Lumberjacks Close Out 2019 Campaign on Saturday at the Skydome vs. Idaho

 

GAME 12: Northern Arizona (4-7, 2-5 Big Sky) vs. Idaho (4-7, 2-5 Big Sky)

DATE	Saturday, November 23, 2019
TIME	2 p.m. MST
LOCATION	Walkup Skydome (10,000) | Flagstaff, Ariz.
TICKETS	START at $15 - BUY HERE
TV	Your Phoenix CW, NAU-TV & Pluto TV (Channel 539)
RADIO	Flagstaff: 93.5 FM & AM 930 KAFF Country Legends
	Prescott: 97.9 FM The Eagle
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	Tucson: ESPN Radio 104.9 FM/1490 AM
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LIVE STATS	Northern Arizona - Idaho Stat Feed
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NAU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES - VS IDAHO

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NAU OPENING DRIVE

• The 'Jacks close out the 2019 season at home with the annual Senior Day Game against Idaho on Saturday in a 2 p.m. MST kickoff from the Skydome.
• NAU will honor its 13 seniors prior to Saturday's game in a pregame ceremony.
• NAU trails the all-time series with Idaho 16-4 entering Saturday's game and are 2-8 vs. the Vandals in games played in Flagstaff.
• Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Porter is currently seven receptions shy of breaking the NAU single-season records for catches with his current total of 76 entering Saturday's game.
• Porter currently ranks sixth nationally among FCS leaders in receptions per game (6.9) and 10th in receiving yards (1,048).
• Porter's 1,048 receiving yards this season currently rank as the eighth-highest single-season total in NAU annals - he needs 161 yards to eclipse Emmanuel Butler's current record of 1,208 yards set in 2015.
• Senior quarterback Case Cookus enters Saturday's game with an NAU single-season record of 3,664 passing yards in 2019 - 267 yards shy of cracking the top 10 for the highest single-season totals in Big Sky Conference history. 
• Cookus leads the top ranked passing offense in the FCS (352.9) and ranks first nationally among all FCS signal callers with 3,664 passing yards and sixth nationally with 28 TD passes.  Cookus is also tops in the FCS with 333.1 passing yards per game.

NAU CLOSES OUT 2019 SEASON AT HOME ON SATURDAY VS. IDAHO
The Lumberjacks will close out the 2019 season at home on Saturday, Nov. 23 when they host Idaho in a 2 p.m. kickoff from the Skydome.

NAU is 4-1 at home this season and has already secured its eighth-consecutive winning season at the Skydome.

Saturday's showdown with the Vandals will be aired live on Your Phoenix CW, NAU-TV and Pluto TV (channel 539).

The game will also be available on the Lumberjack Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 1 p.m. MST.

NAU TO HONOR 2019 SENIOR CLASS
Prior to Saturday's season finale at the Skydome vs. Idaho, the Lumberjacks will honor the 13 members of this season's senior class prior to kickoff.

The 13 members of the 2019 NAU Senior Class are listed below:
Aaron Andrews - DL - Livermore, Calif. - Communication Studies
Brian Barry - DB - Santa Clarita, Calif - Heath Sciences//Fitness Wellness
Jalen Cook - DB - Goodyear, Ariz. - Psychological Science
Case Cookus - QB - Thousand Oaks, Calif. - Educational Leadership/Graduate
Khalil Dorsey - DB - Ontario, Calif. - Heath Sciences//Fitness Wellness
Tommie Dorsey - WR - Ontario, Calif. - University Studies
Ceejay French-Love - TE - Long Beach, Calif. - Educational Leadership/Graduate
Joey Gatewood - TE - Glendale, Ariz. - Exercise Science
Cole Habib - OL - San Diego, Calif. - Educational Leadership/Graduate
Chris Jules - LB - Litchfield Park, Ariz. - University Studies
Joe Logan - RB - Goodyear, Ariz. - Criminology & Criminal Justice
Marcel Myers - DB - Los Angeles, Calif. - Strategic Communications
Brandon Worthy - LB - Murrieta, Calif. - Criminology & Criminal Justice

PORTER CLOSING IN ON SINGLE SEASON RECEIVING MARKS
Sophomore receiver Brandon Porter has enjoyed quite the sophomore campaign as he has been the top target for the 'Jacks this season through the air and is on the verge of rising up on both the NAU season charts for most receiving yards and catches in a single season entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho.

