FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 14, 2026) – No. 5/5 Northern Arizona was shut out offensively on Saturday in the second half by No. 18/20 Weber State, allowing the Wildcats to claim a 25-21 victory at Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome.
 
The loss snapped the Lumberjacks' five-game winning streak and dropped NAU to 8-3 overall. The Lumberjacks are 6-2 in conference play heading into next weekend's regular season finale in the Skydome against Northern Colorado. Tickets for NAU's Senior Day game at 2 p.m. MST can be purchased at this link.
 
For Weber State, the win not only allowed the Wildcats to retain the Red Rock Rivalry Trophy, but also solidified their FCS Playoff hopes. The Wildcats move to 7-4 overall and are tied with the Lumberjacks for second in the Big Sky Conference with a 6-2 league mark.
 
"We're really disappointed with the outcome. Give credit to Weber State and their staff. They made more plays than we did today, especially in some critical moments," said head coach Brian Wright. "We made way too many mistakes to win a game like this in November. Our defense did a good job for much of the second half to give our team opportunities to stay in the game."
 
NAU outgained Weber State, 423-360, but uncharacteristically could not get on the scoreboard in the second half. The Lumberjacks, who went into halftime ahead 17-16, only managed four points in the second half – two each coming on a 2-point conversation return by Braylon Singleton and a blocked punt through the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety.
 
Ty Pennington threw for 300 yards and a touchdown, but Weber State also recorded a pair of fourth quarter interceptions.
 
Special teams wound up being pivotal for both teams, as Weber State blocked two kicks, turning both into touchdowns. Meanwhile, NAU remained in the game with the safety off Joseph Ramirez's fourth quarter blocked punt moving the Lumberjacks within the final margin of 25-21 with 9:09 on the clock.
 
The Wildcats opened the game with a 17-play drive moving into the Lumberjacks' 5-yard line, but a key second down sack by Ziggy Loa forced Weber State into a field goal. The Lumberjacks quickly moved the down the field on their opening drive and cashed in on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to Jeter Purdy.
 
Weber State needed just four plays on its next drive to retake a 10-7 lead on a touchdown pass from Nate Dahle to Noah Kjar, but once again NAU had a response with Quran Gossett punching in a 3-yard touchdown run two minutes into the second quarter.
 
Isaiah Sensabaugh broke up a fourth down pass by Weber State at NAU's 23-yard line on the next drive, which set up a Francisco Orduno Jr. 46-yard field goal to extend the Lumberjacks' lead to 17-10 with 1:55 remaining before the half.
 
The 'Jacks appeared to have all the momentum as their defense gave the offense one more drive prior to the intermission. Taking over inside its own 10-yard line with 27 seconds on the clock, Pennington hit Darius Haskin and Joey Stout for big gains to put NAU in position to tack on a field goal. But Orduno Jr.'s 52-yard field goal was blocked and returned 60 yards for a touchdown as time expired.
 
Weber State missed the extra point after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the attempt back, but a potential 10-point NAU halftime lead wound up only being 17-16.
 
The Wildcats' second blocked kick occurred on the Lumberjacks' first drive of the third quarter. Set up with a short field following its eighth blocked kick of the season, Weber State took the lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dahle to Tate Kjar. However, Dahle's ensuing 2-point conversation was picked off by Singleton in the end zone, and Singleton returned it the length of the field for two points.
 
Weber State added a field goal three plays into the fourth quarter to make it a 25-19 lead, and NAU inched closer following Ramirez's blocked punt. With the ball rolling out of the end zone, NAU took the safety to move within 25-21, but it could not complete the comeback despite a couple of defensive stops.
 
NAU's defense forced a three-and-out with 4:27 left, but Bones Marks' interception turned the ball back over to Weber State with three minutes remaining. The Lumberjacks' defense stood tall once more though, and Michael Beresford's tackle in the backfield on a fourth down field goal attempt provided NAU with one last gasp needing a touchdown with 29 seconds to play.
 
An 18-yard strike over the middle from Pennington to Stout put NAU at the Weber State 36-yard line, only for Porter Small to deflect and intercept Pennington's final heave on the last play.
 
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