HILLSBORO, Ore. (September 27, 2025) – Behind the running of
Quran Gossett, No. 15/15 Northern Arizona powered their way to a 31-17 conference-opening road win at Portland State on Saturday. The victory was the Lumberjacks' fourth consecutive as they improved to 4-1 overall.
"It's a road win and we're 1-0 in the conference," said head coach
Brian Wright. "We lacked discipline and execution at times and I felt like we had an opportunity to put the game away. Give all the credit to Portland State. Coach (Bruce) Barnum does an unbelievable job with his group and they continue to fight and make plays. It was a hard-fought game today."
Gossett, the first-year Lumberjack by way of Ventura Community College, became the first Lumberjack to eclipse 100 yards rushing this season. Gossett turned 16 carries into 112 yards and two highlight-worthy touchdowns.
"Honestly, I give all the credit to the line," Gossett said. "They opened up the holes and made my decisions a lot easier. They let me play the game the way I play."
With Gossett leading the way, NAU rushed for a season-high 253 yards.
Ty Pennington added 51 yards on the ground, and
Seth Cromwell totaled 36 to go along with his fifth touchdown of the season.
Lathan Boone also recorded 35 yards rushing. As a team, NAU averaged 6.2 yards per carry, also a season-best.
It was the Vikings though who jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. Portland State (0-5, 0-1 Big Sky) drove 65 yards in seven plays and scored on the game's opening possession on a 10-yard toss from John-Keawe Sagapolutele to Eddy Schultz.
NAU immediately answered with a touchdown drive of its own featuring a heavy dose of Cromwell on its first possession. Cromwell handled six touches on the eight-play drive and finished with a touchdown from a yard out. The Lumberjacks' opening drive was also buoyed by a 33-yard downfield pass from Pennington to
Joey Stout.
The Lumberjacks built a 24-10 halftime lead by scoring on all four of their first half possessions. All four drives covered at least 70 yards and three went 80-plus yards.
A 45-yard keeper by Pennington set up a 15-yard touchdown score from Pennington to
Kolbe Katsis in which the Lumberjacks' pass catcher was untouched into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the season.
After the teams traded short field goals, NAU concluded the first half with a 10-play, 83-yard touchdown drive. Sparked by a 47-yard gain on a screen pass to
Isaiah Eastman, the Lumberjacks pounded in their third touchdown of the half on a strong second-effort by Gossett. Initially taking a pitch to the left, Gossett was hit shy of the goal line, but still managed to find the end zone to beat the first half clock.
The Vikings struck first in the second half to pull within 24-17. After NAU went three-and-out, Jordan Herron took a 57-yard punt return to the house to make it a one-possession game midway through the third quarter. The punt return touchdown was the first allowed by NAU since 2017.
NAU was shut out in the third quarter, but it didn't take the 'Jacks long to get back on the scoreboard in the fourth. Starting deep in its own territory at the 10-yard line, Pennington moved the offense 90 yards in only five plays. Pennington connected with
Jeter Purdy on a pair of receptions of 27 and 19 yards respectively, which set up Gossett's second touchdown of the day.
Gossett exhibited both speed and physicality on a 29-yard touchdown, eluding and running through several Viking defenders to push NAU's lead out to 31-17 with 12:54 remaining.
Leading by two touchdowns, NAU's defense forced Portland State's offense off the field twice in the fourth quarter on downs. After the game-opening drive, the Lumberjacks did not allow the Vikings' offense in the end zone.
NAU outgained Portland State, 515-325, with the 515 yards of total offense setting a season-best for the 'Jacks.
Pennington threw for 262 yards and the touchdown to Katsis, who led the team with four receptions and 56 yards receiving. In a balanced passing attack, five different Lumberjacks recorded at least 30 yards receiving.
Brandon Wong paced the Lumberjacks on defense with five tackles, including a team-high 1.5 tackles-for-loss. NAU totaled six stops in the backfield with
Alani Ma'afu recording the Lumberjacks' lone sack.
NAU heads home to Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome next Saturday to host No. 4/6 Montana State at 2 p.m. The Lumberjacks welcome the defending Big Sky champions and reigning national runner-up in search of their 10th consecutive home victory. Tickets are available for purchase
here.
"It's going to be a big game and Montana State is the reigning champs," Wright said. "That's where we want to be eventually. We need everybody to be loud and fill the Dome."
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona football by following the Lumberjacks on
X and
Instagram.
