In the battle for the Grand Canyon, the Southern Utah University football team hosted Northern Arizona University on Saturday, Sept. 13, in the Eccles Coliseum. In a game that saw over 950 yards of total offense, NAU outlasted SUU 50-49.
With the loss, Southern Utah falls to 1-2 on the year and 1-1 at home. Northern Arizona improves to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 on the road.
First quarter
NAU came out hot, moving the ball easily on their first drive. Quarterback Ty Pennington connected with Kolbe Katsis on a 12-yard pass for the opening touchdown.
SUU answered right back with a 10-play 75-yard drive capped off with a 15-yard touchdown by running back Joshua Dye. Both teams would then punt on their ensuing drives keeping the score at 7-7 after one quarter.
Second quarter
The T-Birds found their rhythm with the run game, leaning on Braedon Wissler and Dye. Wissler would find the endzone on a one-yard rush, giving SUU the 14-7 lead.
The Lumberjacks came right back, using a balance of the passing and rushing game to attack SUU. Seth Cromwell scored on a one-yard touchdown, tying things up at 14.
Third quarter
On the opening kickoff of the second half, NAU kicked an onside kick, recovering it and proceeding to score four plays later. After a three and out from SUU, Northern Arizona went down and scored again, taking the 28-14 lead.
After a good return on the following kickoff, SUU marched down the field and scored on a one-yard touchdown from Dye. The Lumberjacks came right back and scored when Pennington hit Katsis for an 88-yard touchdown.
Ran Sawyer punched back, taking the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 35-28. NAU would score one more time before the end of the third, taking a 42-28 lead.
Fourth quarter
Just one minute into the final quarter, Dye hit a 59-yard touchdown, his third score of the game, cutting the lead to seven. After forcing a three and out, quarterback Bronson Barron found Shane Carr for a 42-yard touchdown, tying things up at 42.
With NAU moving the ball downfield, Barron Taylor forced a fumble with SUU recovering it. Dye would then find the endzone once more, his fourth of the game and giving the T-Birds a 49-42 lead with four minutes left.
Looking to tie or take the lead, Pennington and the Lumberjacks took over, throwing out a 14-play 79-yard drive resulting in a Cromwell touchdown with 25 seconds left. Looking to take the lead, NAU lined up for a two-point conversion. Pennington would find Jaydon Raines for the conversion, giving NAU the one-point lead.
In a last ditch effort, SUU committed a holding penalty in the endzone, resulting in a safety and giving NAU the 52-49 win.
Key statistics
— This game saw over 950 total yards of offense
— Dye ran for 171 yards and four touchdowns
— Pennington threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns
— Katsis hauled in six receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns
Southern Utah will head to Davis, California to face the University of California, Davis on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. This game can also be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Jack Paul
