A first worth savoring
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=77858By ED ODEVEN
Sun Sports Staff
11/30/2003
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McNeese State cornerback Keith Smith (24) and Northern Arizona receiver Clarence Moore (6) jump for a pass in the end zone during the first quarter of an NCAA Division I-AA playoff game Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, in Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/Rick Hickman). LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Cowboy Stadium, located on the campus of McNeese State University, is known to locals as "The Hole."
Perhaps today's the day to rename it The Place Where Cowboys Leave Crying. For that's what McNeese State and their fans did Saturday night following an atypical, pathetic effort.
Meanwhile, Northern Arizona freshman quarterback Jason Murrietta completed 24 of 34 passes for 285 yards and five touchdowns as the Lumberjacks upset No. 1 McNeese State 35-3 Saturday before 14,300 for their first ever Division I-AA playoff victory. Murrietta established a NCAA Division I-AA for freshman quarterbacks with 27 TD passes, mark previously held by Marcus Brady of Cal State-Northridge (26) in 1998.
NAU (9-3) advances to play Florida Atlantic in the second round of the Division I-AA playoffs next Saturday at the Skydome. The Owls, who are coached by former Miami and Oklahoma mentor Howard Schnellenberger, defeated Bethune-Cookman 32-24 Saturday.
"This is a big accomplishment for our players and our coaches," NAU coach Jerome Souers said. "I'm proud of them. To play a program steeped in playoff tradition and to dominate them is something special."
The Cowboys (11-2) had been ranked No. 1 in the country for 12 straight weeks, but they did not play like the nation's best team. Mental miscues were a problem all evening.
"They came in here and did the things you need to do to win a playoff game on the road," McNeese State coach Tommy Tate said. "It's a disappointing end to our season. But I'm very proud of our team.
"We didn't make the plays we needed to make against a very good Northern Arizona team."
After both teams punted on each of their first two possessions, the Lumberjacks started marching down the field midway through the first quarter, starting at their own 31. Murrietta zipped a 9-yard TD pass to Chris Nash in the back of the end zone on third down to give NAU a 7-0 lead with 2:19 to go in the quarter.
Twenty-five yards in penalties, including a dead-ball personal foul by MSU helped the Jacks' cause during that first scoring drive. And Murrietta showcased his elusive running abilities, dancing his way for a 13-yard pickup and shaking off four tacklers for a key first-down pickup.
"Jason once again did a great job leading the team," Nash said. "He did what he's done all season."
The Lumberjacks' offense did a solid job of involving all of their playmakers in the mix in the opening stanza, with receivers Nash, Johnny Marshall and Clarence Moore, running backs Roger Robinson and Ryan Williams and tight ends Tom Winn and Josh Hamlin all picking up yardage. That helped NAU control the ball for 11:03 in the first quarter, reminiscent of the Jacks' first-half effort at Portland State in September that was highlighted by an 18-play opening drive.
An 11-yard TD strike from Murrietta to Ramen Green, a Sinagua High School graduate, made it 14-0 with 12:58 remaining in the second quarter.
A 15-yard personal foul on MSI was added to the end of a 16-yard punt return by Marshall to give NAU the ball at the Cowboys 11. Then Green, a fourth-year junior, made the first TD grab of his college career.
The Cowboys answered with a 12-play, 73-yard drive capped by John Marino's 27-yard field goal to make it 14-3 with 8:23 left in the second quarter.
NAU countered with a 7-yard TD pass from Murrietta to Clarence Moore to increase the score to 21-3 with 5:28 left before halftime.
"I've got to give credit to the entire team," Murrietta said. "We executed as a group, offensively, defensively and on special teams. We did what we had to do."
Marshall's 38-yard kickoff return -- a superb blend of upfield blocking and Marshall's sprinter speed to the outside (remember he's also starred for Ron Mann's Lumberjack track teams) -- put the Lumberjacks in good field position at their own 44.
NAU took a commanding 28-3 lead with 3:06 to go in the third quarter when Murrietta hit Marshall for a 5-yard TD strike.
NAU completed the scoring on Murrietta's 8-yard TD pass to Nash with 7:40 remaining. The play was a microcosm of the season, as Murrietta dashed around, bought time and didn't appear fazed -- all the instincts freshman QBs aren't supposed to have.
Quietly, the Lumberjacks defense played a brilliant game. MSU was held to 190 total yards and controlled the clock for just 20:37. Vick King, a 1,000-yard rusher for two years in a row, was held to 81 yards on 16 carries and the Cowboys amassed 58 yards on 28 carries. Their passing attack never got into a rhythm, either, and finished 11-for-28.
A slew of Lumberjacks led the defensive charge, including Brent Daniels and Jason Jacobs with a team-high five tackles apiece, Doug Harding with four stops and a sack. Linebackers Vince Henman and Ian Gunderman and end John Perrigo both added two tackles for loss.
"It's a new season and we started it by beating the No. 1 team in the nation at home. É Defense wins championships," Gunderman said.