MOST RECEIVING YARDS (SINGLE SEASON)
Rk    Yds    Player                    Year
1.    1,208    Emmanuel Butler    2015
2.    1,184    Clarence Moore     2003*
3.    1,146    Johnny Marshall    2003*
4.    1,134    Charlie Brown    1969
5.    1,091     Hendricks Johnson     1990
6.    1,075    Ed Berry     2009
7.    1,067    Pete Mandley    1982
8.    1,048    Brandon Porter    2019
9.    1,028     Rod Alexander     1994
10.   1,017    Alex Watson    2006
11.   1,016    Shawn Collins     1986

MOST PASS RECEPTIONS (SINGLE SEASON)
Rk    Rec  Player            Year 
1.    82     Alex Watson    2006
2.    80     Johnny Marshall    2003*
3.    76    Brandon Porter    2019
4.    75    Ed Berry    2009
5.    72     Conrad Meadows    2009
6.    70     Shawn Collins    1986
7.    69     Emmanuel Butler     2016
8.    69     Daiveun Curry-Chapman    2010
9.    67     Ronney Jenkins    1999
10.  65     Austin Shanks    2010
11.   64     Emmanuel Butler     2015 
        64     Rod Marshall    1995

PORTER HAULS IN CAREER-BEST 10 CATCHES AT SOUTHERN UTAH
Sophomore receiver Brandon Porter hauled in a career-high 10 catches for 151 yards (one yard off his career high) in the Nov. 16 clash at Southern Utah.

The performance marked the first time that an NAU receiver has notched at least 10 grabs since Elijah Marks hauled in 14 at Cal Poly on Sept. 23, 2017 - a span of 27 games.

COOKUS  - ALL-TIME PASSING YARDAGE LEADER AT NAU
NAU senior quarterback Case Cookus moved past Travis Brown (11,400) for the most career passing yards in NAU history following his 325-yard performance at Southern Utah on Nov. 16.

Cookus now boasts 11,632 career passing yards, which also currently ranks as the fourth-highest total in Big Sky Conference history.

COOKUS BECOMES NAU LEADER SEASON PASSING YARDAGE LEADER
Case Cookus finished with 325 passing yards in the Nov. 16 game at Southern Utah - bringing his season total to 3,664 and eclipsing Jason Murrietta's 2003 total of 3,472 for the most in a season in NAU annals.

Cookus enters Saturday's game with an NAU single-season record of 3,664 passing yards in 2019 - 267 yards shy of cracking the top 10 for the highest single-season totals in Big Sky Conference history. 

In addition, Cookus tabbed 334 yards of total offense in the Nov. 16 game at Southern Utah, bringing his season total to 3,618 - which also passed Murreitta's 2003 total of 3,460 for the highest in NAU season annals.

Cookus also sits high on the Big Sky's career list for most yards of total offense - currently at seventh place with 11,799 yards over 40 career games.

COOKUS WATCH
NAU senior quarterback Case Cookus is already the program's all-time leader in touchdown passes with 102, passing yards (11,632) and total offense with 11,632 yards - entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho - but he is also on the verge of rising the ranks in a number of other NAU and Big Sky statistical career categories.

Cookus by the Numbers - Entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho
8 - # of passing touchdowns shy of tying the Big Sky Conference record for TD passes

368 - # of passing yards shy of becoming just the fourth player in Big Sky Conference history to reach 12,000 career passing yards.

576 - # of passing yards shy of surpassing Weber State's Jamie Martin (12,207) (1989-92) for the third-most in Big Sky annals.

228 - # of yards shy of surpassing Doug Nussmeier (Idaho/12,027) for sixth-most total offense yards in Big Sky history.

11,632 - current # of passing yards currently by Case Cookus which ranks as the fourth-highest total in Big Sky annals.

11,799 - current # of total offense yards currently by Case Cookus which ranks as the seventh-highest total in Big Sky annals.

16 - # of completions shy of passing Jason Murrietta (878) for third place on the NAU career leaderboard
290.8 - current average of career passing yards per game for Cookus entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho - which would sit as the seventh-best season clip in Big Sky history.

333.1 - current average of season passing yards per game for Cookus entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho - which would sit as the 18th-best season clip in Big Sky history.

LEADING THE NATION
Entering the 12th game of the season, the Lumberjacks are leading the nation in passing offense with an average of 352.9 yards per game.

The 'Jacks also rank 13th among FCS leaders in scoring offense at 35.7 ppg and ninth in total offense with 468.3 yards per contest.

Senior quarterback Case Cookus also ranks high among FCS leaders in a number of passing categories including:

1st  - Passing yards per game (333.1)
15th - Passing yards per completion (14.0)
6th - Passing TDs (28)
14th - Passing efficiency (150.5)
15th - Points responsible for (174)
9th - Completions per game (23.7)

In addition, a number of other NAU players have made their mark in the national statistical rankings:

5th - Field goal percentage  - Luis Aguilar (85.7)
2nd - Fumble Recoveries - Chris Jules (3)
3rd - Punting - DJ Arnson - (45.9)
10th - Scoring - Luis Aguilar - (9.2)
15th - Scoring  - Joe Logan (8.7)
9th - Total Touchdowns - Joe Logan (16)
10th - Receiving TDs -Brandon Porter (10)
6th - Receptions per game - Brandon Porter (6.9)
10th - Receiving Yards - Brandon Porter (1,048)
18th - Yards per reception - Stacy Chukwumezie (20.35)

SERIES VS. IDAHO
NAU trails the all-time series with Idaho 16-4 and will be facing the Vandals for the first time since 1995.

