2024 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team

The 2024 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team represented Northern Arizona University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lumberjacks were coached by first-year head coach Brian Wright and played at Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Arizona.

2024 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
NCAA Division I First Round, L 0–24 at Abilene Christian
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 22
FCS Coaches	No. 22
Record	8–5 (6–2 Big Sky)
Head coach	Brian Wright (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Adam Clark (1st season)
Home stadium	Walkup Skydome
Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Big Sky Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 2 Montana State $^		8	–	0					15	–	1
No. 5 UC Davis ^		7	–	1					11	–	3
No. 7 Idaho ^		6	–	2					10	–	4
No. 22 Northern Arizona ^		6	–	2					8	–	5
No. 10 Montana ^		5	–	3					9	–	5
Idaho State		3	–	5					5	–	7
Eastern Washington		3	–	5					4	–	8
Weber State		3	–	5					4	–	8
Portland State		3	–	5					3	–	8
Cal Poly		2	–	6					3	–	8
Sacramento State		1	–	7					3	–	9
Northern Colorado		1	–	7					1	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	1:00 p.m.	Lincoln (CA)*		Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 66–6	7,342
September 7	7:00 p.m.	at No. 20 (FBS) Arizona*		Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	ESPN+	L 10–22	47,746
September 14	6:00 p.m.	at Utah Tech*		Greater Zion Stadium St. George, UT	ESPN+	W 45–17	3,938
September 21	4:00 p.m.	at No. 15 Incarnate Word*		Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX	ESPN+	L 14–38	1,413
September 28	1:00 p.m.	No. 10 Sacramento State		Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 34–16	9,232
October 5	2:00 p.m.	at No. 10 Idaho	No. 25	Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID	ESPN+	L 17–23	14,066
October 12	1:00 p.m.	at No. 14 Montana	No. 24	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT	ESPN+	L 20–31	26,229
October 19	1:00 p.m.	Idaho State		Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 30–26	8,212
November 2	1:00 p.m.	Weber State		Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 27–6	6,154
November 9	6:00 p.m.	at Cal Poly		Alex G. Spanos Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	ESPN+	W 31–14	6,231
November 16	12:00 p.m.	at Northern Colorado	No. 25	Nottingham Field Greeley, CO	ESPN+	W 44–3	2,279
November 23	1:00 p.m.	Eastern Washington	No. 21	Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 30–18	7,113
November 30	1:00 p.m.	at No. 15 Abilene Christian*	No. 17	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN+	L 0–24	5,210
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

Sources:^[1][2]

Game summaries

Lincoln (CA) (IND)

See also: Lincoln Oaklanders football

Game One – Lincoln (CA) Oaklanders (IND) (0–0) at Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Oaklanders (IND)[a]	0	6	0	0	6
Lumberjacks	21	24	14	7	66

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

• Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: None (played indoors)
• Game attendance: 7,342
• Referee: Scott Root
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens, Ava Nichols

Game information

First quarter (6:42) NAU – Ty Pennington 20-yard run, Marcus Lye kick (Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:53; Northern Arizona 7–0) (3:24) NAU – Seth Cromwell 2-yard run, Marcus Lye kick (Drive: 3 plays, 34 yards, 0:59; Northern Arizona 14–0) (1:27) NAU – Elijah Taylor 15-yard punt return, Marcus Lye kick (Northern Arizona 21–0) Second quarter (11:32) LCA – Darius Maxwell 38-yard pass from Jack Clavel (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:28; Northern Arizona 21–6) (11:32) NAU – Ammon Allen 97-yard PAT return (Northern Arizona 23–6) (11:18) NAU – BJ Fleming 62-yard pass from Ty Pennington, J'Wan Evans rush (Drive: 1 play, 62 yards, 0:09; Northern Arizona 31–6) (4:09) NAU – Bryzai White 8-yard pass from Angel Flores, Marcus Lye kick (Drive: 4 plays, 50 yards, 1:43; Northern Arizona 38–6) (1:57) NAU – Ta'ir Brooks 13-yard pass from Angel Flores, Marcus Lye kick (Drive: 1 play, 22 yards, 0:15; Northern Arizona 45–6) Third quarter (8:55) NAU – Seth Cromwell 1-yard run, Jordan Westrich kick (Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:59; Northern Arizona 52–6) (2:51) NAU – J'Wan Evans 1-yard run, Jordan Westrich kick (Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 3:16; Northern Arizona 59–6) Fourth quarter (14:11) NAU – Kenveon Stone 5-yard run, Jordan Westrich kick (Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards, 2:49; Northern Arizona 66–6)

