| GAME 5: Northern Arizona (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky) at Idaho State (2-1, 1-0) |
GAME NOTES (PDF)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 29, 2018) - The Lumberjacks will travel to Pocatello this weekend to battle Idaho State in a 1:30 p.m. MST kickoff that will be televised on Pluto TV (channel 243) and broadcast on the Lumberjack Radio Network with
Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens and
Matt Howdeshell on the call.
The game will mark the Lumberjacks' first trip to Pocatello since 2012 and their first meeting with the Bengals since a 52-7 NAU win in Flagstaff on Oct. 15, 2016.
NAU's last trip to Pocatello resulted in a 50-10 victory on Nov. 3, 2012.
NAU OPENING DRIVE
- NAU continues Big Sky Conference play with its first road league game of the season on Saturday at Idaho State in a 1:30 p.m. MST kickoff in Pocatello.
- The Lumberjacks have won each of their last 10 meetings vs. the Bengals dating back to a 24-17 loss on Nov. 13, 2004.
- The game will mark the Lumberjacks' first trip to Pocatello since 2012 and their first meeting with the Bengals since a 52-7 NAU win in Flagstaff on Oct. 15, 2016.
- NAU has won the last 10 meetings by an average of 22.7 points entering Saturday's showdown.
- Four of the wins during the 10-game winning skein came in Pocatello, which has seen the Lumberjacks win by an average of 23.3 ppg.
- The Lumberjacks' defense has forced a total of 12 turnovers over the first four games this season - which is the tied for the top mark nationally and the Big Sky Conference.
- A win would give NAU its first 2-0 start in league play in back-to-back seasons since it turned the trick n 2003 and 2004.
NAU LOOKING TO MAKE IT 11 IN A ROW VS. THE BENGALS
- The 'Jacks enter this weekend's game at Idaho State having won each of the last 10 meetings against the Bengals. NAU's last loss to Idaho State came by a 24-17 margin in Pocatello on Nov. 13, 2004.
- NAU has won the last 10 meetings by an average of 22.7 points entering Saturday's showdown.
- Four of the wins during the 10-game winning skein came in Pocatello, which has seen the Lumberjacks win by an average of 23.3 ppg.
'JACKS LOOKING TO MOVE 2-0 IN BIG SKY ACTION
- NAU got off to a nice start in conference play with its 31-23 win over Southern Utah on Sept. 22 in Flagstaff and NAU will be out to open conference play with back-to-back wins for the second consecutive season when it battles Idaho State on Saturday.
- The 'Jacks defeated Cal Poly and Northern Colorado in their first two conference games in 2017 and ended up winning their first five games in Big Sky action last season before suffering their first loss at Montana on Nov. 4, 2017.
- A win would give NAU its first 2-0 start in league play in back-to-back seasons since it turned the trick n 2003 and 2004.
NAU IN BIG SKY ROAD OPENERS SINCE 2000
- The Lumberjacks are 7-11 in Big Sky road openers dating back to 2000.
- NAU defeated Cal Poly 28-10 last season in its initial game vs. a conference opponent but had dropped the previous four.
- Of those seven wins, two came at Idaho State (2010, 2006). The 'Jacks lost the conference road opener in Pocatello in 2000.
JEROME SOUERS SITS AT 121 CAREER WINS
- NAU head coach Jerome Souers recorded the 121st win of his career in the Lumberjacks' 31-23 victory over Southern Utah on Sept. 22, 2018.
- The Lumberjacks' boss currently leads the Big Sky all-time list for coaching wins and ranks 16th all-time among active NCAA FCS Coaches in victories.
DON'T THROW ON THE 'JACKS
- The Lumberjacks picked off three passes in last week's win over Southern Utah and have now recorded a total of nine interceptions this season, which leads the Big Sky Conference and is tied for the national lead with Morgan State.
- Junior cornerback Khalil Dorsey (three interceptions) leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks seventh nationally in interceptions per game.
- Senior safety Kam'ron Johnson (two interceptions) sits second among league leaders and 25th nationally in the same category.
FORCING TURNOVERS
- The Lumberjacks' defense has forced a total of 12 turnovers over the first four games this season - which is the tied for the top mark nationally and the Big Sky Conference.
- NAU has forced recovered three fumbles and hauled in a total of nine interceptions.
NEXT MAN UP ON DEFENSE
- Senior linebacker Jake Casteel and sophomore safety Anthony Sweeney have stepped up in the last two games and performed admirably in place of injured teammates the last two weeks.
- Casteel has racked up a total of 25 tackles the last two games against Missouri State and Southern Utah filling in for Taylor Powell.
- Sweeney also has shined as he recorded his first collegiate interception in the Sept. 22 win over Southern Utah and has five tackles and forced a fumble in the defensive backfield over the last two games.
DEFENSIVE NOTES FROM SOUTHERN UTAH WIN (9/22)
- Junior Khalil Dorsey nabbed a career-high two interceptions in the victory, including one on Southern Utah's first possession of the game.
- Southern Utah quarterback Chris Helbig was forced from the game with 18 seconds left in the first half following a sack by NAU's Brandon Worthy.
- Sophomore safety Anthony Sweeney recorded the first interception of his career on the final play of the first half.
- NAU had three players record double-figure tackles including Kam'ron Johnson (13), Jake Casteel (13) and Maurice Davison (10).
- Junior Brandon Worthy recorded the 'Jacks lone sack which also knocked Southern Utah starting quarterback Chris Helbig out of the game with 18 ticks left in the first half.
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 29 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 2,812
- Butler sits just 230 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 166 receptions in his career which sits tied for fifth-most in the program's career annals with Rod Alexander (1990-94).
- Butler is currently 35 catches of atching Shawn Collins' NAU record total of 201.
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.
ARAMIS ALDREDGE STEPS UP IN WIN OVER SOUTHERN UTAH
- Sophomore running back Aramis Aldredge had a career day in the Sept. 22 win over Southern Utah filling in for the injured Joe Logan as he averaged 8.4 yards on five rushing attempts (42 total yards), incuding a burst of 24 yards.
- Aldredge also nabbed three receptions for a total of 43 yards in the win over the Thunderbirds.
