FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Northern Arizona, looking to stay unbeaten at home this season, hosts Idaho State on Saturday as part of homecoming festivities. The Lumberjacks and Bengals will kick off at 4:05 p.m. on FOX Sports Arizona Plus.
NAU enters the game ranked No. 19 in The Sports Network media poll and No. 21 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll. This is the seventh consecutive appearance in the top 25 for NAU.
The Lumberjacks have defeated South Dakota and Montana at home this season, with their losses coming in the season opener at Arizona and two weeks ago at then-No. 7 Montana State. NAU is averaging over 10,000 fans for games at the Walkup Skydome, with a school-record 12,640 in attendance for the upset of Montana.
The Lumberjacks are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Sky play, while the Bengals enter at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in league play.
NAU is coming off a dramatic 39-38 win over Sacramento State in which backup quarterback Chase Cartwright came on in relief and threw four touchdown passes to dig the Lumberjacks out of a 17-point second-half hole. Cartwright and senior running back Zach Bauman -- who had 196 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the win -- were honored as the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week and the FCS National Running Back Performer of the Week, respectively, for their efforts.
NAU is 51-34-2 in homecoming games and last played Idaho State on homecoming in 2009, when the Lumberjacks dominated in a
40-12 victory. Saturday's game will be the 51st meeting between the two teams, with NAU having won the last eight in a row.
