FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Oct. 19, 2024) – Victory is sweet on Homecoming, and the Northern Arizona football team got a taste of that this afternoon in a thrilling 30-26 win over Idaho State on Saturday at Findlay Toyota Field in Flagstaff, Ariz.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak as NAU moves back to 4-4 on the year and 2-2 in Big Sky Conference play. Northern Arizona wins its third-straight over ISU, who drops to 3-5 on the year and 1-3 in conference action and have not won in Flagstaff since 1984. Additionally, the Lumberjacks have won their second-straight game on Homecoming and are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2019.
The Lumberjacks opened a 10-point lead over the Bengals and led 10-6 at the half. Northern Arizona was outscored 17-6 in the third quarter and entered the fourth down 23-16.
Seth Cromwell, who found the endzone twice for the second time in his career, scored twice in the fourth – once to tie the game and the eventual game-winner.
It would be
DJ VanHook who helped the Lumberjacks secure the victory, picking off ISU's quarterback in the endzone with seconds remaining in the game.
True freshman
Samuel Hunsaker made his collegiate debut this afternoon, coming on to connect on a 44 and a 28-yard field goal attempt, was 2-for-2 on extra point attempts, and kicked off five times for 309 yards and three touchdowns – good for 61.8 yards per kick.
NAU put up 450 yards of total offense including 185 on the ground and 265 through the air. The Bengals rushed for 115 yards and passed for 280 for 395 yards of total offense. On third down, the defense held the Bengals to 1-of-12 while converting on 7-of-16 on offense.
"To start off, that was a good team win. We talk about the inches that this game is made of and fighting for them. Not only on Saturday, but on Sunday through Friday with our preparation and those are the inches that we fight for every day. That game came down to inches at the end," said head coach
Brian Wright. "I'm proud of the way our guys fought through adversity, I'm proud of how they responded to a lot of penalties being called on us in the second half, and our guys continued to have the right mindset to finish off the ballgame."
Northern Arizona opened the game with 10-unanswered points off a 30-yard
Marcus Lye field goal attempt and a five-yard rushing touchdown from
Darvon Hubbard.
Idaho State continued to chip away and connected on a 29-yard field goal attempt and a 35-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter to trim the lead down to 10-6 at the half.
In the third quarter, NAU was outscored 17-6. The Bengals took their first lead of the game with 13:30 left to play in the third quarter on a 49-yard passing touchdown to take a 13-10 advantage.
On the very next drive, the Lumberjacks responded. Hunsaker came on for a 44-yard try and sent it through the uprights to even the game at 13-13 for his first collegiate field goal attempt.
The Bengals then settled for a field goal at the end of a 10-play, 62-yard drive to retake the lead, 16-13. Enter Hunsaker, who made a 28-yard attempt to even the score at 16-16. Before the quarter would end, the Bengals would retake a 23-16 lead after a 29-yard touchdown reception.
The Lumberjacks were down entering the fourth quarter, but not for long. Cromwell, who would rush for two scores in the fourth, found the endzone on a one-yard rush. After Hunsaker came on to attempt the first extra point attempt of his career, NAU tied the game 23-23.
With six minutes remaining, NAU found themselves down 26-23 after the Bengals made a 55-yard attempt. On the next drive, Cromwell came up big again and scored what would be the game-winning touchdown on a five-yard rush. After Hunsaker's PAT, the Lumberjacks went up 30-26.
Idaho State was forced to punt on its next drive and could not respond. With 1:50 left to play, the Bengals began orchestrating a game-winning drive that would come to an end thanks to hands of
DJ VanHook who came up with an interception at the corner of the endzone to help seal the comeback over ISU.
Ty Pennington was back at starting quarterback today after missing the second half at Idaho and the entire game at Montana due to an injury. He completed 18 of his 33 passing attempts for 265 yards and continued his streak of no interceptions. He was also the team's leading rusher with 88 yards on 15 carries.
Pennington's favorite target of the day was fellow Pittsburg State transfer,
Kolbe Katsis, who hauled in 73 yards on eight catches after being targeted nine times.
Isaiah Eastman added 75 yards on three catches.
On the defensive front,
Ammon Allen led the way with a career-high 12 tackles while
Alex McLaughlin followed with nine plus a sack. VanHook had three pass breakups on the day to go with his second interception of the season.
Northern Arizona now enters its bye week and will be back at Findlay Toyota Field to host Weber State with the Red Rock Rivalry on the line. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Nov. 2.
