive as UC Davis you have to put together a four quarter game," NAU head coach
Jerome Souers said. "We played better after putting ourselves in an early hole and that was good to see, but we have to get better at being consistent for the entire game, no matter the situation or opponent."
NAU played the game with its fourth starting quarterback of the season, the most players to open the game as the Lumberjacks' signal caller in any year of the
Jerome Souers era, as redshirt freshman
Brandon Porter made his first career start under center. Porter did most of his work with his feet as he registered a career-best 157 rushing yards on 27 carries, while also completing 4-of-12 pass attempts (66 yards) with a touchdown and an interception.
Senior
Cory Young added 93 yards on 16 carries (5.8 avg.) for the Lumberjacks in defeat. As a team, NAU accumulated 320 ground yards, marking the second straight game it has totaled over 300 rushing yards and the third straight it has tallied over 200.
UC Davis was paced by a passing attack that totaled 262 yards and saw quarterback Jake Maier complete 21-of-33 throws, including three touchdowns.
A total of seven players made receptions for the Aggies, led by Keelan Doss, who finished with 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight receptions.
Maier gave UC Davis an early 14-0 lead with touchdown passes on each of the Aggies' first two drives of the game. On its opening series, UC Davis picked up a key first down on a third-and-16 completion from Maier to Doss to keep the drive alive and then the pair connected four plays later for a 25-yard scoring play, giving the Aggies a 7-0 edge just 2:19 into the opening quarter.
NAU responded on its opening possession by driving down to the Aggies' 14-yard line before Mason Moe picked off a pass by Porter and raced down to the Lumberjacks' 45 yard line. Three plays later, Maier tabbed his second scoring pass of the game as he hit Tehran Thomas with a center screen which was taken in for the score from 39 yards out to up the margin to 14-0 with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
Thomas added a second score to make the score 21-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the opening quarter on a touchdown rush of five yards, capping a 13-play, 81-yard scoring drive for the Aggies.
The Lumberjacks got on the board with a 13-play, 75-yard drive on their next possession. NAU churned out 60 yards on the ground, including a one-yard touchdown run by
Cory Young, which got the 'Jacks to within 21-6 at the 10:56 mark of the second quarter. The extra-point attempt by
Luis Aguilar was blocked by the Aggies' defense.
Following seven straight combined punts, UC Davis got back in the scoring column with a 43-yard touchdown run by Namane Madise at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter to increase its advantage to 28-6.
Doss hauled in his second touchdown reception with 13:37 left in regulation to up the Aggies' lead to 35-6 one play after UC Davis converted a fourth down-and-six attempt. With the catch, Doss eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the 17
th time, which broke the UC Davis program record for most in a career.
NAU's
Emmanuel Butler recorded the 32
nd touchdown reception of his career at the 11:03 mark on the fourth quarter on a 49-yard pass from Porter to trim the lead to 35-13. The completion was just the fourth of the game for the Lumberjacks and the first and only reception for Butler in the loss.
Porter broke free for a season-long 49 yard touchdown run on the 'Jacks next possession to get the 'Jacks closer at 35-20 with 5:19 left in regulation.
UC Davis added a late touchdown on a two-yard run by C.J. Spencer to account for the final margin.
NAU concludes its two-game stretch of road games next Saturday, Nov. 10 at Sacramento State in a 7 p.m. MST kickoff that will be televised on Your Phoenix CW (Suddenlink Channel 6 in Flagstaff).
The matchup with the Hornets will also be streamed on Pluto TV (Channel 233).
The NAU-Sacramento State game will also air on the Lumberjack Radio Network with
Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens on the call, beginning with the pregame show at 6 p.m. MST.
Postgame Notes – at No. 6/9 UC Davis – Nov. 3, 2018
- No. 6/9 UC Davis is the third ranked opponent that NAU has faced this season and the first on the road.
- Saturday's game marked the Lumberjacks' first trip to UC Davis since a 38-24 loss on Oct. 10, 2015.
- NAU donned its fifth uniform combination this season as it wore blue jerseys, white pants and blue helmets.
- Redshirt freshman Brandon Porter became the fourth player to start at quarterback for the Lumberjacks this season.
- NAU senior Kam'ron Johnson recorded his team-leading fourth interception of the season at the 8:50 mark of the second quarter.
- UC Davis quarterback Jake Maier opened the game by completing 10-of-11 passes before the interception by NAU's Kam'ron Johnson in the second quarter.
- UC Davis opened the game with touchdowns on each of its first three possessions.
- UC Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss hauled in eight catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. It marked his 17th 100-plus yard receiving performance, which broke the UC Davis career record.
- Senior Emmanuel Butler hauled in the 32nd touchdown reception of his career on a 49-yard connection with Brandon Porter at the 11:03 mark of the fourth quarter.
- Redshirt freshman Brandon Porter's 49-yard touchdown run with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter marked the longest run of his career.
