Montana State at Northern Arizona Game Thread

[dbackjon]

NAU tries to snap two game losing streak.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Another tough out for them in this one. At home they should be able to get this one. Even though this probably doesn't have any playofff implications this shoud be a very entertaining game in BSC.

[putter]

Two teams with decent defenses but anemic offenses. It will be interesting to see how Iddins handles NAU's defense. He has played in 3 games this year but I think he still will have rust that NAU could capitlize on.

[dbackjon]

NAU Football Notebook: Jacks hoping to regain early season form

When NAU coach Jerome Souers met with his team on Sunday, one day after a 45-10 loss to No. 6 Montana, the 11th-year coach had a simple message for his squad.

"The general message was that we're better than we demonstrated and I think it's important that we approach this week with the mindset that we have nothing to lose," Souers said. "We really don't. We have everything to gain by coming out and letting it all hang out. That's when we're at our best." The last two weeks, the Jacks haven't been at their best to say the least, being outscored 87-24 by Montana and Weber State.

After dominating for the first seven weeks of the season and jumping out to an impressive 5-0 mark against Football Championship teams, things have all of a sudden flipped upside down for NAU.

"For the first seven games, we were walking high and couldn't be told anything," senior safety Adam Wright said. "We were all having fun, just playing the game. We have to get back to that.

"It's easy to do things right when things are going your way. When you're facing adversity, what are you going to do? Are you going to step up and come with a good week of practice, or are you going to say, 'whatever, it's done' and just go through the motions. That's what we need to avoid at all costs."

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2008 ... 184706.txt

[dbackjon]

INJURY UPDATE

Souers said on Tuesday during his weekly press conference that he wasn't sure if sophomore quarterback Michael Herrick would be available to play on Saturday. Herrick has served as Lance Kriesien's backup for most of the season.

In last week's game, Herrick jammed his hand on an opponent's helmet and it could keep him out of Saturday's game.

Kriesien will start either way and Souers wouldn't say if he planned on using Herrick if he was healthy.

Freshman offensive guard Vinnie Paciulli, who missed the Montana game with an injury, should return this Saturday.

[Appaholic]

NAU gets back on it's horse and throttles MSU....then MSU returns to halfway house until next weekend....

[grizzaholic]

NAU gets back on it's horse and throttles MSU....then MSU returns to halfway house until next weekend....

Kind of the way I see it. I always root for MSU week in and week out, as long as they are not playing the Griz, but they have been really bad this year. One aspect always shows up for MSU while another usually faulters. The D will be great while the O will do nothing.

Good luck MSU you will need it.

[GOKATS]

The Cats 'D' will continue to do their thing which will keep the Cats in the game. Maybe Iddins will be the breath of fresh air needed to kick the Cats 'O' in the ass & get the passing game going, Crawford et al will get the run yards. I always hate playing at Flagstaff, but hopefully the Cats pull out a win over the Lumberjacks. Cats 27-17

[native]

Both of these teams would be contenders in some of the weaker weaker conferences.

Northern Arizona was not overrated this year and has something to prove after losing two straight to Weber and Montana.

The dangerous Bobcats are not quite firing on all cylinders and might be a bit banged up on defense.

At 7,000 feet in Flagstaff, the two best kickers in the conference, Cunningham and Dehaze, will put on a show! Look for lots of touchbacks and some field goals.

The Lumberjacks take it at home in the Walkup Dome: Northern Arizona-31, Montana State-27

[GOKATS]

Too many TO's and too many penalties, but a good win for the Cats! Damn injuries are killing us though, our third string QB had to finish the game (and he did a good job). Crawford put up 160 rushing yards against the Jacks 'D'. Cats have PSU at home next week.