Northern Arizona 2009 Football Preview
2008 Record: 6-5, 4-4 Big Sky
Postseason: None
Head Coach: Jerome Souers
Returning Starters: 14 (7 Offense, 7 Defense)
Preseason Ranking: #21 by the Sporting News
Schedule
Sep 12, 2009 at Arizona Tucson, Ariz. All Day
Sep 19, 2009 Southern Utah Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM
Sep 26, 2009 Montana* Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM
Oct 03, 2009 Northern Colorado* (Family Weekend) Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM
Oct 10, 2009 at Montana State* Bozeman, Mont. 12:35 PM
Oct 17, 2009 at Portland State *Portland, Ore. 1:05 PM
Oct 24, 2009 Idaho State* (Homecoming) Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM
Oct 31, 2009 at Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. 2:00 PM
Nov 07, 2009 at Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. All Day
Nov 14, 2009 at Weber State Ogden, Utah 12:05 PM
Nov 21, 2009 Eastern Washington* Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM
* Big Sky Conference
OFFENSE
NAU must replace multiple skill position performers. Junior Micheal Herrick (6′1″ 195lbs) takes over the quarterback responsibilities for NAU. He appeared in 10 games last year for the Lumberjacks, completing over 65% of his passes for 1043 yards, 3 TDs and 6 INTs. His best performance last year was in the season finale vs Eastern Washington, throwing for 283 yards. At running back, senior Alex Henderson (5′10″ 205lbs) takes over after an injury plagued 2008 season. He ran for over 400 yards at a 5.9 yards per carry clip, but only appeared in 6 games due to injury. The Lumberjacks return their top 3 receivers from 2008 in senior Ed Berry (5′9″ 185lbs), senior Curt Sweeney (5′11” 179lbs) and senior Conrad Meadows (5′9” 180lbs). The 3 combined for 128 catches, 1722 yards and 6 TDs.
DEFENSE
The Lumberjacks boasted one of the best defenses in the NCAA FCS in 2008, ranking in the top 10 in many defensive categories. The leader of the 2009 defensive unit will be preseason Big Sky All Conference pick, LB Cody Dowd (Sr. 6′3″ 250lbs). Dowd is the only Lumberjack to be picked preseason All Big Sky. Sr. DE Micheal Battisti (6′3″ 235lbs) will anchor the NAU defensive front. Battisti had 6 QB sacks last year and was named to the Big Sky Honorable Mention team in 2008.
Outlook
The Lumberjacks are coming off of their 3rd consecutive 6-5 season in 2008, looking to challenge Montana and Weber State for supremacy in the Big Sky Conference. Facing the Lumberjacks are many different challenges in the 2009 season.
The schedule provides both challenges and opportunities for NAU. The Lumberjacks face two FBS (formerly Division I-A) opponents in the Arizona Wildcats in the season opener, and the Ole Miss Rebels on November 7. Both teams won 8 or more games, as well as their bowl games. The Lumberjacks must also travel to Ogden, Utah to face Big Sky power Weber State, as well as Bozeman, Montana to challenge Montana State. NAU does get to host Big Sky preseason favorite Montana on September 26 and Eastern Washington on November 21. The other home games for NAU are: September 19 against Southern Utah; October 3 against the Northern Colorado Bears; October 24 against the Idaho State Bengals for homecoming. The other road games for the Lumberjacks are: October 17 at Portland State; October 31 at Sacramento State.
Season Prediction:
Overall Record: 7-4
Conference Record: 6-2 3rd Place
[...] Northern Arizona 2009 Football Preview Jump to Comments Northern Arizona 2009 Football Preview [...]
2009 will not be the year for Northern Arizona football.
I admire Jerome Souers and the NAU program, but with such a tough schedule and so many key losses, incuding Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, RB Deonte Williams, all-BSC kicker Robbie Dehaze and QB Lane Kriesen, the Lumberjacks will be lucky to win more than two games in 2009.
Look for the early season matchup against Southern Utah to be a bellwether for the season. If the ‘jacks cannot prevail over the Thunderbirds at home, I see a very long 2-9 season in store for 2009.