FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Aug. 25, 2024) – A new era of Northern Arizona football officially gets underway this Saturday, Aug. 31, at Findlay Toyota Field at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome when the Lumberjacks host Lincoln (CA) to begin the 2024 season.
Kickoff is set for 1:02 p.m. Mountain Standard time in Flagstaff, Ariz. Tickets are available for purchase HERE, while the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network with Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens and Ava Nichols on the call.
Saturday's festivities include the annual Running of the Freshmen prior to kick and NAU's 2024 Hall of Fame Class will be recognized after being officially inducted the night before. The team will begin its Lumberjack Walk at 10:30 a.m. and a reminder that a clear bag policy is in effect.
The Lumberjacks are led by first-year head coach,
Brian Wright, who was officially announced as NAU's 31
st head football coach on Dec. 3, 2023, after four seasons at Pittsburg State. As a head coach, he owns an overall record of 37-8. Wright brought in a brand-new coaching staff and together they hit the recruiting trail hard, welcoming 65 newcomers.
The Oaklanders compete as an independent and are located in Oakland, Calif. Led by fourth-year head coach Desmond Gumbs, Lincoln opened its season on Aug. 24 at the College of Idaho where it suffered a 45-7 loss. Gumbs has an overall record of 3-29 as a head coach. Against the Yotes, Lincoln put up 110 yards of offense including 39 rushing yards and 71 yards through the air. Its lone touchdown was scored via a 15-yard pick six.
Northern Arizona finished fourth in the Big Sky Conference standings last year with an overall record of 5-6 and a 5-3 mark in league action. It begins the year receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Top-25, and five of its 12 2024 opponents are currently ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top-25. The Lumberjacks have a challenging non-conference schedule, playing three-straight away from Flagstaff before beginning conference play on Sept. 28 against Sacramento State.
NAU was predicted to finish ninth in the Big Sky by the media and seventh by the coaches in 2024. The Lumberjacks return four starters on offense and three on defense.
Among the returning leaders is redshirt sophomore quarterback,
Angel Flores, who started the three final games for the Lumberjacks in 2023. Last season, Flores completed 52 of his 71 pass attempts for 634 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, adding eight scores on the ground with 337 rushing yards.
Kai Millner returns for his redshirt-junior year after starting the first three games of the season last year, throwing for 458 yards and two touchdown passes plus another score with his legs. Joining the two is
PJ London along with two Pittsburg State transfers in
Lathan Boone and
Ty Pennington.
Jonny Bottorff is a two-time captain and anchors the offensive line at center. He earned second team All-Big Sky offensive honors in 2023 after starting all 11 games and was honored again on the Big Sky Conference and the Phil Steele Big Sky Preseason teams heading into 2024.
Senior captain
Tommy Ellis is heading into his fifth season as a Lumberjack and was named to both the Big Sky Conference's and the Phil Steele Big Sky's Preseason teams. Ellis ranked second on the team last year with 64 total tackles and his first career interception on the road at Weber State helped the Lumberjacks clinch a ranked victory.
Alex McLaughlin had a breakout freshman season that saw him be named to the Jerry Rice Award Watchlist along with being named a Freshman All-American by FCS Stats Perform and the FCS Bluebloods. The sophomore was named to the second team All-Big Sky Defense team after starting all 10 games he played in, leading the team with 71 total tackles and four interceptions. His four interceptions were the second-most in the conference in 2023. The Chandler, Ariz., native had two double-digit tackle games including 10 in his debut at Arizona and a career-high 11 against Portland State. McLaughlin is poised for a big sophomore season, being named to the Big Sky Conference and Phil Steele Big Sky Preseason teams.
Following Saturday's game, the Lumberjacks face in-state foe Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Mountain Standard time. NAU trails the all-time series, 16-2 and are looking to avenge a 38-3 loss last season.
