With a final score of 23-10, the NAU football team fought through difficult weather conditions and upset the No. 24-ranked Montana State Bobcats in Bozeman, Mont.

At kickoff, the recorded temperature was 20 degrees Fahrenheit with a light breeze, but snow was forecasted for the later part of the game. The snow did fall, but not hard enough to make an impact on the outcome of the game.

“The team did a good job of adjusting to the elements, and the trainers did a good job keeping us warm,” Herrick said. “It doesn’t matter what the weather is; we‘re going to play football.”

Junior quarterback Michael Herrick, who won Big Sky Player of the Week, led the way for the Lumberjacks, completing 30 of 40 passes for 388 yards and one touchdown. 

Herrick tossed a 14-yard screen pass to receiver Ed Berry, who also played a major role in the Lumberjacks’ victory with 12 catches for 182 yards and one touchdown. 

“Montana State has a great defensive front,” said head coach Jerome Souers. “You have to throw the ball if you want to have any success against them. On a day like today, that is tough to do. He made some key throws, and our receivers made some big plays. When we had to, we were productive, and that was the difference.”

Herrick was not the only player using his arm as wide receiver Daiveun Curry-Chapman recorded a touchdown pass. Curry-Chapman took the snap in a five-receiver set, faked the run up the middle, and threw a jump pass to tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick, who dove for the touchdown, giving NAU the lead going into halftime. Herrick set up the score with a 29-yard pass to receiver Curt Sweeney after being sacked on the previous play. 

The third quarter proved as a test for both defenses because neither squad could advance the ball downfield, forcing numerous punts. 

“There weren’t too many adjustments made [at the half],” said safety Matt Estrada. “The ‘D’ was flying around today and keeping players involved. We’re going to feed off this game going into Portland State next week.”

On a fourth down and three, MSU punted, but the ball bounced off of NAU’s returner  and the Bobcats special teams jumped on the ball at the Jacks’ 2-yard line. MSU starting quarterback Mark Iddins then hit receiver Kyle Begger off a play-action pass in the end zone, giving MSU a 10-7 advantage. NAU responded to the touchdown with a seven-play drive, ending with a 17-yard field goal by kicker Matt Myers, after three straight running plays did not produce a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, NAU took the lead for good, going 74 yards on a 12-play drive for another Myers field goal, this one from 19 yards out. A little over four minutes later, the Bobcats muffed a punt return and the Jacks’ Matt Estrada jumped on the ball, setting up the touchdown from Herrick to Berry.

The NAU defense, hampered by injuries, also stepped up big, forcing five total turnovers. After allowing a field goal to the Bobcats at the end of the first quarter, the Lumberjack defense contained Iddins and the rest of the offense until the 2-yard pass play after the punt recovery. That was all the scoring MSU attained. 

“We got a win; that’s the main thing,” Herrick said. “I also think our defense played pretty well.”

The two main leaders for the defense were defensive end Isaac Bond, who recorded four tackles, a sack, and an interception, and linebacker Stevon Thomas, who had seven tackles and an interception.

“We put the emphasis on turnovers this week, and I thought the guys responded,” said head coach Jerome Souers. “They did a great job of stripping at the ball and created some great opportunities for our team. When it is cold and nasty out, you gotta have great defense. I thought we had that today.”