FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Nov. 2, 2024) – Firing off 21 unanswered points in the first quarter, the Northern Arizona football team used the momentum to knock off Weber State, 27-6, today at Findlay Toyota Field in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Northern Arizona improves to 5-4 on the year and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference play. Dating back to 2023, NAU has now won six-straight at Findlay Toyota Field and are a perfect 4-0 at home for the first time since 2019. It also marks the first time NAU has won consecutive games since ending 2023 on a two-game winning streak.
Additionally, it is the first time NAU has not allowed a touchdown in 28 games dating back to Sept. 10, 2022, in a 10-3 win at Sam Houston State.
The game marked the third installment of the Red Rock Rivalry trophy, which NAU won for the second-straight year, moving to 2-1 against Weber State (3-6, 2-3) since the trophy was introduced.
"I'm pleased with the outcome. We said we wanted to play meaningful football in November and in our first opportunity to do that, our guys really came out of the locker room on fire. They put us out and gave us a margin that allowed us to continue to play aggressively but really settle into the game plan," said head coach
Brian Wright. "I'm proud of our group and the last two weeks and how we prepared. I thought we handled the bye week really well. We worked extremely hard on fundamentals and the guys took advantage of the extra days to get ready for Weber. A good team win, good effort by our guys and individual plays, and an extraordinary effort by our defense that whole game. Obviously, we have some things to clean up on special teams and offense."
Ty Pennington could not have gotten the Lumberjacks off to a better start. On the game's very first play, he rushed for 75 yards to the endzone to quickly give NAU a 6-0 lead 13 seconds into the game. After
Samuel Hunsaker's extra point attempt, the Lumberjacks went up 7-0.
Adding insult to injury, Weber State's very first offensive play was intercepted by
DJ VanHook and returned seven yards for his third interception of the season and second consecutive game with a takeaway. Taking over at the Weber State 28, NAU would capitalize when starting defensive lineman
Tausagafou Ho Ching, who was on offense as a fullback at the time, caught a nine-yard pass from Pennington and dove into the endzone. After the PAT, NAU had a 14-0 lead with 12:20 still to play in the first.
Weber State would look to reset, but the plans were spoiled by a
Mikale Greer interception on WSU's first play of its next drive. The interception was his second of the season. Northern Arizona was once again able to capitalize, this time from a two-yard rushing touchdown from Pennington – his fifth of the season. At the end of the first quarter, the Lumberjacks held a comfortable 21-0 lead.
The lead would never relinquish, as WSU got on the board with a field goal in the second quarter to make it a 21-3 game at the half. In the third, the Wildcats connected on a 30-yard field goal and the teams headed into the fourth with NAU ahead 21-6.
The Wildcats would lock down defensively, recording seven tackles for loss on the day. After the first quarter, WSU kept the Lumberjacks – who missed two field goals and an extra point – out of the endzone until the fourth quarter after taking the 21-point lead. On NAU's first drive of the fourth quarter, Pennington found
Ta'ir Brooks for a 20-yard receiving touchdown to help put the Wildcats away, 27-6.
Weber State took over and a ran a 14-play, 61-yard drive that took 5:03 off the clock, but couldn't capitalize and turned the ball over on downs for the third time.
Tommy Ellis led the team defensively today with nine tackles followed by
Alex McLaughlin who recorded seven and
Zach Lewis added six.
Northern Arizona finished with 361 yards of total offense compared to 332 for Weber State. On the ground, after racking 113 rushing yards in the first quarter, NAU finished with 149 rushing yards compared to 180 for the Wildcats.
Pennington would finish with 212 passing yards, completing 18 of his 21 pass attempts with two touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground, after being sacked three times, he added 73 net rushing yards plus two rushing scores.
Both
Bryzai White and
Kolbe Katsis each caught four passes with White hauling in 65 yards and Katsis adding 44.
The Lumberjacks now head back out for their final regular season road trips, beginning with Cal Poly on Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time from San Luis Obispo, Calif.
