NAU opens conference play at Montana

NAU opens conference play at Montana

Published Sep. 20, 2012 6:09 p.m. ET

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Northern Arizona football team opens Big Sky play Saturday at 14th-ranked Montana.

NAU (2-1) is coming off a 69-0 victory over Division II Fort Lewis, the program's biggest shutout win since 1996 (75-0 over Western New Mexico). The Lumberjacks, who are looking for their first three-game winning streak since 2009, are 25-16 all-time in conference openers in the Big Sky, winning each of the last two.
 
“This game means a lot to our team as our first Big Sky game,” said senior quarterback Cary Grossart. “It is crucial to get off to a good start in the conference, but against a team like Montana that is 39-1 at home since 2007, for us to come in there and get a win would be awesome.”
 
Grossart, who has missed the last two games, returns to the lineup this week as starting quarterback. He saw limited action at Arizona State in the season opener.
 
“I am 100 percent,” said Grossart. “I feel great coming off of last week, and I am good to go. I feel strong and back to normal.”
 
Montana leads the all-time series 33-11 and has won 14 in a row and 23 of the last 24 games against NAU. The Lumberjacks’ last victory in the series was a 27-24 win in 1997.
 
“We are coming together, and it feels like we are peaking right now,” said Grossart. “We have all the pieces together, and we have a great plan.”

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