1-3 , 0-1
Northern Arizona
3-2 , 1-0
Cal Poly Falls in Final Minute to Northern Arizona, 38-35, in Big Sky Opener
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona quarterback Chase Cartwright hit running back Casey Jahn with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining Saturday night, lifting the Lumberjacks to a 38-35 victory over Cal Poly in the Big Sky Conference opener for both schools.
The win in the Walkup Skydome lifted Northern Arizona to 3-2 for the season and 1-0 in the Big Sky. Cal Poly fell to 1-3 and 0-1. Northern Arizona is 10-1 in its series against Cal Poly.
The lead changed hands four times and the game was tied twice. Northern Arizona drove 71 yards in 10 plays for the winning points. The Lumberjacks erased 7-0, 14-7, 28-17 and 35-31 Cal Poly leads.
Cal Poly compiled 25 first downs and 485 yards in total offense, converting on all four of its fourth-down plays, but Northern Arizona produced 514 total yards, including 320 passing yards from its backup quarterback.
Mustang junior quarterback Chris Brown completed 10 of 17 passes for a career-high 214 yards and one touchdown – a five-yarder to Jordan Hines early in the second quarter. Brown also rushed for 91 yards on 26 carries, scoring twice on runs of 1 and 7 yards.
Senior slotback Chris Nicholls ran nine yards for a touchdown late in the first half and finished with 47 yards on nine carries while senior fullback Brandon Howe added a one-yard scoring run that gave Cal Poly its 28-17 advantage six minutes into the third period. Howe rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries while sophomore slotback Kori Garcia added 50 yards on eight trips.
Hines, who had caught 10 passes in his entire Mustang career, made five catches for 117 yards Saturday while Nicholls and Roland Jackson each caught a pair of passes.
For Northern Arizona, Cartwright, subbing for the injured Kyren Poe, completed 22 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Jahn was his favorite target with seven receptions and he also was the top Lumberjack rusher with 103 yards on 20 carries.
Cal Poly's defensive leaders included senior linebacker Nick Dzubnar (pictured above) with 13 tackles, his fourth straight double-digit tackle performance this season. Cameron Ontko added 11 tackles and Josh Letuligasenoa 10.
Karlton Dennis notched his first interception of the season while Ontko recorded Cal Poly's second sack of the year.
Redshirt freshman offensive guard Ross Berry, making his first collegiate start, fractured his leg in the third quarter and was taken by ambulance to a Flagstaff hospital. He is expected to undergo surgery Sunday or Monday.
Cal Poly will host Southern Utah for another Big Sky game Saturday, Oct. 4, with kickoff in Alex G. Spanos Stadium set for 6:05 p.m.
Team Stats
CP 7, NAU 0
CP - Chris Brown 1 yd run (Z.Schottenfeld kick), 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:59
CP 7, NAU 7
NAU - Corbin Jountti 12 yd run (Ryan Hawkins kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:56
CP 14, NAU 7
CP - Jordan Hines 5 yd pass from Chris Brown (Z.Schottenfeld kick) 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:02
CP 14, NAU 14
NAU - Beau Gardner 52 yd pass from C. Cartwright (Ryan Hawkins kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:11
CP 14, NAU 17
NAU - Ryan Hawkins 19 yd field goal 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:28
CP 21, NAU 17
CP - Chris Nicholls 9 yd run (Z.Schottenfeld kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:15
CP 28, NAU 17
CP - Brandon Howe 1 yd run (Z.Schottenfeld kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:53
CP 28, NAU 24
NAU - Ify Umodu 25 yd pass from C. Cartwright (Ryan Hawkins kick) 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:53
CP 28, NAU 31
NAU - Ify Umodu 5 yd pass from C. Cartwright (Ryan Hawkins kick) 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:43
CP 35, NAU 31
CP - Chris Brown 7 yd run (Z.Schottenfeld kick), 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:26
CP 35, NAU 38
NAU - Casey Jahn 12 yd pass from C. Cartwright (Ryan Hawkins kick) 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:15
