FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 28, 2024) – Statement made.
The Northern Arizona University football team opened up Big Sky Conference play by hosting the No. 10/10 Sacramento State Hornets on Saturday afternoon at Findlay Toyota Field with a convincing final score of 34-16.
NAU improves to 3-2 for the first time since the Spring of 2021 and are 1-0 in conference action for the second-straight year. It snapped a three-game losing streak to the Hornets, who drop to 2-3 and 0-1.
The victory is Northern Arizona's first over a ranked opponent since Oct. 28, 2023 against No. 25/25 UC Davis at home. The Lumberjacks also topped No. 11/13 Montana on Sept. 23, 2023, meaning that the last three ranked opponents to enter the Skydome have lost. It is NAU's highest ranked win since beating No. 6/7 Weber State in 2018 in Flagstaff.
First year head coach
Brian Wright picks up his 40
th career victory and his third at NAU. It is the first time the Lumberjacks have won its first two home games of the season since 2019.
"I'm excited to watch our guys continue to battle and respond throughout the course of a game that has a lot of momentum swings, adversity, and success as well. That's what we preached and what we challenged our guys to do, to battle and stay disciplined and doing their job. When they do that, great things happen," said Wright. "What a great team win. What a great effort by our defense our entire game by getting those turnovers and giving us opportunities in good field position, with our offense able to capitalize. A great team win."
The NAU defense locked down, keeping the Hornets, who averaged 30.5 points per game and 173 rushing yards per game, coming into this afternoon, without a touchdown until the fourth quarter. The Lumberjacks only allowed 231 yards of total offense, including just 51 on the ground.
It did not stop there, as it forced four turnovers including interceptions by
Zach Lewis and
DJ VanHook and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by
Ammon Allen.
Each squad made a field goal to send things into the second quarter tied 3-3. Sacramento State would retake the lead for the final time on a 34-yard field goal attempt to make it a 6-3 game.
Bryzai White, who hauled in 88 yards on six catches, scored a receiving touchdown to give NAU a 10-6 lead. With 36 seconds left in the half, the Hornets connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt to make it a 10-9 lead at the half in favor of NAU.
Northern Arizona blew the game wide open by outscoring the Hornets 17-0 in the third quarter. First, Allen recovered a fumble that was forced by
Alex McLaughlin and returned it eight yards to the endzone.
Two plays later, it was Lewis who came up with an interception and returned it back to the Hornet redzone. From there,
Tay Lanier grabbed a 13-yard pass from
Ty Pennington and scored, opening up a 27-9 lead over the Hornets.
Pennington ended the day completing an impressive 22 of his 27 passing attempts for 275 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception for the fifth-straight game.
Sacramento State did not have an answer until the 10:25 mark of the fourth quarter, finally finding the endzone on a 20-yard reception to cut the lead to 27-16.
Darvon Hubbard had the final say, sneaking into the endzone on a 2-yard rush to put the game away for good, 34-16.
Hubbard rushing 18 times for 49 yards and a score. J'Wan Evan also rushed for 49 yards on seven carries. Pennington completed a pass to seven different players, with White leading the way, while Lanier hauled in 69 yards on seven catches.
McLaughlin had nine tackles to lead the team, plus two sacks and a fumble recovery.
As a team, the Lumberjacks amassed 360 yards of total offense, including 85 on the ground and 275 through the air. They were 7-for-11 on third down and 4-for-4 in the redzone. Lye made two field goals, including a career-long 52-yard attempt, and was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra point attempts.
Northern Arizona heads out on the road to play at No. 4/4 Idaho next Saturday, Oct. 5 with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Mountain Standard time from the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals play at UC Davis tonight at 7 p.m.
