TEMPE, Ariz. (August 30, 2025) – Going toe-to-toe with its highest-ranked FBS opponent in program history, No. 19/18 Northern Arizona dropped its 2025 season opener, 38-19, to No. 11/11 Arizona State Saturday night in Mountain America Stadium.
"I thought our guys battled and played extremely hard as a team, especially after we settled down the first few minutes," said head coach
Brian Wright. "I saw some good unit defense played at times, made a couple plays on offense and special teams that kept us in the game for a while. I thought we were a few plays here and there from really being in it with an outstanding football team."
The Sun Devils, the reigning Big 12 champions, scored touchdowns on their first two drives and never looked back in posting their seventh victory in eight games dating back to last season. Arizona State totaled 458 yards of total offense, compared to 331 for NAU.
In falling behind 14-0, NAU could not capitalize on early opportunities. After NAU went three-and-out to start the evening, Arizona State marched down the field and capped its five-play, 49-yard opening drive with a 6-yard Raleek Brown touchdown run.
Kolbe Katsis returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards to start NAU's drive near midfield, but the Lumberjacks failed to pick up a first down for the second consecutive drive. NAU's defense then appeared to get off the field following a
Ramere Davis sack that put Arizona State in a third-and-long situation, only for the Sun Devils to convert a fake punt to extend their drive.
Following Brown's 34-yard conversion on fourth down, Sam Leavitt connected with Jordyn Tyson for the first of two touchdowns on the night from 19 yards out, giving the home team a 14-0 lead 10 minutes into the game.
NAU's offense found its rhythm on its third drive, stringing together eight plays to move inside the Arizona State 5-yard line. The drive was sparked by a contested 28-yard completion from
Ty Pennington to
Isaiah Eastman, however, NAU turned the ball over on downs despite having four goal-to-go downs.
The 'Jacks got on the board early in the second quarter following a 31-yard field goal by
Samuel Hunsaker, trimming the Sun Devils' lead to 14-3. After the teams traded four consecutive three-and-outs, the Sun Devils extended their lead to 17-3 with Jesus Gomez's 36-yard field goal with 1:55 left in the first half.
NAU snuck in a second Hunsaker field goal, this time from 46-yards out, before heading into the locker room. Pennington found
Jayson Raines for back-to-back completions of 17 and 14 yards to open the Lumberjacks' last drive of the half, and on fourth-and-6, Pennington hit Katsis on an 18-yard crossing route to set up Hunsaker's boot.
After starting the game with 138 yards of offense on its touchdown drives, Arizona State only managed 77 yards on its final five drives of the first half.
Holding onto a 17-6 halftime lead, the Sun Devils put some distance between them and the 'Jacks in the third quarter by churning out a pair of 70-plus yard touchdown drives. Leavitt punctuated both drives with touchdown scampers, first opening the second half with a 52-yard score and capping the third quarter with an 18-yard touchdown.
In between Leavitt's scores, NAU briefly climbed within 24-13 halfway through the third quarter with
Nason Coleman's first career touchdown. The 'Jacks cashed in on a nine-play, 75-yard drive immediately after Leavitt's first touchdown when Pennington hit Coleman in the left flat. The touchdown was not only Coleman's first, but it was also the BYU transfer's first career reception.
Both teams added a late touchdown in the game's final three minutes to conclude the scoring. Leavitt and Tyson connected for a 16-yard score and
Kenveon Stone punched in a 1-yard run.
Leavitt completed 25-of-39 passes for 257 yards. He threw the two touchdowns to Tyson, who totaled 12 receptions for 141 yards, and was intercepted once in the fourth quarter by
Michael Beresford.
For NAU, Pennington was 22-for-35 for 204 yards in the air. His primary targets were Katsis (six receptions, 76 yards) and
Jayson Raines (five receptions, 71 yards) with the latter making his Lumberjacks debut.
Defensively, Davis paced the Lumberjacks with a career-high nine tackles in his first career start. He accounted for one of NAU's two sacks, with
Travis Arena posting the other.
NAU (0-1) looks to continue to defend the Dome next Saturday, Sept. 6 when the 'Jacks host Utah Tech at 2 p.m. NAU has won seven straight games dating back to 2023 in the Walkup Skydome.
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