BOZEMAN, Mont. (September 28, 2019) – The Northern Arizona football team raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, but was not able to hold on as No. 7/11 Montana State used a furious second-half rally to escape with a 49-31 victory on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
The Bobcats blitzed the Lumberjacks for 35 unanswered points in the second half –which were also the final points scored in the contest. After limiting Montana State to 96 yards rushing in the first half, the Bobcats posted a total of 244 ground yards over the final two quarters – averaging 6.8 yards per attempt.
Montana State took its first lead of the game with 7:59 left in regulation on a two-yard touchdown run by Troy Anderson which capped off a seven-play, 89-yard march.
The Bobcats flipped the game completely on the next play as NAU's
Nate Stinson fumbled the ensuing kickoff which was recovered by Montana State at the NAU 20-yard line. Two plays later Shane Perry busted loose for a 15-yard touchdown to cap the comeback and increase the Montana State lead to 42-31. Perry then added a five-yard touchdown with 2:03 remaining.
"We made too many mistakes today," NAU head coach
Chris Ball said. "You can't make mistakes like that against a good football team."
NAU senior quarterback
Case Cookus completed 26-of-50 passes for 273 yards with a touchdown and interception. Senior tight end
Joey Gatewood was his top target as he finished with career bests in both catches (8) and yards (96).
Montana State's ground attack was led by Travis Jonsen, who posted 105 yards on 13 carries. For the game, the Bobcats recorded a total of 340 yards on the ground.
With the loss, the Lumberjacks slip to 2-3 overall on the season and 0-1 in Big Sky play. Montana State improves to 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in the conference.
The defense got the scoring started for the Lumberjacks when senior linebacker
Taylor Powell jumped a swing pass by Montana State quarterback Tucker Rovig and raced 29 yards for a touchdown to give the 'Jacks a 7-0 edge 7:31 into the contest.
After forcing a Montana State punt, the Lumberjacks put together a 10-play, 80-yard scoring march that was sparked by a 24-yard completion to
Brandon Porter and capped off on a three-yard touchdown run by
Joe Logan, which increased the NAU lead to 14-0 with 2:25 left in the opening quarter.
The Lumberjack defense kept the pressure on in the second quarter as
Anthony Sweeney forced a fumble by Montana State's Logan Jones which was recovered by NAU's
Brian Barry at the NAU 44-yard line.
The offense took advantage of the gift and after a big 14-yard run by
Nate Stinson on a fourth down try – Cookus hit freshman
Hendrix Johnson on a fade route in the back of the end zone from 23 yards out to up the margin to 21-0 at the 11:44 mark of the second quarter.
Montana State finally got on the board with 2:42 remaining before half. Jonsen took a direct snap and scampered 14 yards up the middle to trim the deficit to 21-7. The scoring play came one play after NAU's
DJ Arnson hit a 31-yard punt from his own end zone that was returned 23 yards to the NAU 14.
The Bobcats added another touchdown with 1:49 left in the second quarter on a 49-yard pass from Rovig to Coy Steel down the middle of the field to make the score 21-14.
The 'Jacks responded on their next drive however as a 37-yard run by Stinson set up an eight-yard scoring run on the edge by junior
Stacy Chukwumezie – for his fourth score in five games – to put NAU back up by 14 heading into the break at 28-14.
Turnovers reared their head for the Bobcats once again early in the second half as a muffed punt by Jahque Allenyne was recovered by the
Brian Barry for the 'Jacks at the MSU 33-yard line. Following a 17-yard completion from Cookus to Gatewood,
Luis Aguilar booted a 46-yard field goal to up the lead to 31-17.
Lane Sumner answered back for the Bobcats on the next drive with a 34-yard run that set up the Bobcats inside the NAU 5-yard line. Sumner fumbled two plays later but it was recovered by MSU's Rovig for a touchdown which trimmed the deficit to 10 at 31-21 at the 10:09 mark of the third quarter.
Montana State got to within 31-28 with 11:42 remaining in regulation following a 16-play, 90-yard drive that was capped on a two-yard touchdown rush by Jonsen.
The Lumberjacks return to the Skydome next weekend to face Northern Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 5 in the annual
Family Weekend Game, which is slated for a 4 p.m. MST kickoff.
NAU's clash with the Bears will be aired live on Your Phoenix CW, Pluto TV (539) and the Lumberjack Radio Network.
Postgame Notes – at No. 7/11 Montana State – September 28, 2019
- Saturday's game at No. 7/11 Montana State represented the 50th Big Sky Conference opener in the history of NAU Football – the Lumberjacks are now 30-20 all-time in those contests.
- Saturday's game marked the first time that NAU has ever opened Big Sky play in Bozeman and just the second time it has faced Montana State in a conference opener – the only previous time coming in 1995.
- No. 7/11 Montana State was NAU's second ranked opponent this season and second in as many weeks. The 'Jacks are now 17-43 against ranked foes dating back to the 2000 campaign.
- Senior linebacker Taylor Powell recorded the second interception of his career in the first quarter and ran it back for his second career touchdown.
- Freshman Hendrix Johnson snared the first touchdown reception of his career with a 23-yard scoring grab in the second quarter.
- Junior wide receiver Stacy Chukwumezie scored the first rushing TD of his career with an 8-yard rush in the second quarter.
- Chukwumezie now has scored four touchdowns over the first five games (4 receiving, 1 rush).
- Senior running back Joe Logan's first quarter rushing TD gives him eight touchdowns this season (5 receiving, 3 rush).
- Saturday's game vs. No. 7/11 Montana State marked the second-straight ranked opponent for the Lumberjack in as many weeks – both on the road.
