Arizona kicks off its 2004 football season on Saturday, September 5th against the NAU Lumberjacks. Because of the fact that NAU is a Division I-AA school, not much is known about the Lumberjacks. In our first preview, GOAZCATS.com will familiarize fans with NAU’s offense.

Head Coach: Jerome Souers

2003 Record: 9-4

Conference finish: Co-Big Sky Champions

Division 1-AA finish: Lost in quarterfinals to Florida Atlantic

Returning starters on offense: 3

Players drafted: 1, WR Clarence Moore, 6th round, Baltimore Ravens

Total offense: 423.5 yards per game

Passing offense: 281.5 yards per game

Rushing offense: 110.5 yards per game

Scoring offense: 31.5 points per game

Projected starters:

QB: Jason Murrietta, So. *

RB: Roger Robinson, Sr. *

WR: Kory Mahr, Fr.

WR: Simirone Wade, Jr.

TE: Josh Hamlin, Sr.

HB: Brian Buzzard, So.

LT: Jake Sanders, So. *

LG: Paul An, Jr.

C: Julian Diaz, Jr.

RG: Cisco Peralta, Jr.

RT: Shane Sandau, Jr.

Outlook:

NAU, ranked 3rd in Division I-AA by Street & Smith’s, returns only three starters from a very successful offensive season in 2003. QB Jason Murrietta, RB Roger Robinson and OT Jake Sanders are all that are left from an NAU team that averaged 423.5 total yards of offense a game last season.

While NAU’s losses on offense are significant, the most important player in the team, and probably in the Big Sky Conference, returns to Flagstaff for his sophomore season. As a freshman, Jason Murrietta won the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year award and was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.

Last year, Murrietta broke the NCAA I-AA record for touchdown passes as a freshman with 29. His 147.2 rating in overall passing efficiency was second in the conference and 11th in the country. For the season, Murrietta had only 12 interceptions to his 29 touchdowns, 243 completions out of 412 passes for a 59% completion percentage, and threw for a total of 3,472 yards.

While Murietta’s numbers were certainly impressive, the talented quarterback is going to have to find some new targets to throw to in 2004. NAU’s top two receivers in Johnny Marshall and Clarence Moore have graduated. Together, the two combined for 67% of Murrietta’s 3,472 total yards with 2,330 themselves.

Murrietta’s backup is Keoni Akina, son of former Arizona coach Duane Akina. Akina redshirted last season but is thought to be a capable backup for Murrietta, should the starter go down to injury.

In fact, NAU’s returning receivers combined to catch a total of 585 yards from Murrietta last year, only 16.8% his total completions. 6-6 redshirt freshman Kory Mahr will be asked to step in for Moore as one of NAU’s top playmakers.

Senior Roger Robinson will return as NAU’s running back. Last season, Robinson finished second in the Big Sky by averaging 100.6 yards yards per game and was third in total rushing yards with 1,107.

Backup to Robinson will be junior Philo Sanchez, son of Sunnyside head coach Richard Sanchez. In 2001, Sanchez was the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen player of the year. Last season, Sanchez rushed 20 times for 76 yards.

NAU lost four of its five starting offensive linemen from last season with only LT Jake Sanders, who missed spring practice, returning. Head coach Jerome Souers will be counting on four offensive linemen without a lot of experience to protect Murrietta and create holes for Robinson.

Senior Josh Hamlin will be the starter at tight end and has made some spot starts in the past. Hamlin played in all 13 games last season, catching 10 passes for 93 yards.

NAU’s offense should be the strength of its team once again, but the Lumberjacks have several holes to fill if the team expects to duplicate 2003’s success. Jason Murrietta will have to find some capable receivers to throw to and Roger Robinson will be expected to continue his success in the backfield.

GOAZCATS.com will continue previewing Arizona’s season opener against Northern Arizona throughout the week.

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