NAU offense shelled in 30-3 Senior Day stuffing by No. 9 Montana
On a day to honor seniors in their final performance under the Skydome, NAU Football's offense fails to score a touchdown and commits more turnovers than points scored in 30-3 defeat by No. 9 Montana
Contrasting emotions drowned out the buzzing of the Walkup Skydome as a handful of seniors and graduate students participated in their swan song for NAU football. Among them: kicker Luis Aguilar, punter DJ Arnson and linebacker Tristen Vance.
“I’ve come to terms with what this day was well before,” Vance said.
While it was a day of celebration and reminiscence in the honor of many playing their final game on the gridiron in Flagstaff, the on-field action conjured frustration as the Lumberjacks were held to just three points and committed five turnovers in a 30-3 loss against the No. 9-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies.
NAU’s defense held firm in the first quarter and didn’t allow Montana to score a single point. However, the Grizzlies stuffed the Lumberjacks on all fronts as one of the best defenses in the FCS showed out against a thin NAU quarterback depth chart.
Freshman quarterback Niko Haen got the nod to open the game, but wasn’t ready to trust his arm against the suffocating Montana defense.
Instead, the Lumberjacks chose to run the ball and found some early success with freshman running back Kevin Daniels. On the second drive of the game, Haen found Daniels on a dump off that resulted in a 14-yard gain. It was Daniels again on the following play as he ran to the midfield for a 22-yard gain. This two-play stretch was the best for NAU on the day and Arnson was able to show off his powerful leg.
Arnson had six punts in the first half with three of them going over 50 yards.
The Lumberjack defense could only hold firm for so long and surrendered big plays in the second half to Montana that led to a touchdown by freshman tailback Isiah Childs and a pair of field goals from redshirt senior kicker Kevin Macias.
NAU’s struggles offensively were summed up in the second quarter after a big return by the speedy freshman running back Draycen Hall. The 53-yard return into Montana territory led to just a three-yard drive for the Lumberjacks.
Chances to get on the board were abundant for the Lumberjacks in the second half.
Early in the third quarter, freshman defensive back Devontae Ingram picked off Montana redshirt senior quarterback Cam Humphrey that was returned down to the Grizzlies’ 29-yard line. However, NAU mounted just three yards on the drive and settled for a 43-yard field goal by Aguilar.
Montana muffed a punt later on in the quarter, but redshirt freshman quarterback Cale Millen entered the game for the struggling Haen and threw a prayer into the endzone that was intercepted by the Grizzlies.
The Lumberjacks committed five turnovers on their last eight possessions to cap a more than forgettable day for the offense.
“They’re a great defense,” Millen said. “They brought the house a lot. We were hot in our protections and had to get the ball out quickly.”
With NAU’s offense failing to find success, Arnson helped the Lumberjack defense out tremendously with punts to pin Montana deep in their territory.
Arnson had nine punts on the day that went for an average of 48 yards. His longest went 63 yards.
“Every time I get on that field, I try to help the defense out,” Arnson said. “The best that I can do and the furthest ball I can get to extend that field for them is a win for us.”
To add to a miserable offensive day, NAU was held under 100 passing and rushing yards for a grand total of 154 total yards. The Lumberjacks only managed 2.3 yards per play as well.
For players like Vance and Arnson, they exit their time under the Skydome remembering the good and bad times with optimism for the program.
“I know I’ll come back here soon and this will be a championship team,” Arnson said. “I have no doubt. These younger guys will all have some pretty rings and it’s ok that I don’t get one, but I know they’ll get one on the foundation we built.”
“You see 11 games plus a battle, but it’s a lot more than that,” Vance said. “We’re fighting and going to war together for 365 days. It’s a special experience.”
The season isn’t over for NAU. The Lumberjacks will close out 2021 with a trip to central California for a matchup against California Polytechnic State University on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.