NAU FOOTBALL

FLAGSTAFF — To extend its season and unbeaten home record today, Northern Arizona will have to overcome one of the few running backs in the nation with a greater statistical output than the Lumberjacks’ Zach Bauman.

Junior Zach Zenner leads the No. 13 South Dakota State Jackrabbits, finishing third in the nation with 141.3 rushing yards per game and sixth in the nation with 162.17 all-purpose yards per game. Zenner also scored 22 total touchdowns this season, 20 coming on the ground.

“He is a remarkable back. It’s funny nowadays when you look at the difference between FCS and FBS — the FCS level is getting these guys that have tremendous talent,” NAU coach Jerome Souers said.

“His mobility, his vision, his ability to impact the game are pretty phenomenal.”

The Lumberjacks rely heavily on Bauman, but the Jackrabbits count on Zenner even more. He rushed for100 or more yards in 11 of 12 games this season. The lone failure came against No. 1 North Dakota State, which ranked third in the country against the run this season.

Though Zenner is sure to challenge NAU’s 36th-ranked rushing defense, the Lumberjacks and Bauman should have little problem moving the ball against the Jackrabbits’ 57th-ranked rush defense.

“The beauty of the playoffs (is) you’re going to end up play- ing people who show you different things. It just so happens we are an awful lot alike,” Souers said. “When you look at teams like us and them, how you integrate the pass into the run game is going to make the difference.”

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. The winner will travel to Eastern Washington on Dec. 7 for the second round of the FCS playoffs.