FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 29, 2019) – The energy was high and the hitting was real as the Northern Arizona University football team strapped on the pads for the first time this spring during Friday's practice session.
The practice marked the Lumberjacks' first of what will be 11 straight in full pads. The practice featured positional drills as well as a number of combined offensive and defensive group work periods and various full team and special team periods.
The Lumberjacks return to the practice field on Tuesday, April 2 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Highlights
- Sophomore Nate Perkins made a juggling interception in one of the earlier team periods of Friday's practice.
- Junior Gregory Jordan and freshman Jason Pisano made a number of nice stops for the defense during the running game drills.
- Senior wide receiver Joey Gatewood flashed his blocking skills with a key push on a big run by freshman running back Jacob Mpungi.
- Senior Joe Logan posted a big gain around the edge and junior Aramis Aldredge posted a nice inside gain during the group session focused on the running game.
- Senior linebacker Tristen Vance made a big hit and knocked down a pass behind the line of scrimmage during the team period.
- Junior Carson Taylor had big stop for loss in the team session.
- Sophomore Anthony Sweeney stripped the ball away from the hands of a receiver following a reception by the offense and raced towards the end zone after forcing the turnover.
- Junior Justis Stokes snagged a 50-yard scoring pass from freshman quarterback Heath Beemiller.
- Linebacker Derek Edwards snagged an interception following a tipped pass in the team session.
- Tight end Jacob Ayala had a nice catch and run in the team period and Stokes made a diving catch along the sideline for a big gain.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Ball
"The game totally changes when you come out in pads. We saw some good things, but we still have a lot of work to do. I was a little disappointed being the third practice and after going back-to-back on Thursday and Friday that they were a little bit sore, they have been hitting it hard in the weight room also, but that is no excuse. We have got to learn how to battle though adversity a little better. A little disappointed in the toughness, but that is something we have to fix. We saw some good things also, but it was a little all over the board. We did some things really, really well and some things we didn't do well at all. Those are things we have to fix."
"You decide if you want to be tough or not. When you wake up in the morning and put your feet on that floor every day, you decide how you are going to be. We talk to our players about that all the time. In order for us to win this league, we have to be tough and that is something we are definitely going to be."
"All we have to do is continue to get better and worry the things that we can control. That is our attitude, effort and energy every day. Come to work every day and continue to get better. You need to maintain that standard every day and in every drill."
Up Next
The Lumberjacks return to the practice field on Tuesday, April 2 (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) for the fourth of 15 spring practice sessions.
All practices are scheduled to be held on the Skydome outdoor practice fields and are open to the public.
