After losing the Beehive Bowl trophy at Southern Utah, Weber State took back the Train Bell Trophy from Idaho State to start 1-1 in trophy games. WSU currently holds the Red Rock Rivalry trophy after beating a ranked NAU team in last year’s season finale.

That decision pushed NAU out of the playoff picture. This season, NAU is vying for the conference title while Weber State is the team on the playoff bubble.

A young, turnover-prone but otherwise successful offense at Weber State will have to face the country’s No. 1 takeaway defense. NAU has 21 takeaways and is third nationally in turnover margin.

“It will be assignment-sound football on the defensive side. Not only establish a little bit of pressure if we can, but maybe continue to try and hurry up the process,” NAU head coach Brian Wright told the Big Sky this week about affecting quarterback Nate Dahle. “He does such a great job, I think, of getting the football out quickly. He’s difficult to sack, he’s difficult to really affect because of how quickly he gets it out.

“They do a great job in their quick game and their vertical game. They get the ball downfield very effectively. So it’s going to take all three layers of the defense working together.”

Here’s more about the Big Sky Conference’s designated game of the week.

MEET THE LUMBERJACKS

Northern Arizona has tons of success largely because the ‘Jacks have senior Ty Pennington (No. 6) behind center yet again. NAU’s third-year starter has thrown for 88 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 34 career games. This season, he’s at 232 yards per game on 64% completion, totaling 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.

“Their quarterback’s a big-time player that’s played a lot of football, a lot of starts, lot of experience,” WSU head coach Eric Kjar said about Pennington. “We’re going to have to be good in all three phases. They’re playing probably as hot as anybody is in the country right now.”

Pennington has done that while throwing to a mostly new cast of guys. Joey Stout (No. 3) is the stick-mover, leading the team at six receptions and 63.9 yards per game. At tight end, Jeter Purdy (No. 89) has been the biggest of their big-play threats, averaging 17.2 yards per catch and 55 yards per game with a team-high five touchdowns. And 6-foot-2 Myseth Currie (No. 4) has three TDs and averages 44 yards per game.

Those three are part of a group of six pass-catchers with long receptions of at least 44 yards.

Quran Gossett (No. 10) rushes for 70 yards per game and has seven touchdowns, recently running for 131 yards at Southern Utah. But Pennington does work on the ground, too, averaging 49.6 net rushing yards per game to go with eight touchdowns. In the last two weeks, Pennington has 23 carries for 202 yards.

Fifth-year safety Shoes Brinkley (No. 1) is NAU’s clear tackles leader with 70. Defensive lineman Devin Murphy (No. 35) has racked up 7.5 sacks with two forced fumbles. While NAU’s takeaway prowess is largely spread across the defense, cornerback Jahaad Fort (No. 3) has three interceptions.

On special teams, freshman running back Lindsey Graves (No. 13) has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season. Sebastian Miles (No. 91) averages 45.2 yards per punt, while Francisco Odruno Jr. is 8 of 11 on field goals with a long of 55 yards.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Through 10 games, Weber State averages 36.1 points per game (13th nationally) on 434.9 yards (15th nationally), including 6.3 yards per play. Defensively, WSU has allowed 32.5 points per game on 453.6 yards, including 5.9 yards per play.

The six-turnover debacle in Game 4 and general QB turnover propensity still has the Wildcats well behind in turnover margin at minus-nine, losing 22 giveaways (13 interceptions, nine fumbles) while gaining 13 (seven interceptions, six fumbles).

WSU has also blocked six kicks this season (third nationally): three PATs, two field goals and one punt. WSU has scored one touchdown each on kickoff return, punt return, blocked punt and blocked field goal this season. WSU leads the Big Sky (seventh nationally) in red-zone defense with opponent conversion at 68.2%.

Weber is second in the Big Sky with 23 sacks (27th nationally) on defense while allowing 16.

WSU averages 4.5 penalties per game for 42.1 yards.

In 10 games, Northern Arizona scores 32.5 points per game on 406 yards, including 6.4 yards per play. Defensively, NAU has allowed 27.8 points per game on 419 yards, including 6.0 yards per play.

The Lumberjacks have dominated the turnover margin at plus-12, more than making up for allowing a yardage total per game on the higher end. They’ve lost just nine turnovers (four interceptions, five fumbles) while gaining 21 takeaways (12 interceptions, nine fumbles).

NAU has recorded 19 sacks defensively while allowing 12.

The ‘Jacks average 5.6 penalties per game for 51 yards.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 145 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 266 total teams). Northern Arizona is No. 117. His formula favors NAU by 7.5 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 29 in FCS (128 teams) and Northern Arizona at No. 21. His SP+ formula favors NAU by six points, predicting a Lumberjacks win of 38-32.

D Ratings favors Northern Arizona by 12, predicting a final of 38-26 at 80% probability.

Last time out, Weber State was a one-touchdown underdog hosting UC Davis and won by 24.

WEATHER

Saturday will be 40s and rainy in Flagstaff (just like in Ogden) but, in the conference of domes, Weber State gets its only dome game of the season this week and the dry climate that comes with it.

TV & RADIO

This game can be seen on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service. With longtime voice of the Lumberjacks Mitch Strohman now driving the equipment truck for NAU, it’s newcomer James Malamas paired with longtime color commentator Kevin Stephens on the NAU-produced broadcast.

Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and former WSU player Dave Stireman, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at coast103.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

The most competitive series in the Big Sky is tied 29-29 after downtrodden Weber State and interim head coach Brent Myers stunned ranked Northern Arizona for a 48-28 decision last year in Ogden.

NAU, however, is 20-9 against WSU in Flagstaff and won the last time at home.

The series is 2-2 since the Red Rock Rivalry trophy was introduced before the 2022 matchup.