FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 26, 2024) – For the first time since Aug. 31, the Northern Arizona University football team gets to play a game at home. The Lumberjacks welcome No. 10/10 Sacramento State to Findlay Toyota Field at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz., for a 1 p.m. Mountain Standard time kick on Saturday, Sept. 28 for Family Weekend and Hispanic Heritage Day.
The game marks the Big Sky Conference opener for both squads who come in at 2-2. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and on the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network with Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens and Lindsey Ridgway on the call.
Both of NAU's losses have come to ranked opponents on the road, falling at No. 20 Arizona and most recently at No. 15/18 Incarnate Word. Last week, the Lumberjacks fell to the Cardinals 38-14 in San Antonio, Texas. NAU scored first and the teams found themselves locked at 14-14 before the Cardinals rattled off 17 unanswered points. Turnovers troubled the Lumberjacks, as they fumbled four times, all recovered by UIW.
NAU is in the middle of its toughest stretch schedule wise, playing four-straight ranked opponents with three taking place on the road. The Lumberjacks are no strangers to hosting ranked opponents for Big Sky openers, topping No. 13/14 Montana last year at home by a score of 28-14.
The Hornets come to Flagstaff ranked 10
th in both the Stats Perform FCS Top-25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll after beating No. 24 Nicholls (34-7) and Texas A&M Commerce (34-0). Their lone losses have come on the road at FBS opponents San Jose State and Fresno State. The Sacramento State defense has only allowed 36 combined rushing yards in the last two games and zero points, leading to cornerback Elias Mullican to be named the Co-Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording tow interceptions. The Hornets rank second nationally with 4.0 sacks per game.
Saturday marks Sacramento State's first trip to Flagstaff since 2019. Hornet head coach Andy Thompson served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Lumberjacks from 2015-18 and will be making his return trip back. NAU leads the all-time series, 14-9 and but have lost three-straight. In Flagstaff, NAU owns an 8-3 record and have won five out of the last six games. Sacramento State won the last meeting in Flagstaff on Nov. 19, 2019, by a score of 38-34.
Ty Pennington has started all three games at quarterback, completing 49 of his 82 pass attempts (59.76%) with no interceptions and three fumbles, accumulating 568 passing yards. He has thrown four touchdown passes and has a long of 62. On the ground, he is NAU's second-leading rusher, rushing 34 times for 186 net rushing yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He has three rushing touchdowns and a long of 20.
Angel Flores has played in three games, completing 12 of his 16 pass attempts for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Prior to the Lincoln game, no Lumberjacks had taken a snap at running back for Northern Arizona before. By the conclusion, NAU had four different running backs rush for at least 30 yards with three finding the endzone. Four games in, Northern Arizona has four players who have already rushed for over 100 yards this season. In addition to Pennington,
Darvon Hubbard has racked up 231 rushing yards on 34 carries with two touchdowns.
Seth Cromwell has rushed 34 times for 150 yards and two scores, while
J'Wan Evans has 114 yards on just 10 carries plus one touchdown.
Kenveon Stone, a true freshman, is the other back to have found the endzone so far this year.
Fourteen different Lumberjacks have caught a pass this season.
Ta'ir Brooks has nine catches with three catches going for touchdowns. He leads NAU with 183 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
BJ Fleming has hauled in 163 yards on nine catches while
Isaiah Eastman has caught seven passes for 93 yards. Tight ends,
Bryzai White and
Xander Werner, have also caught touchdown passes.
Michael Beresford,
Mikale Greer and
Tommy Ellis lead the team in interceptions with one each, while
Quinlan Popham also had a forced and recovered fumble.
Ammon Allen leads the team with 26 total tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks. Both
Tommy Ellis and
Alex McLaughlin each have 25 tackles.
Marcus Lye is a perfect 14-for-14 on PAT attempts and is 2-for-3 on field goal attempts.
Following Saturday's game, NAU heads back on the road for two-straight, beginning with an Oct. 5 game at Idaho. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Mountain Standard time.