Statistics	LCLN	NAU
First downs	6	22
Total yards	168	452
Rushing yards	87	235
Passing yards	81	217
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–20–1	13–17–1
Time of possession	31:23	25:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lincoln (CA)	Passing	Jack Clavel	10/19, 78 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Anastacio Prado	18 carries, 59 yards
	Receiving	Darius Maxwell	2 receptions, 35 yards, TD
Northern Arizona	Passing	Ty Pennington	7/9, 114 yards, TD
	Rushing	J'Wan Evans	6 carries, 48 yards, TD
	Receiving	BJ Fleming	3 receptions, 98 yards, TD

at No. 20 Arizona (FBS)

See also: 2024 Arizona Wildcats football team

Pregame line[3]	Over/under
Arizona –35.5	63.5

Game Two – Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (1–0) vs No. 20 Arizona Wildcats (FBS) (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lumberjacks	0	10	0	0	10
No. 20 (FBS) Wildcats	3	3	7	9	22

at Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ

• Date: September 7, 2024
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny, 92 °F (33 °C)
• Game attendance: 47,746
• Referee: Michael VanderVelde
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Sylvester (play-by-play), Brad Hopkins (analyst), and Shane Sparks (sideline reporter)

Game information

First quarter (11:33) ARIZ – Tyler Loop 33-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 3:23; Arizona 3–0) Second quarter (10:24) NAU – Xander Werner 25-yard pass from Isaiah Eastman, Marcus Lye kick (Drive: 10 plays, 83 yards, 4:58; Northern Arizona 7–3) (6:20) NAU – Marcus Lye 38-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:34; Northern Arizona 10–3) (0:32) ARIZ – Tyler Loop 48-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 12 yards, 2:11; Northern Arizona 10–6) Third quarter (12:06) ARIZ – Jeremiah Patterson 17-yard pass from Noah Fifita, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 3 plays, 34 yards, 1:46; Arizona 13–10) Fourth quarter (11:33) ARIZ – Team safety (Arizona 15–10) (9:32) ARIZ – Kedrick Reescano 56-yard run, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:53; Arizona 22–10)

Statistics	NAU	ARIZ
First downs	14	18
Total yards	198	361
Rushing yards	31–89	29–188
Passing yards	109	173
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–25–0	18–26–1
Time of possession	27:23	32:37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing	Ty Pennington	14/24, 84 yards
	Rushing	Seth Cromwell	11 carries, 41 yards
	Receiving	Xander Werner	1 reception, 25 yards, TD
Arizona	Passing	Noah Fifita	18/26, 173 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Quali Conley	17 carries, 112 yards
	Receiving	Quali Conley	5 receptions, 38 yards

at Utah Tech

See also: 2024 Utah Tech Trailblazers football team

Game Three – Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (1–1) at Utah Tech Trailblazers (0–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
Trailblazers	0	0	0	0	0

at Greater Zion Stadium • St. George, UT

• Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Rod Zundel, Max Christensen III

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	UTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Utah Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 15 Incarnate Word

See also: 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team

Game Four – Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2–1) at No. 15 Incarnate Word Cardinals (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lumberjacks	7	7	0	0	14
No. 15 Cardinals	7	10	14	7	38

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium • San Antonio, TX

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 4:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 94 °F (34 °C) • Wind: SE 11 mph
• Game attendance: 1,413
• Referee: Gary Leeper
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Karl Schoening, Blair Villareal

Game information

First quarter NAU – 10:38 Darvon Hubbard 47-yard run, Marcus Lye kick NAU 7–0 Drive: 1 play, 47 yards, 0:09 UIW – 4:03 Mason Pierce 13 pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kick Tied 7–7 Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards, 3:29 Second quarter NAU – 8:29 Tay Lanier 37-yard pass from Ty Pennington, Marcus Lye kick NAU 14–7 Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 4:28 UIW – 1:51 Dekalon Taylor 35-yard run, Brack Peacock kick Tied 14–14 Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 2:46 UIW – 0:00 Brack Peacock 40-yard field goal UIW 17–14 Drive: 3 plays, 1 yard, 0:43 Third quarter UIW – 11:08 Roy Alexander 10-yard run, Brack Peacock kick UIW 24–14 Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:24 UIW – 6:00 Dekalon Taylor 97-yard run, Brack Peacock kick UIW 31–14 Drive: 1 play, 97 yards, 0:24 Fourth quarter UIW – 7:06 Roy Alexander 32-yard pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kick UIW 38–14 Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:28

Statistics	NAU	UIW
First downs	21	18
Total yards	439	412
Rushing yards	166	232
Passing yards	273	180
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–41–0	14–23–0
Time of possession	33:39	26:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing	Ty Pennington	20/35, 247 yards, TD
	Rushing	Darvon Hubbard	12 carries, 85 yards, TD
	Receiving	Bryzai White	4 receptions, 63 yards
Incarnate Word	Passing	Zach Calzada	14/23, 180 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Dekalon Taylor	17 carries, 184 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Roy Alexander	5 receptions, 76 yards, TD

