FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 19, 2025) – No. 23/RV Northern Arizona heads to Weber State with a lot on the line as the two teams kick off the regular season finale at Stewart Stadium at 1 p.m. MST on Saturday.
Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens will be on the call on the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 12:30 p.m. MST with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
Riding a two-game winning streak, the Lumberjacks (7-4, 4-3 Big Sky) are aiming for their eighth victory to solidify their case for an FCS Playoff at-large berth. NAU earn a spot in the playoffs, it would be the first time in program history that the Lumberjacks have earned back-to-back playoff appearances.
"I think this group has found themselves backed in the corner in must-win situations," said head coach
Brian Wright. "When you're in those situations, in a Sunday meeting or a Tuesday practice, you pay attention to the details maybe just a little bit more. You'd like to not necessarily be in that situation, but our group is a veteran and mature group, so I think they've handled these few weeks really well and they'll handle this week well in the same circumstance."
NAU and Weber State will also compete for the Red Rock Rivalry trophy for the fourth season. The Red Rock Rivalry trophy was created in 2022 to add to the long-standing Big Sky rivalry. Weber State won the first trophy game and NAU has won the last two seasons. The Lumberjacks have won six of the last nine meetings against Weber State overall and lead the all-time series narrowly, 29-28.
One week before the playoff Selection Show, NAU moved up a spot to No. 23 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, while continuing to receive votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll after a 35-27 win over Cal Poly last week in the Lumberjacks' final regular season home game in Flagstaff this fall.
Kolbe Katsis was selected as the Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week after totaling six receptions, 148 yards receiving and three receiving touchdowns against Cal Poly. The 148 yards and three touchdowns set new career-highs. His performance last week lifted Katsis into the top 10 in the FCS in both receiving yards (933) and touchdowns (9) in addition to sitting 11th in receiving yards per game (84.8) and ninth in all-purpose yards per game (131.1).
Ty Pennington was on the throwing end of all three Katsis touchdowns, and finished the Cal Poly victory with a career-high four passing touchdowns. Pennington was the first Lumberjack to throw for four touchdowns in a game in four years. It was also a milestone game for Pennington as he eclipsed the 5,000 yard mark as a Lumberjack.
Pennington enters the weekend ninth all-time in career passing yards (5,154), eighth in total offense (5,740) and tied for 10th in touchdowns (30). Pennington is on pace to crack the top single-season charts for passing yards and completions this Saturday.
The Lumberjacks matched a season-high with three interceptions last week with two by
Jaylan Wesley. With his second multi-interception game of the season, Wesley tied
Quentin Moten for the team-lead with four interceptions, just one off the FCS lead. Wesley and Moten are the first pair of Lumberjacks with four interceptions each in 17 years.
In addition to three turnovers, NAU allowed a season-low 86 net rushing yards to Cal Poly last week. Over the last two weeks, NAU is allowing only 95.5 rushing yards per game.
Weber State heads into its season finale having lost four consecutive games, most recently a 31-3 road loss at Idaho State last weekend. The Wildcats (3-8, 1-6 Big Sky) went into conference play having split their four non-conference games, but have dropped six of seven Big Sky contests. Weber State's lone conference win came on Oct. 18 at Portland State, 43-27.
NAU's recent run defense success will be put to the test as the Wildcats' strength on offense comes in the running game where it ranks 57th in the FCS with 154.5 yards per game. Davion Godley leads the team with 512 yards on the ground to go with four touchdowns, while averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
A number of quarterbacks have seen time on the field this season with Dijon Jennings throwing for a team-leading 831 yards and four touchdowns. As a team, Weber State is averaging 20.8 points and 308.1 yards of total offense per game.
Weber State has the Big Sky's leading kicker, and one of the top kickers in the FCS, in Sloan Calder. Calder is tied for second in the country with 16 field goals made, while converting at an 84.2% clip. With 87 tackles, Mayson Hitches leads a Wildcats defense that is allowing 39.3 points and 437.3 yards per game.
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