FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 17, 2021) – Time after time, when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks needed a stop, their defense came through.
Holding the Idaho Vandals (2-4) out of the end zone in Saturday's season finale, the Lumberjacks (3-2) closed out their abbreviated schedule with a 19-9 victory in the Walkup Skydome. It marked a number of achievements, namely the program's first back-to-back wins since 2017, its first win holding a Division-I opponent under 10 points since 2016 and its first game holding a D-1 team out of the end zone since 2011.
Most importantly, it proves head coach
Chris Ball's program is headed in the right direction in his second year at NAU.
"To come out of this thing with a winning record is an accomplishment for our football team and it was huge for our program," Ball said. "It gives us momentum going into the summer and next season."
The Lumberjacks allowed just 29 points combined in the final two weeks of the season as they knocked off Southern Utah in Cedar City and completed a sweep of their two games in the Walkup Skydome by taking down Idaho.
"We're two seconds from talking about playing in the playoffs this year, so we are making huge strides," Ball said. "We've got to continue to work; we've got to have a great summer in the weight room. We've got Sam Houston on Thursday night on Sept. 2."
Jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the game's first quarter, the Vandals compiled a few long drives but could never close them out with a touchdown. A 10-play, 50-yard drive ended in Cade Coffey's first field goal from 33 yards out before an 11-play, 94-yard drive stalled at the 5-yard line for a short 22-yard kick.
From there, Idaho's offense could not consistently stay on the field with a trio of three-and-outs and just one drive past the NAU 40 for the final 37 minutes of the game.
"It shows how much we have grown and shows how much we have changed," said
Morgan Vest. "It sets the tone going in. We really wanted to go back-to-back... to battle through all the adversity and changes that happened this season really shows the character of this team and what this team is made of."
Deploying both Zach Borisch and Mike Beaudry at quarterback, with drastically different play calls for the two, Idaho's offense challenged NAU to adjust its approach drive to drive, and even play to play.
While Borisch ran for 78 yards on 15 carries and Beaudry finished with 41 yards of his own on the ground in addition to 212 yard passing on 32 attempts, NAU's defense came up with seven tackles for loss and four sacks.
The biggest of the game possibly came on the Vandals' first drive of the final quarter, trailing 16-9. Facing a third-and-5 at its own 30, Idaho's pass from Beaudry found Michael Noil but
Dyvine Wallace dropped him for a 1-yard loss.
The Lumberjacks put their final points on the board a little less than three minutes later as
Luis Aguilar put a field goal through the uprights from 34 yards out. It was the fourth of the game for the senior, who scored 13 of NAU's 19 points thanks to field goals of 22, 45 and 27 yards earlier in the day.
NAU's lone touchdown came after another impressive defensive stop coupled with a crucial special teams play.
Backed up at their own 2-yard line thanks to a
DJ Arnson punt, one of two dropped right on the Vandals' goal line, Idaho elected to rush twice ahead of a third-and-5. With Beaudry dropping back,
Carson Taylor chased him down for a sack.
Coffey's punt from his own 5-yard-line was partially blocked by
Jorim Powell, with NAU's offense set up just 18 yards from the end zone. A 16-yard catch by
Draycen Hall, complete with a few broken tackles, set up
Keondre Wudtee's 2-yard touchdown pass to
Coleman Owen and NAU's first lead of the day at 10-9 just 47 seconds before halftime.
A quick drive by Idaho put the Vandals at the NAU 17 with about 10 seconds remaining in the half, but a pass breakup in the end zone by
Colby Humphrey and a hurry by
Carson Taylor helped end the drive without points on the board. Deciding to take the three points rather than attempt a third-and-10 play, Idaho sent Coffey out for a 34-yard field goal that ultimately hit the left upright.
After NAU kneeled out the clock, the Lumberjacks opened the second half with a 5-yard run followed by a 60-yard reception for
Hendrix Johnson. Ending in the 45-yard field goal by Aguilar, NAU extended its lead to 13-9 before allowing just 46 yards in the third quarter.
Johnson led the Lumberjacks with 121 yards through the air on four catches,
"When we have the coaches I do and I have the teammates I do, it's really not that hard to be in the right position to make the plays that I made today," Johnson said. "We have a great receiving core, and it didn't matter who was going to make the plays this week because we have the guys to do it."
With their 3-2 record, the Lumberjacks finished tied for third in the eight-team Big Sky for the spring season. NAU returns in September as it opens the fall season against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at the Walkup Skydome.
