Cowboys Ambushed by Angry Lumberjacks

I had a chance to speak to different people in the NAU football program prior to their game Saturday. I found out that even tho they had just lost to one of America’s top teams (20-13 to #15 ASU in week one) they were completely confident. So much so that the number 70 came up as did playing all three quarterbacks in this game. I normally get worried when a team talks like that. Not this time.

I was at the ASU game; yes the Sun Devils controlled the field. But this team for NAU is possibly one of the most balanced in the Jerome Souers era. It certainly has his composure and maturity.  So I settled in and made it my job to track and chart every single play by the NAU offense, just like at the ASU game.

One word comes to mind. Consistency. They came out and did what they needed to do. Against ASU they manned up and played tough football. They earned respect. Against New Mexico Highlands they did the same.  The result is a 1-1 record and a 68-10 victory. It was not that close as NMH got its TD on a late but very amazing 100 plus yard kickoff return by Lavaugn Macon. He made a fantastic grab of the kickoff as he reached backwards over his shoulder as the kick sailed past his head before running it back on his teams sideline. At that point it was 61-3 when he scored and only 6:32 left in the fourth.

NAU spent most of the fourth quarter running the ball from their spread formation but did get an exciting 78 yard TD run by Derrick Jackson with 1:13 remaining.  Kicker Robbie Dehaze was the story of this game, not only did he kick nine extra points and a field goal. Nearly all of his kickoffs went out of the end zone. 

It was a night of records and the 752 yards by NAU was a big one. They also won their 16^th straight home opener in the Skydome. The Jacks had 405 passing yards with all three quarterbacks combining for five touchdowns on 21 of 33 attempts. Senior and super athlete / QB Lance Kriesien was 7 of 10 and two touchdowns. Soph Michael Herrick went for 210 yards on 10 of 17 and two TD’s. Junior Corey Slater got into the action with a TD and 70 yards passing.

On the ground NAU watched as their backs picked up 347 yards. Alex Henderson had two TD’s and 120 yards. Derrick Jackson thrilled the crowd with his last minute 78 burst on his way to 118 yards. Deonte Williams ran for 87 yards and the true freshman added at TD of his own.

Standing out in the receiving category were Sklyer Moore and Conrad Meadows with two TD catches and Curt Sweeney with one. Meadows also added seven punt returns and a kickoff return to his stat collection and the most all purpose yards of 207.

The story of the night however was the Big Blue defense. They gave up only a field goal. The unit got some big help from Anthony Llanos, he had seven tackles with five solos and two and a half sacks and a pass deflection. The defense held the Cowboys to only 165 yards of total offense.

But the best defensive performance was turned in by the Big Sky’s top DB, KJ Gerard.  It came near the end of the second quarter and with the Cowboys in scoring position. After NAU kicked off to NMH after going up 35-3 the Cowboys found themselves in a deep hole on their own five yard line and needing to get to the 31 yard line. NMH came out under center and in one play; a short pass over the middle to Jonathan Ligons found themselves on the NAU 18 as the seconds wound down. A facemask on the Jacks had the ball on the NAU nine and first down. The Cowboys were soon on the three and then KJ rose up.

He tipped away a scoring pass and one play later the Cowboys dropped a TD pass. But it was on fourth and goal with 18 seconds left when KJ intercepted the pass and ran it out to the 12 yard line to preserve the score and take the Lumberjacks into the locker room with more confidence. Right before they went in NAU had to run a play so they handed the ball to Henderson who ran right, bounced left and came within an inch of his own long 88 yard TD run… Gerard finished with two tackles and one assist plus three pass break ups a tackle for a loss finished it out.

The defensive stats are almost unfair to the players. They forced so many three and outs that they not get to rack up any big numbers. But that is a benchmark for an NAU defense. The Lumberjacks also got to use their new turf for the first time and they broke it in well. Next up are the Southern Utah Eagles after a bye week. 

Story by: Kevin Pakos for Sports and Entertainment News and ASPN Arizona Sports Network Radio which can be heard on KXXT 1010 AM every Saturday from 8-Midnight. Or listen live online by going to www.azfl.com