Aguilar, Vest Named Preseason All-Big Sky, Lumberjacks Voted to Finish Seventh

FARMINGTON, Utah (July 26, 2021) – While finishing up the three-day Big Sky Football Kickoff on Monday, the conference announced the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks landed seventh in both of the Big Sky's preseason polls while kicker Luis Aguilar and safety Morgan Vest were named to the 2021 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team.

Voted to finish in the same spot as the 2020 coaches' preseason poll, the Lumberjacks placed right in the middle of the Big Sky to start the 2021 season. Three of the six teams voted ahead of Northern Arizona sat out the abbreviated spring season, while the trio of Weber State, Eastern Washington and UC Davis made up the top of the spring standings alongside the Lumberjacks.

The media and coaches polls were nearly identical, with Weber State, Montana, Eastern Washington, Montana State, Sacramento State and UC Davis voted first through sixth in both polls. Idaho, Idaho State, Portland State and Southern Utah followed Northern Arizona in eighth through 11th. 

Cal Poly landed 12th in the coaches poll and 13th in the media poll while Northern Colorado finished in the inverse. 

Meanwhile, Aguilar landed on the Big Sky's Preseason All-Conference Team for the second straight year as he adds to his extensive list of accomplishments including All-Big Sky Unanimous First Team honors following the spring season. Vest, also named as an All-Big Sky Unanimous First Teamer, earned the honor for the first time in his career.

A 10-time All-American between the 2019 and Spring 2021 seasons, Aguilar enters his final season with the Lumberjacks 13 extra points away from tying Micky Penaflor's program record of 77 consecutive makes set between 1987 and 1989 and 114 points away from Robbie Dehaze's record of 302 career kicking points scored between 2005 and 2008.

Vest shined in his first season on the field for the Lumberjacks after missing all of 2019 with an injury. Recording a team-best 53 tackles to rank fourth overall and third on a per game average, Vest added five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception. To see the complete Preseason All-Big Sky Team, click here.

Northern Arizona finished 3-2 during the spring, tying UC Davis for third in the Big Sky, as head coach Chris Ball's second year with the Lumberjacks built on his 2019 debut. 

The Lumberjacks will face three of the six teams voted ahead of them in the preseason poll this fall, with two of the matchups coming in Flagstaff, as well as open the season against the defending FCS champion Sam Houston Bearkats on Thursday, Sept. 2.

Northern Arizona's Big Sky schedule begins on Sept. 25 at the Northern Colorado Bears before opening its conference home slate on Oct. 2 against the Idaho State Bengals. 

Tickets can be purchased online at www.nauathletics.com/buy and questions can be directed to the Lumberjack Ticket Office at LumberjackTicketOffice@nau.edu or 928-523-0639.
 
Season tickets for the Lumberjacks' five home games in the Walkup Skydome this fall are available for as low as $75 for general admission. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more on a per game basis, as well as a Pick-Two Flex Mini Plan for any two home games for as little as $36 per person.

2021 Big Sky Preseason Poll Results

Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
 

Teams	First-Place Votes
1. Weber State	7
2. Montana	2
3. Eastern Washington	2
4. Montana State	1
5. Sacramento State	1
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Cal Poly
13. Northern Colorado

Teams	First-Place Votes
1. Weber State	14
2. Montana	4
3. Eastern Washington	3
4. Montana State	3
5. Sacramento State
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Colorado
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Northern Colorado
13. Cal Poly