2003 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team

Last updated

2003 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
Northern Arizona Athletics Script.png
Big Sky co-champion
Conference Big Sky Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 10
Record9–4 (5–2 Big Sky)
Head coach
Home stadium J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome
Seasons
  2002
2004  
2003 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 14 Montana +^  5 2   9 4  
No. 10 Northern Arizona +^  5 2   9 4  
No. 21 Montana State +^  5 2   7 6  
No. 22 Idaho State  4 3   8 4  
Weber State  4 3   8 4  
Eastern Washington  3 4   6 5  
Portland State  1 6   4 7  
Sacramento State  1 6   2 9  
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2003 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team was an American football team that represented Northern Arizona University (NAU) as a member of the Big Sky Conference (Big Sky) during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jerome Souers, the Lumberjacks compiled a 9–4 record (5–2 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 409 to 305, and finished in a three-way tie for the Big Sky championship. [1]

The Lumberjacks were invited to play in the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and defeated No. 1 McNeese State on the road in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was the program's first ever victory in the Division I-AA playoffs. [2] They then advanced to the Quarterfinals, losing to No. 13 Florida Atlantic.

The team played its home games at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, commonly known as the Walkup Skydome, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The team's statistical leaders included Roger Robinson with 1,108 rushing yards and Jason Murietta with 3,472 passing yards (including 431 yards against Sacramento State), Clarence Moore with 1,184 receiving yards, and Paul Ernster with 101 points scored. [3]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30 Saint Mary's *W 44–34,152 [4]
September 6at No. 20 (I-A) Arizona State *L 14–3460,069 [5]
September 20at No. 22 Portland State W 23–06,832 [6]
September 27 No. 14 Cal Poly *No. 25
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 24–79,011 [7]
October 4at Weber State No. 17W 48–295,010 [8]
October 11at Sacramento State No. 14W 24–215,107 [9]
October 18 Eastern Washington No. 14
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 54–3110,654 [10]
October 25at Montana State No. 10L 17–2112,207 [11]
November 1 No. 10 Montana No. 15
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
L 21–5912,821 [12]
November 8 No. 22 Idaho State No. 20
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 46–317,111 [13]
November 15at Sam Houston State *No. 18W 34–182,118 [14]
November 29at No. 1 McNeese State *No. 16W 35–314,300 [2]
December 6 No. 13 Florida Atlantic *No. 16
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)
L 25–489,314 [15]

References

  1. "2013 Northern Arizona Football Media Guide" (PDF). Northern Arizona University. 2013. p. 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Ed Odeven (November 30, 2003). "A first worth savoring: NAU hammers No. 1 McNeese State for its first ever I-AA playoff victory". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. B1, B7 via Newspapers.com.
  3. 2013 Media Guide, p. 64.
  4. Ed Odeven (August 31, 2003). "Sensational start". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. B1, B7 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Sun Devils defeat Lumberjacks". The Sacramento Bee. September 7, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "NAU, in total control, blanks Portland St". The Arizona Republic. September 21, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "No. Arizona runs over Poly". Santa Maria Times. September 28, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Lumberjacks score 48 in win over Weber State". Arizona Daily Star. October 5, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Murrietta leads NAU to comeback victory". The Arizona Republic. October 12, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "NAU drills E. Washington". Great Falls Tribune. October 19, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Improbable rally puts 'Cats in hunt". The Independent-Record. October 26, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Montana explodes for 59 points". Great Falls Tribune. November 2, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Murrietta accounts for 4 TDs". The Arizona Republic. November 9, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Murrietta's 2 TD passes, scoring run propel NAU". Arizona Republic. November 16, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  15. Ed Odeven (December 7, 2003). "Owls – in a hoot". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. B1, B6 via Newspapers.com.