NAU stuns Montana, 41-31
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) -- Zach Bauman rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns and the Northern Arizona defense came up with five turnovers Saturday to lead the Lumberjacks to a 41-31 win over Montana.
The Lumberjacks (3-1, 2-1 Big Sky) overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to beat the Grizzlies (2-2, 0-1) for the first time in 15 years. It also was NAU coach Jerome Souers' first win in 15 tries against Montana, where he served as an assistant coach.
... In front of 25,254 fans, Montana lost its homecoming game for the first time in two decades.
"I'd love to congratulate my players and assistant coaches on our team," said Souers, his face still shiny from a postgame Gatorade shower. "They've worked very hard at delivering a win of this magnitude. "This is a stepping stone for us; it's been in our way for years."
The task looked monolithic after Moore, cutting off a big block by Trevor Poole, scored from 12 yards out to put Montana up 24-7 at 13:16 of the second quarter. Moore, a 235-pounder, gave a shiver to frustrated NAU safety Lucky Dozier as he hit the end zone. But Dozier came back with eight tackles and two interceptions; the Lumberjacks picked up five turnovers -- four coming in the span of five UM possessions -- to take command. "We did a great job of not panicking in the first half," said Souers. "Montana did some schematic things that gave us some fits and them some big plays. (McKinney) threw the ball really well." Bauman gave a hint of what was to come on the game's first snap. Nobody touched him on his 75-yard run. But Montana worked back behind defense -- Zack Wagenmann and Jordan Tripp had third-down sacks on NAU's next two possessions -- and special teams.