No. 10 Sacramento State

See also: 2024 Sacramento State Hornets football team

Game Five – No. 10 Sacramento State Hornets (2–2) vs Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Hornets	0	0	0	0	0
Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

• Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens, Ava Nichols

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SAC	NAU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sacramento State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 10 Idaho

See also: 2024 Idaho Vandals football team

Game Six – No. 25 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (3–2) at No. 10 Idaho Vandals (3–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 25 Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
No. 10 Vandals	0	0	0	0	0

at Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID

• Date: October 5, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. PST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Bob Castle, Brian Strandley

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	IDHO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Idaho	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 14 Montana

See also: 2024 Montana Grizzlies football team

Game Seven – No. 24 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (3–3) at No. 14 Montana Grizzlies (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 24 Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
No. 14 Grizzlies	0	0	0	0	0

at Washington–Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MT

• Date: October 12, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Ben Creighton, Ty Gregorak, Grace Lawrence

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	MONT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Idaho State

See also: 2024 Idaho State Bengals football team

Game Eight – Idaho State Bengals (3–4) at Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (3–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	0	0	0	0
Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens, Ava Nichols

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	IDST	NAU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Idaho State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Weber State

See also: 2024 Weber State Wildcats football team

Game Nine – Weber State Wildcats (3–5) vs Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (4–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0
Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mitch Strohman, Kevin Stephens, Ava Nichols

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WEB	NAU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Weber State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Cal Poly

See also: 2024 Cal Poly Mustangs football team

Game Ten – Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5–4) vs Cal Poly Mustangs (2–6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
Mustangs	0	0	0	0	0

at Alex G. Spanos Stadium • San Luis Obispo, CA

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Sylvester, John Kane

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	CP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Cal Poly	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Northern Colorado

See also: 2024 Northern Colorado Bears football team

Game Eleven – No. 25 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (6–4) vs Northern Colorado Bears (1–9) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 25 Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Nottingham Field • Greeley, CO

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Christian Saez, Nick Hager

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	UNCO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Colorado	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Eastern Washington

See also: 2024 Eastern Washington Eagles football team

Game Twelve – Eastern Washington Eagles (4–7) vs No. 21 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (7–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	7	11	0	18
No. 21 Lumberjacks	7	7	3	13	30

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: None (played indoors)
• Game attendance: 7,113
• Referee: Michael Bezner
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mitch Strohman (play-by-play), Kevin Stephens (analyst) and Ava Nichols (sideline)

Game information

First quarter (0:05) NAU – Kolbe Katsis 75-yard pass from Ty Pennington, Samuel Hunsaker kick (Drive: 3 plays, 86 yards, 1:35; Northern Arizona 7–0) Second quarter (9:30) EWU – Jett Carpenter 2-yard pass from Jared Taylor, Soren McKee kick (Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards, 5:30; Tied 7–7) (5:40) NAU – Tay Lanier 40-yard pass from Isaiah Eastman, Samuel Hunsaker kick (Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 3:43; Northern Arizona 14–7) Third quarter (14:53) EWU – Matthew Brown 0-yard safety (Northern Arizona 14–9) (10:52) EWU – Efton Chism III 67-yard pass from Jared Taylor (Drive: 1 play, 67 yards, 0:18; Eastern Washington 15–14) (8:40) NAU – Samuel Hunsaker 21-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 2:12; Northern Arizona 17–15) (2:45) EWU – Soren McKee 31-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 5:48; Eastern Washington 18–17) Fourth quarter (13:53) NAU – Seth Crowell 6-yard run (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:46; Northern Arizona 23–18) (2:17) NAU – Ty Pennington 12-yard run, Samuel Hunsaker kick (Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 6:29; Northern Arizona 30–18)

Statistics	EWU	NAU
First downs	16	28
Total yards	301	539
Rushing yards	134	187
Passing yards	167	352
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–27–1	16–30–0
Time of possession	28:45	31:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Washington	Passing	Kekoa Visperas	15/22, 94 yards, INT
	Rushing	Kekoa Visperas	6 carries, 62 yards
	Receiving	Efton Chism III	13 receptions, 119 yards, TD
Northern Arizona	Passing	Ty Pennington	15/29, 312 yards, TD
	Rushing	Seth Cromwell	20 carries, 112 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kolbe Katsis	3 receptions, 130 yards, TD

at No. 15 Abilene Christian (NCAA Division I playoff–first round)

See also: 2024 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team and 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football postseason

Game Thirteen – No. 17 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (8–4) at No. 15 Abilene Christian Wildcat (8–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Lumberjacks	0	0	0	0	0
No. 15 Wildcats	7	3	0	14	24

at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, TX

• Date: November 30, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NAU	ACU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Arizona	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Abilene Christian	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Notes

1. Lincoln is unaffiliated with any national sanctioning body and permanently plays as a travel team.