TUCSON, Ariz. (Sept. 2, 2023) – The Northern Arizona University football team took the field for the first time in 2023 this evening at the University of Arizona where it fell 38-3.
The Lumberjacks (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky) were outgained in total offense by the Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) 478 yards to 264. Northern Arizona controlled the time of possession and won the turnover battle 2-to-1,
Several Lumberjacks made their debut for the Blue and Gold, including quarterback
Kai Millner who earned the start. Millner completed 14 of his 22 pass attempts for 166 yards. Also calling signals for NAU were true freshman
Adam Damante who went 3-for-6 for 24 yards and
Angel Flores went 1-for-1 and rushed for 11 yards.
"First, we have to give Arizona credit. They're a much-improved football team. We just made too many mistakes and had too many penalties that cost us offensively. At times I thought we played well and moved the ball and I saw a lot of great things. I thought the defense played well. We made some mistakes that cost us that you can't make against a team like this," said head coach
Chris Ball. "The field goal that they blocked and returned could've made it a one-score game. That hurt us. We tried to get it in and got close, and we ran the ball well at times, we just couldn't put it in the end zone. We have a lot to improve on but there were a lot of great things in there."
Arizona marched down and scored on its opening drive, a four-yard touchdown pass that capped a seven play, 65-yard drive that lasted 3:47. After NAU came up empty on its first attempt on offense, true freshman
Alex McLaughlin would make a big stop on fourth and one with a pass breakup. McLaughlin earned the start in his debut and ended the day with 10 tackles, two breakups and a sack. At the end of the first, the Wildcats led 7-0.
The Wildcats started the second quarter like they did the first by finding the endzone after a seven play, 78-yard drive that ticked 3:04 off the clock. After the extra point attempt went through the uprights, the Wildcats led 14-0 with 13:24 remaining in the half.
After Northern Arizona fumbled on its own 47, the Wildcats charged down the field looking for their third score. With a fresh set of downs on the NAU-13, true freshman
David Spruiells punched the ball out of UA's quarterback Jaden de Laura's arms and the ball was recovered by
Tommy Ellis and returned for 13 yards.
From there, NAU controlled the rest of the half and were able to get on the board. The Lumberjacks strung together a 16-play, 49-yard drive that ended with a 49-yard field goal attempt from sophomore
Marcus Lye as time expired, resulting in a 14-3 Arizona lead at the end of the half. It was the first field goal attempt of Lye's young career.
Northern Arizona got the ball to start the second half and lined up for a 26-yard field goal attempt. The attempt was blocked and returned 85-yards for the touchdown. After the extra point attempt, the Wildcats led 21-3. With under five minutes remaining, Arizona would tack on two more scores, one by way of a five-yard receiving touchdown and the other on a 53-yard rushing score for a 35-3 lead heading into the fourth.
To start the fourth, Northern Arizona faced 4
th and 1 on UA's one yard line for its best scoring opportunity of the night but could not capitalize. The Lumberjacks were just 1-of-4 on red zone attempts compared to 4-for-5 for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats would tack on a 35-yard field goal to lead to 38-3, but the Lumberjacks would continue to fight and found some momentum when
Colby Humphrey grabbed his third career interception in the endzone. The momentum would be short lived, as the Lumberjacks couldn't capitalize and fell 38-3.
TJ McDaniel was NAU's leading rusher in his debut, compiling 60 yards on 14 attempts.
Coleman Owen hauled in 90 yards on five catches.
Eemil Herranen punted six times for 231 yards and placed two inside the 20.
On the defensive side, McLaughlin led the team with 10 tackles while
George Steele,
Jhasi Wilson, and Humphrey each had five.
As a team, NAU was held to just 78 rushing yards compared to 186 for the Wildcats. The Wildcats also threw for 292 yards and held the Lumberjacks to 186. NAU had 11 penalties for 84 yards while the Wildcats also had 11 for 91 yards.
The Lumberjacks return to the field next Saturday, Sept. 9 at North Dakota. Kickoff from Grand Forks, N.D. is set for 1 p.m. Mountain Standard time. The Fighting Hawks are 1-0 after a 55-7 win over Drake to open its season.
