Two in a Row: flagstaff newspaper

[Proud Griz Man]

Two in a row

2 hours ago • By BILL HARRIS Sun Sports Editor

... running back Zach Bauman gave the Lumberjacks all the early energy they needed with two first-quarter touchdowns as the Northern Arizona football team put the pedal to the medal and never looked back.

Bauman scored from 41 yards and 5 yards in the first quarter to give NAU a 14-0 lead en route to a 34-16 win over long-time rival Montana. Bauman said it felt great to get the win on the Jacks’ home turf. “We did it in their house last year and for them to come into our house, to get the win feels amazing,” he said.

Though head coach Jerome Souers tried to downplay the excitement of beating Montana (3-1 overall, 0-1 Big Sky Conference) he admitted the win was a huge one for the team and the athletics program at NAU. The game was sold out, the first time since 1994 that NAU filled the Dome to capacity, and 12,640 watched the Lumberjacks (3-1, 1-0) jump off to a good start in conference play. “Yes it’s a significant game, yes it’s huge, yes it’s important to start conference off with a win,” Souers said, “but it’s only one game. We’re 1-0 and we have Montana State up at their place and that’ll be as tough a game as we’ve seen. It was a huge win for us but to think we’re going to rest for any time at all, you don’t know us.”

The Lumberjacks found their groove on offense right from the opening kickoff and finally outscored the NAU defense for the first time all season. NAU’s offense racked up 416 yard of total offense with help from Bauman’s 21 carries for 118 yard day and a 22-of-30 for 242 passing performance by sophomore quarterback Kyren Poe.
... “We didn’t want to come into this game over-hyping Montana because it’s just another game that we have to get through to start our conference run,” Holmes said. “But coming out in pre-game and seeing all the fans, and seeing the tailgating during the Lumberjack walk was great, it fired us up. There’s a lot of credit to them for being loud.”

http://azdailysun.com/sports/college/nau-lumberjacks/two-in-a-row/article_f2a251da-28db-11e3-b87a-0019bb2963f4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Proud Griz Man]

NAU beats University of Montana 34-16
... a sold out Skydome on Sept. 28, the No. 22 Northern Arizona University (NAU) Lumberjacks upset the No. 7 University of Montana (UM) Grizzlies by a score of 34-16. The win gives NAU its first win in the Big Sky Conference (BSC) this season, as well as it’s second consecutive win against the Grizzlies after not beating them in 14 consecutive tries.

NAU dominated the game from the beginning, scoring on their first two drives as senior running back Zach Bauman found the end zone twice. His first touchdown came on a 41-yard run and his second was punched in from five yards out to give the Lumberjacks an early 14-0 lead. After breaking the all-time NAU rushing record last game, Bauman followed that up with another milestone – hitting the 4,000-yardcareer rushing mark. He surpassed two former UM backs on the list to put him in eighth place all-time in BSC history. Bauman finished the game with 118 yards on 21 carries to go with the two touchdowns. He also added three receptions for 40 yards.

http://jackcentral.com/sports/2013/09/nau-beats-university-of-montana-34-16/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Northern Arizona defense leads to shocking rout of Montana Grizzlies

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona’s defense returned two fumbles for scores, including Ryan Reardon’s 98-yarder, and the Lumberjacks smothered the Montana offense in a 34-16 victory Saturday night.

It was NAU’s second win in a row against Montana, the Lumberjacks’ first back-to-back wins over the Grizzlies since 1986 and ’87. It was also NAU’s first home win over Montana since 1997 and came in front of a sellout crowd of 12,640 at Walkup Skydome. Trailing 14-3 in the second quarter, the Grizzlies had fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line when Jordan Johnson fumbled near the goal line and Reardon’s long return gave NAU (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) a 21-3 lead.

The Grizzlies opened the third quarter with another fumble and Marcus Alford’s 22-yard return made it 28-3. NAU’s Zach Bauman rushed for 118 yards and scored back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter, including one for 41 yards, to give the Lumberjacks an early 14-0 lead.
Montana (3-1, 0-1) finally scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Johnson tossed a 15-yard score to Mitch Saylor. Johnson was 17 of 38 for 292 yards and threw two touchdowns.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/nau/free/20130928northern-arizona-defense-leads-shocking-rout-montana-grizzlies.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[first11]

What IS capacity of walk up dome? Announced sellout but official head counted around 12k

 

[AZGrizFan]

What IS capacity of walk up dome? Announced sellout but official head counted around 12k

Used to be 16,000+. They renovated a couple years ago and took OUT 4,000+ seats, although the seats they put in are much more comfortable.

 

[NativeGriz]

Not only 2 in a row, but worst loss to an FCS team since 1997 or 98 when they played W. Ill in playoffs. Hats off to NAU for being the team to do that. But note, no other team in the BSC can say their worst FCS loss in 15 years is 18 points-see, I am trying to find the positives. Enough of the positives and now for my ugly fan opinion-I have never been a Mick Delaney fan. I have stated that many times to many people-maybe not a lot on Egriz, but often elsewhere. My concern is we are already looking like 2012. Play ok in first 2 game, then average in third game against inferior opponent and then NAU exposes our weakness in 4th game. I believe our weakness is coaching. We are not great at making adjustments during the game and especially halftime adjustments. Other teams seem to figure out our coaching tendencies and make adjustments-we don't. I do believe this team has the players and thus many things are still possible. I have to admit I still miss RP and BH-those guys knew how to make adjustments.
MD gave us our first losing season in forever last year and this year he gave us our worst FCS loss in 15 years. Cant wait to see what the next mile stone might be.