Northern Arizona football opens up Big Sky conference play against Idaho
Coming off a tough loss against No. 19 North Dakota, Northern Arizona football (1-2) will look to open up its Big Sky conference play with a win Saturday against Idaho (1-2) at home.
Through the first three games of the season, the Lumberjacks have proven that they can stop offenses in their tracks. The team currently ranks among the top 30 in the FCS in passing yards allowed with 156.3 yards per game, passing efficiency defense and total defense with 329.7 yards per game.
It'll be the fourth time in four years that the programs meet after Idaho left the FCS to join the FBS and the Big West Conference, Sun Belt Conference, WAC and even as an independent team. Since the Vandals return to the Big Sky in 2018, the Lumberjacks have secured two out of the three meetings.
It is the first time that Northern Arizona had won back to back meetings against Idaho since 1978-79. NAU currently holds a 6-17 all time record against Idaho with a 3-9 record in Flagstaff.
Redshirt sophomore Coleman Owen is coming off a dominant performance against North Dakota last weekend, where he caught nine passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, his fourth career 100-yard game. Those numbers placed Owen 27th all time in NAU receiving yards with 1,172.
It is the third time that Owen has caught a pair of touchdowns as he had the same feat against Idaho State and Southern Utah last season. Head coach Chris Ball said that he believes Owen has an incredible ball skills, but more importantly, is an unbelievable student in the classroom.
Idaho lost its first two games of the season against Indiana and Washington State on the road, but won its first home game last week against Drake, 42-14.
Saturday's game will kickoff at 1 p.m. at Findlay Toyota Field at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff. The game will be available on ESPN+ and Hulu with a subscription to the Disney Bundle.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Northern Arizona football opens up Big Sky conference play against Idaho
