Northern Arizona, looking to extend its winning streak to three games, continues conference play Saturday on the road against Montana State.
The Lumberjacks are ranked No. 15 in The Sports Network media poll and No. 17 in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll, while the host Bobcats are ranked seventh in the media poll and eighth in the coaches poll.
NAU will be looking for its first win in Bozeman since 2009; Montana State won the last meeting there 41-24 in 2011. However, the Lumberjacks have won three of the last five meetings overall. Saturday's game will be the 47th overall between the two teams.
NAU is coming off a win over Montana in the team's Big Sky opener. The Lumberjacks are 1-1 on the road, having lost to Arizona 35-0 in the season opener and beaten UC Davis 21-10 on Sept. 14.
Running back Zach Bauman is coming off another milestone week, as he became the first NAU player to reach 4,000 career rushing yards in the win over Montana. The senior has 396 rushing yards and 504 all-purpose yards so far this season.
Defensive tackle Chima Ik earned Madness Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the win, and Ryan Reardon was named CFPA FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and National Linebacker of the Week.
Montana State enters the game with a 3-2 record under coach Rob Ash, who is in his seventh season at the helm. The Bobcats have wins over Monmouth (42-24), Colorado Mesa (26-0) and North Dakota (63-20) along with losses to SMU (31-30) and Stephen F. Austin (52-38).
Quarterback DeNarius McGhee returned to the lineup for Montana State last week after missing multiple games due to an injury. McGhee has completed 49 of 72 passes for 652 yards, and in his absence, Jake Bleskin has gone 58 of 91 for 718 yards and six TDs.
Cody Kirk has racked up 10 rushing touchdowns and 336 yards on the ground, and wideout Tanner Bleskin has 37 catches for 568 yards and two TDs.
Defensively, Montana State leads the league in pass efficiency allowed (110.3) and interceptions (eight).
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on www.BigTalkerRadio.com, and a video stream will be available on www.WatchBigsky.com.