The Lumberjacks have dropped each of the last meetings with Idaho with their last win coming during the 1986 season.  NAU's last victory at home vs. the Vandals came in 1981.

The Lumberjacks are 2-8 all-time vs. Idaho in games played in Flagstaff.

The first meeting between the programs came back during the 1975 season.

AARON ANDREWS NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Senior Aaron Andrews has been selected as a member of the 2019 Academic All-District® 8 Football Team, which was selected by CoSIDA.
 
The defensive tackle is now eligible to become the first NAU player to be named to the Academic All-America Team since Austin Hasquet in 2014.
 
Andrews has started all 11 games this season for the Lumberjacks as the anchor on the defensive line and has amassed 37 tackles, including 4.0 TFLs.  He earned All-Big Sky Honorable Mention status in 2018.
 
In the classroom, Andrew boasts a 3.55 grade point average while majoring in communications studies.  He was recognized as a 2018 Big Sky All-Academic selection.
 
The 2019 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
 
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early December.

HENDRIX SHATTERS NAU FRESHMAN RECEIVING MARK
Freshman Hendrix Johnson enters this weekend with 762 receiving yards - one of only four freshman receiver in the FCS to hit that total so far in 2019.

The 762 receiving yards are also by far the most by a Lumberjack freshman dating back to 1985 - the previous high by an NAU rookie was 396 yards by Chancellor Brewington in 2017.

HENDRIX JOHNSON NAMED TO JERRY RICE WATCH LIST
NAU freshman wide receiver Hendrix Johnson is one of the 24 players named to the STATS Jerry Rice Award watch list.

The Jerry Rice Award, named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, has been presented in the postseason to the FCS freshman player of the year since 2011.
 
Johnson is one of only four freshman with more than 700 receiving yards.  He has amassed a pair of games with more than 100 yards and has notched at least 94 yards in four of 11 contests. 
 
The Anthem, Ariz., native has shown big play ability having recorded 13 catches of 20 yards or more this season, including five touchdowns.  Johnson has snagged at least one reception of 44 yards or longer in six of 11 games.
 
Johnson is trying to become the second Lumberjack to earn the Jerry Rice Award, as the top freshman in all of the FCS and the first since current NAU quarterback Case Cookus was honored following a 2015 season which saw him total 3,117 yards and 37 passing touchdowns.
 
Still a young award, the Rice is distinguished, with three of the first four recipients to complete their college careers playing in the NFL: former Towson running back Terrance West, Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Fordham running back Chase Edmonds.
 
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award following the regular season.

SPREADING IT AROUND THROUGH THE AIR
The Lumberjacks lead the FCS in passing offense with an average of 352.9 yards per game and have been getting multiple players involved as NAU is the only team in the FCS to have three different players with 700 or more receiving yards and a pair with over 800.

Brandon Porter leads the way with a team-high 1,048 yards, Stacy Chukwumezie has notched 875 and Hendrix Johnson has 762 through 11 games.

MORE ON CAPTAIN COOKUS
Entering Saturday's game vs. Idaho, NAU senior quarterback Case Cookus has played in 40 career games, thrown for 102 touchdowns and totaled 11,632 passing yards - below are some interesting facts about his run in Flagstaff to date:

3 - # of games in career without passing TD
2 - # of those games he was either ejected (at Montana/2017) or injured (Eastern Washington/2018) before the end of the first quarter
1 - # of game played in full w/o a passing TD - at Arizona (2017)

2:41 - amount of time it took for Cookus to throw his first TD pass in the first game of collegiate career

24 - # of players he has thrown a TD pass to in career
15 - # of different stadiums in which has thrown a TD pass
21 - # of different opponents he has thrown at least one TD pass against
61 - # of touchdown passes thrown in the Skydome
16 - # of TD passes of 50 yards or more
4 - # of Big Sky stadiums Cookus has not thrown a TD pass 
(Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, Idaho State, Idaho)

THE SKYDOME IS OUR HOME
Since 2013, the 'Jacks have won 29 of 38 games in the Walkup Skydome and are  4-1 on their home turf this season.

Overall, the Lumberjacks boast a record of 162-80 in games played at the Skydome since it opened in 1977 - a winning percentage of 66.9 percent.

LOGAN THE TOUCHDOWN MAKER
Senior running back Joe Logan boasts a career-best 16 touchdowns through the first 11 games this season and has launched his way up NAU career scoring leader list with his current overall total of 204 points - which ranks as the eighth-highest total in Lumberjack history.

Logan enters Saturday's game vs. Idaho 10 points shy of Emmanuel Butler's (2014-18) seventh-place total of 214 and 17 points short of Paul Ernster's (2001-04) sixth-place total of 221.