The unstoppable force still has little birdies flying around its head.
Seventeenth-ranked Northern Arizona, with the No. 1 rush defense in the Football Championship Subdivision, showed it's not too shabby against the pass either, walloping Portland State and the top-ranked FCS air attack in a 37-17 victory at the Walkup Skydome.
And the Lumberjacks added to their FCS-leading sack total with 10 more to go along with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Oh, and NAU held an opponent to negative rushing yards (minus-14) for the fourth time this season, thanks in large part to the sacks.
“Something was going to break today with the collision of their offense and our defense,” Northern Arizona coach Jerome Souers told the Arizona Daily Sun. “I thought we had an excellent game plan getting to the quarterback and it worked. We knew we had to take it up a notch in order to manage what they are capable of doing. I couldn't be more proud of our defense.”
Northern Arizona's D even managed to knock out last week's golden boy, sophomore quarterback Drew Hubel, who was benched in the second quarter after his second interception.
Hubel, the reigning Sports Network national FCS player of the week, gave way to Tygue Howland. Howland, a junior, had slightly more success with 246 yards, but was still sacked seven times.
“Coming into the game we knew they were going to pass a lot of course and our goal was to get to the quarterback and pressure him into making bad decisions,” said sophomore linebacker Scott McKeever, who returned NAU's first interception 48 yards for a score. “There's people that are doubting our secondary but they really stepped up and up front we were able to get to the quarterback.
“Ever since the (Arizona State) game, we've really come together as a team,” he added. “We have a lot of confidence right now. Our offense is taking the ball down and scoring and our defense is holding teams to nothing.”
Portland State coach Jerry Glanville was his usual blunt and humorous self.
“I walked into our locker room after the game and I told our team to repeat after me, ‘We just got our butts kicked.' Today there's no doubt that the better team got the win.”
About the only thing that concerned Souers after the game wasn't really a concern - just an imaginary line the coach has his eye on.
“We're playing the game right on the edge of a line you don't cross,” Souers said of his team's physical play. “We're pushing it right to the edge. It's really hard when you're playing that emotional, that hard to keep all of your facilities about you and you can't push that line.”
The 11th-year coach was concerned enough that he huddled his team in the third quarter after a second personal foul was called for a late hit.
Still, Souers wasn't about to call off the dogs.
“Our pass rush was outstanding, we pressured the run game. We're not playing dirty, we're playing hard.”
After beating three of the bottom-tier teams in the Big Sky Conference, NAU (3-0 in league, 5-1 overall) gets winless Idaho State this Saturday in Pocatello.
After that, the Lumberjacks wade into the heart of their schedule with a home game against Weber State on Oct. 25, followed by what promises to be a donnybrook in Missoula on Nov. 1.
Portland State (1-2, 2-4) has the weekend off.
Gorilla of their dreams
The evil monkey hiding in the closet in Greeley, Colo., has been exorcised - in style.
After three straight heartbreaking, last-minute losses, Northern Colorado banished the brooding red-bottomed baboon with a 29-9 homecoming victory over hapless Idaho State at Nottingham Field.
“After those last three weeks where we thought we should have won those games, just to get out there and win a game fairly decisively that is huge just for morale,” Bears quarterback Bryan Waggener said. “I am so excited. That is just awesome.”
The win ended an eight-game losing streak for Northern Colorado, which recorded its last victory Oct. 27, 2007, against Montana State in a 1-11 season.
UNC's defense forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, in holding the Bengals to just 262 yards of total offense.
Northern Colorado also recorded two safeties. That combined with another safety against the Bears tied an FCS record.
UNC finally got its running game untracked with 265 yards, including 125 yards from D.C. Wilson. Wilson gave the Bears a big lift with a 75-yard scoring dart early in the second quarter.
“We weren't a one-dimensional team and, when you can run and pass, you are much more effective than just passing the ball,” Wilson told the Greeley Tribune. “I got it going, (David) Woods got it going, even (Andy) Muns had that one in the fourth quarter, so I am just happy we got those (chains) moving and got a win.”
Northern Colorado (1-1, 1-4) travels to league-leading Weber State on Saturday.
Idaho State (0-3, 0-6) continued its downward spiral, dropping its 10th straight game under coach John Zamberlin, now the third-longest losing streak in the nation.
“If I sat here and dwelled on it,” senior tackle Evan-Dietrich Smith told the Idaho State Journal, “I probably wouldn't be as good as I am. I'd just sit there and still be thinking about the first loss. You've gotta have thick skin, take it how it was and work as hard as you can.”
Players of the week
Offense: Cameron Higgins, QB, Weber State. Higgins passed for 349 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-12 win at Montana State. He leads the nation with 2,138 passing yards and is tied for the national lead with 23 touchdown passes. Defense: Kyle Rath, DL, NAU and Max Hewitt, S, UNC. Rath had three sacks, two hurries, a pass breakup and six total tackles in Northern Arizona's 37-17 win over Portland State. Hewitt had five tackles and two interceptions in Northern Colorado's 29-9 win over Idaho State. Special teams: Robbie Dehaze, K/P, NAU. Dehaze, honored for the fourth time this season, averaged 45.2 yards per punt, made three field goals and four extra points in NAU's win over Portland State.
Quote of the week
‘Twenty-one years, that's a long time. But I guess that's the idea. That's what you're supposed to do.'
- Weber State coach Ron McBride after sweeping UM and MSU for the first time since 1987
Game to watch
Eastern Washington at Montana State, Saturday: Frankly, it's a rather lackluster schedule this weekend, but if Montana State has any hope of making a run at the Big Sky title and the playoffs, it obviously starts here against the plummeting Eagles.
Power poll
1 Weber State (5-2): Wildcats solidified their hold with impressive win over the Bobcats in Bozeman in what is quickly becoming a three-team race.
2 Montana (5-1): Great defense and brilliant coaching against EWU mean the Griz get a bump to No. 2.
3 Northern Arizona (5-1): Lumberjacks haven't faced the best in the Big Sky yet, but that defense is still awesome.
4 Montana State (3-3): OK ... but only because there's nobody else to choose from. Bobcats better find a way to score points soon.
5 E. Washington (2-4): Eagles are clearly in big trouble. Actually, it's beyond that now. But they can still score points. Right?
6 N. Colorado (1-4): I like these bad news Bears. Can't help but root for 'em, and something tells me they've got one more upset in them this season.
7 Portland State (2-4): Just the idea that the Vikings might throw for 800 yards makes them interesting. That and their coach.
8 Sac State (3-3): Had a week off to prepare for Griz. Should help the Hornets remember to pack their cooking spray.
9 Idaho State (0-6): It's going to be a long season in Pocatello. Think I mentioned that last week.
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