FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. and OGDEN, Utah (November 14, 2022) – Building on a nearly 60-year football history between the two programs, Northern Arizona University and Weber State University will introduce the Red Rock Rivalry Trophy following this week's regular season finale at Findlay Toyota Field in Flagstaff.
The Wildcats, a charter member of the Big Sky Conference which began play in 1963, and the Lumberjacks, who arrived in 1970 as one of two additions to the original six-team conference, have played 54 times in their respective histories.
"Weber State and Northern Arizona have been competing against each other since 1964, and over that period of time there have been some memorable moments that have created an exciting history and rivalry between the two schools," said Weber State Director of Athletics Tim Crompton. "Designating the game as the Red Rock Rivalry will generate additional energy to the contest for both institutions and their fans. Not that either team needs any extra incentive, but we sure would like to make room for another trophy."
Split right down the middle with 27 victories apiece on the field, the all-time series between Northern Arizona and Weber State is even tighter when taking a closer look. The Wildcats hold a 19-9 record in Ogden against the Lumberjacks while Northern Arizona leads 18-8 when playing in Flagstaff.
"Historically, NAU versus Weber State is one of the Big Sky Conference's most competitive football series," said Northern Arizona Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow. "Our Athletic program has a great deal of respect for Weber State and how they conduct their business. We look forward to acknowledging the past and future of this rivalry by introducing the Red Rock Rivalry Trophy and I'm sure both programs will proudly display the trophy when it resides on campus."
While Weber State has won the past two meetings, both in Ogden, the teams have evenly split their past four, eight, 12 and 14 meetings. Additionally, neither side has won more than four consecutive meetings in the series. Weber State achieved the feat on three occasions, from 1965 to 1968, 1970 to 1973 and most recently from 2008 to 2011. Northern Arizona did so from 2001 to 2004 and again in the four meetings between 2014 and 2018.
The programs alternated their first 48 meetings between Flagstaff, the site of the inaugural meeting in 1964, and Ogden as they faced off every year from 1964 to 2011. The expansion of the Big Sky Conference in 2012 created an unbalanced schedule, with the series on hold in 2012 and 2013 before returning to Ogden in 2014. Skipping a meeting in 2017, Northern Arizona hosted in 2018 before Weber State served as the home team in 2019 and the Spring 2021 season.
Once again skipping a meeting during the Fall 2021 season, the departure of Southern Utah to the WAC returned Northern Arizona and Weber State to annual meetings. Resetting the unbalanced schedule of the 12-team Big Sky, the conference paired Northern Arizona and Weber State together as one of two regular opponents. The Lumberjacks also face Northern Colorado each season while the Wildcats play Idaho State annually.
Weber State will host Northern Arizona on Oct. 7 in 2023 while the series returns to Flagstaff in 2024 with the Lumberjacks hosting on Nov. 2, a potential Homecoming Weekend.
The Red Rock Rivalry Trophy was hand crafted by local Flagstaff artist Joshua Meyer who is no stranger to the NAU Athletic Department as he is also the artist who created the Honing Stone, the department's visual and symbolic representation to "FINISH" strong, which is present at all home Lumberjack Athletic events. Meyer, spending time in Utah and calling Flagstaff home, used known elements common to both institution's geographical regions to build the trophy, featuring carved red rock at the top and then wood and steel to round out the base.
This weekend's 55th meeting between the schools will tie Weber State with Idaho State for the most common opponent in Northern Arizona's program history. With the Bengals not on the Lumberjacks' schedule in 2023, the Wildcats will soon claim and continue to hold the distinction of Northern Arizona's most common opponent under the Big Sky's current schedule plan.
Northern Arizona trails Idaho State, Montana and Montana State, the three other charter members of the Big Sky, as Weber State's most frequent opponent.
Saturday's kickoff between the teams in the inaugural Red Rock Rivalry Trophy game is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST and is available to stream on ESPN+.
