The Lumberjacks received the ball to start the game but on the second play of the game, Miles Killebrew intercepted the ball and took it to the NAU 20. The Thunderbirds would get down to the NAU three yard line but couldn't punch it in and were forced to kick a field goal to go up 3-0 early.
On their next possession, NAU would capitalize on a few Thunderbird mistakes to go up 7-3 on a Chase Cartwright to Casey Jahn 11-yard touchdown pass. After punts by both teams, running back Pete Williams would spark the SUU offense with a couple big runs to setup a 56-yard touchdown pass from Olsen to Mike Sharp. That's the way the first quarter would end with the Thunderbirds up 10-7.
NAU would respond with a great drive to start the second quarter, but a fake field goal by NAU would be stopped and SUU would take over at their own 3-yard line. The Thunderbirds would go for it on fourth down on their next possession and NAU's defense would hold up and take over on downs. After a couple of first downs, James Cowser would beat the left tackle and get to the quarterback where he would also force a fumble and then recover it himself. SUU would convert another fourth down attempt but a missed field goal would send both teams to the locker rooms at the half, SUU leading 10-7.
Both teams were forced to punt to start the second half but an Ammon Olsen interception would give the ball to NAU in SUU territory. A great three and out forced by the SUU defense would make the Lumberjacks punt the ball. SUU would drive the ball to the NAU 3-yard line where they would fake a field goal with Easton Pederson getting tackled at the 2-yard line where NAU would take over.
On the next play, Chinedu Ahanonu would fly into the backfield and make the tackle for the safety to put SUU up 12-7. SUU received the kick and convert an important fourth and five to keep the drive alive. Jarom Healey would punch it in from the 1-yard line to give SUU a 19-7 lead.
SUU's defense would hold the NAU offense on a fourth down and one to take the ball over on downs. The SUU offense then drove the ball deep into SUU territory and Trevor McGirr kicked a 39-yard field goal to push the score to 22-7. NAU's offense needed just 28 seconds to put the ball in the end zone after the field goal as Cartwright would find Elijah Marks for 35-yards to make the score 22-14. NAU would try an onside kick but the ball rolled out of bounds and the Thunderbirds would take a knee to run the clock out and seal the victory in Flagstaff.
The key to the game was SUU's run game. SUU outrushed the Lumberjacks 166 to 78 with Pete Williams leading the way with 49 yards on just 8 touches. Healey added 46 yards and a touchdown and Olsen kicked in 39 yards.
Receiving for SUU continued to shine as Mike Sharp had five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Chris Robinson added 57 yards on seven catches and Brady Measom had an excellent game with four catches for 47 yards.
Olsen would finish 28-42 for 298 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He found 10 different receivers on the day, spreading the ball around and completing 67 percent of his passes.
Defensively this was one of the most complete games the Thunderbirds have played. Ahanonu finished the game with nine total tackles but the star today was James Cowser. Cowser finished the game with four tackles including three tackles for loss and one sack. He had two hurry ups and one forced fumble and fumble recovery. Tyler Collet had his best game of the year with eight total tackles.
This wraps up the season for the Thunderbirds as they finish the season with a win and momentum heading into the offseason.
