Lumberjacks can't hold on, NAU falls to North Dakota on late TD
Tommy Schuster found Jack Wright for a 23-yard touchdown with 53 seconds left as No. 22 North Dakota scrambled for a 27-24 win over home underdog Northern Arizona.
The play featured a little trickery, a reverse flea flicker that had NAU's safeties inching up as Wright moved to the deep right part of the end zone.
NAU had taken a 24-20 lead just 49 seconds earlier on a 12-yard R.J. Martinez pass to Coleman Owen, the pair's second scoring connection on the day.
Jacks take the lead‼️@NAU_Football goes ahead 24-20 with 1:42 left in the game! 👏 #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/3RiJj42BSO
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) September 17, 2022
But it was UND's Schuster operating out of a no-huddle and finding four different receivers to pick apart the Lumberjack's hope of a home-opening upset.
Taking over at their own 25, Schuster found Garrett Maag for nine yards, then hit on a 22-yard pass over the middle to Nick Kupfer — who lateraled to teammate Isaiah Smith to pick up another 11 yards at the Jacks' 44.
Two plays later, a tired NAU defense could only watch as UND regained the lead.
Are you kidding?!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/Muhotb9pKH
— North Dakota Football (@UNDfootball) September 17, 2022
Starting on their own 35, Martinez and the Jacks attempted similar quick-scoring magic, but, after a series of incompletions, time ran out as Jamal Glaspie was tackled at the UND 39 as time ran out.
The Lumberjacks had a good day offensively, picking up 448 total yards to the Fighting Hawks' 318.
Martinez finished 33-47 for 324 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Owen caught nine of those balls for 136 yards.
NAU next hosts Idaho at 1 p.m. Saturday at Findlay Toyota Field in Flagstaff. The game will include NAU Hall of Fame festivities.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lumberjacks can't hold on, NAU falls to UND on late TD
