MISSOULA, Mont. (Oct. 12, 2024) – In front of a crowd of over 26,000 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the No. 24 Northern Arizona football team took on No. 14 Montana today where it was edged by a final score of 31-20.
Following the loss, the Lumberjacks drop to 3-4 on the year and 1-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The Griz improve to 5-2 on the year and 2-1 in conference action, handing NAU its third-straight loss in Missoula.
NAU started strong with a 13-3 lead at the half. The teams went punch-for-punch in the third quarter, but the Lumberjacks were outscored 28-7 in the second half. The Griz took their first lead with six minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Lumberjacks couldn't find an answer.
Each team had one turnover, with
Alex McLaughlin forcing a sack-fumble that was recovered by
Brandon Wong and returned 45 yards for a touchdown. McLaughlin ended the day with nine tackles and two breakups,
Tommy Ellis led the team with 11 tackles and
Zach Lewis added 10.
PJ London made his first career start, completing eight of his 18 passing attempts for 131 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He was also the team's leading rusher with 67 yards on 13 attempts.
"It was tough having the outcome on the scoreboard go the other direction. I'm proud of our guys. I'm proud of how they fight, how they battle and come to work everyday through a tough stretch in the schedule and on the road. Our guys fought until the end, and Montana made more plays than we did," said head coach
Brian Wright.
It was the Lumberjack defense who provided the spark first on Montana's opening drive. With the Griz facing 4
th and 1 on NAU's 46-yard line, McLaughlin earned a sack fumble that was recovered by Wong and returned 45 yards for a touchdown. It was the second sack fumble by McLaughlin that led to a defensive score, and the first career touchdown for Wong. After
Marcus Lye's extra point attempt, Northern Arizona took a 7-0 lead.
The Grizzlies settled for a field goal on their next drive, connecting on a 21-yard attempt to end a 10-play, 77-yard drive that took 3:44 off the clock to cut the lead down to 7-3.
The Lumberjacks were facing 4
th and nine and punted when Montana was penalized for roughing the kicker to give NAU new life to extend the drive. Northern Arizona would capitalize on a 33-yard field goal attempt from Lye to extend the lead back out to 10-3. The drive would last 16 plays and go for 59 yards with 8:41 taken off the clock.
After another Griz punt, the Lumberjacks pushed the lead out to 13-3 behind the foot of Lye once again on a 22-yard field goal.
Northern Arizona kept the Griz out of the endzone during the first half and forced them to punt on their final three drives to take a 13-3 lead into the locker room. NAU racked up 107 rushing yards in the first half and held the Griz – who average the third-most rushing yards per game in the FCS with 264.7 before today – to just 32 yards on the ground. Additionally, the Lumberjacks had 11 first half first downs compared to just five for Montana.
The Griz found the endzone for the first time in the game on their opening drive of the second half, scoring on a one-yard rushing touchdown to make it a one possession game, 13-10. The drive lasted 11 plays and 75 yards and ticked 4:44 off the clock.
It did not take long for Northern Arizona to respond and score its first offensive touchdown of the game. In one play, London swept his pass to
Kolbe Katsis who caught it and burst down the field to the endzone for an 88-yard touchdown. After Lye came on for the PAT, NAU jumped back out 20-10. It was the first career receiving touchdown for both London and Katsis.
Katsis led the way with two catches for 98 yards today.
Montana would respond on its next drive, stringing together a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended in another one-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead back down to 20-17 at the end of the third quarter.
With six minutes left to play, the Griz took their first lead of the day after an 11-yard receiving touchdown, 24-20.
NAU would turn the ball over on downs in its attempt to respond, allowing Montana to setup on NAU's 33-yard line. The Griz would capitalize, adding another two-yard rushing touchdown to put the game away, 31-20.
Montana had the edge in total offense with 357 yards compared to 306 for NAU. The Griz would wind up rushing for 158 yards, compared to 175 for the Lumberjacks. Additionally, NAU had just 16 first downs in the game after 11 in the first half. It was also 3-of-13 on third down, but kept the Griz to 6-of-12.
Northern Arizona returns home to Flagstaff for Homecoming on Oct. 19 against Idaho State (3-3, 1-1). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Findlay Toyota Field inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
