NAU senior wide receiver Curt Sweeney leaps for a catch against Eastern Washington University on Nov. 21 in the Walkup Skydome. The Jacks lost the game 49-45 and finished the season 5-6. Jennifer Hilderbrand / The Lumberjack

In front of an announced attendance of 5,203 at the Walkup Skydome on Senior Day, the NAU football team lost in a tight contest against Big Sky opponent Eastern Washington by a score of 49-45.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays,” said head coach Jerome Souers. “It was a tough way to finish the season.”

Despite the loss, the Lumberjack offense put up impressive statistics, racking up a total of 747 yards including a school-record 574 passing yards and four touchdowns from junior quarterback Michael Herrick. Senior running back Alex Henderson led NAU’s rushing attack, carrying the ball 31 times for 183 yards and one touchdown.

Senior wide receiver Ed Berry led the way for Lumberjack receivers, hauling in 12 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Despite massive offensive numbers, the Eagle defense managed to force four turnovers by way of two interceptions and two fumbles.

“With our offense, we’re thinking that we’re going to score every time,” said senior tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick.

The NAU defensive unit experienced trouble managing EWU’s offense all game as the Eagles posted 35 points in the first. However, the Jacks held EWU to just 14 points in the second half, allowing NAU’s offense to come back on the field.

“Some of the big plays they had were real costly,” Souers said. “Our defense had to get a few stops to give the offense a chance for a comeback.”

The Lumberjacks scored their first touchdown on a 21-yard strike from Herrick to senior receiver Curt Sweeney, which concluded an eight-play, 80-yard drive to give the Jacks a 10-7 lead. EWU capitalized on an NAU field goal miss with an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-10. On the ensuing NAU possession, Herrick threw his second interception of the game, which was returned for 85 yards and a touchdown to make the score 28-10.

The Jacks responded right back by going 80 yards in nine plays. The score came from a Herrick throw to receiver Daiveun Curry-Chapman for 21 yards. Sweeney’s consecutive catches of 20 and 21 yards to get into EWU territory set up Curry-Chapman’s score. The Eagles answered by scoring two more times late in the half to make the score 35-20. NAU opened the half by forcing an EWU punt, but then turned the ball over inside the Eagle 10-yard line on a fumbled handoff by Herrick. After an Eagle punt, the Lumberjacks drove 64 yards on seven plays with Herrick ending the on a 32-yard touchdown toss to Berry. EWU responded with another touchdown drive to make the score 42-27.

NAU wide receiver Conrad Meadows throws a stiff arm to Eastern Washington defensive back Brett Igbinoba. Matt Beaty / The Lumberjack

The Jacks cut into EWU’s lead with a 6-yard run by Henderson to end a 52-yard drive that put NAU within eight points at 42-34.

Herrick’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Berry gave the Lumberjacks their only lead of the fourth quarter. NAU succeeded in its two-point conversion, and tightly held to a 45-42 lead with 5:20 left to play in the game.However, the Eagles scored their final points of the game on an efficient five-play, 74-yard drive capped off on a 13-yard touchdown pass.

NAU still had a chance to walk away with a victory when they took over at their own 20-yard line with 3:30 left in the game. After driving to the Eagle 32-yard line, Herrick missed a wide-open Henderson on a fourth down with 3 yards to go that would have kept the drive alive.

“I was going to go to Ed [Berry], then I saw Hendo [Henderson] open, but I just overshot him,” Herrick said.

With the loss, the Lumberjacks end the season with a 5-6 record after starting 5-2 with post-season hopes. However, with tough losses on the road to Sacramento State and Weber State and a subsequent loss to Ole Miss dashed all hopes of a playoff run.

“I wish we could’ve won more games, but I’m looking forward to next year,” Herrick said. “The win-loss [record] doesn’t show how good we were, and we were pretty damn good.”

Souers said he agrees with Herrick’s thoughts.

“The end of the schedule was taxing, but [the players] didn’t complain,” Souers said. “The record didn’t [improve] as we had hoped, but I think we set the stage for a great 2010 season.”

Next season, the squad will have close to 30 seniors, and that group will be backed up by a strong junior class.

“We don’t dwell on the negative,” Souers said. “We’re focusing on what we need to do for continued success.”

Senior wide receiver Ed Berry scores a touchdown after slipping out of the hands of EWU’s defensive back Dante Calcote. NAU lost their last game of the season 49-45 in the Walkup Skydome. Jennifer Hilderbrand / The Lumberjack