2003 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
Big Sky co-champion
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 10
Record9–4 (5–2 Big Sky)
Head coach
Home stadiumJ. 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 N 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 30Saint Mary's*
W 44–34,152[4]
September 6at No. 20 (I-A) Arizona State
L 14–3460,069
September 20at No. 22 Portland State
W 23–0
September 27 No. 14 Cal PolyNo. 25
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 24–7
October 4at Weber StateNo. 17
W 48–29
October 11at Sacramento StateNo. 14
W 24–215,107
October 18Eastern WashingtonNo. 14
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 54–31
October 25at Montana StateNo. 10
L 17–21
November 1 No. 10 MontanaNo. 15
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
L 21–5912,821
November 9 No. 22 Idaho StateNo. 20
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 46–31
November 15at Sam Houston StateNo. 18
W 34–182,118[5]
November 29at No. 1 McNeese StateNo. 16
W 35–314,300[2]
December 6 No. 13 Florida AtlanticNo. 16
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)
L 25–489,314[6]

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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Murrietta's 2 TD passes, scoring run propel NAU". Arizona Republic. November 16, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Ed Odeven (December 7, 2003). "Owls – in a hoot". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. B1, B6 – via Newspapers.com.
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