Even after the two previous last-minute wins against Southern Utah, the Lumberjack football team still had some magic left on Saturday.

Despite trailing most of the game, NAU got the ball with about six and a half minutes to go and drove down the field by coverting two third downs, including at 32-yard pass from quarterback Michael Herrick to wide receiver Austin Shanks. The big play set up a 15-yard touchdown pass to running back Zach Bauman two plays later to take the lead for good in a 26-23 win in Cedar City, Utah.

But, like the past two games, the Thunderbirds (1-4) were in it until the end. With three minutes left, Southern Utah quarterback Brad Sorensen competed four consecutive passes to bring his team to the Jacks' 35-yard line.

A two-yard rush and an incomplete pass later, Sorensen connected with receiver Tysson Poots, but the Thunderbirds were called for holding and moved out of field goal range. Poots dropped a pass in end zone on third-and-18 to set up an fourth-down desperation play. The Jacks (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky Conference) brought the house and hit Sorensen as his pass fell harmlessly on the ground.

"It seems like the type of game we end up having with these guys," NAU coach Jerome Souers said after the game.

While the Jacks surrendered a large lead in last year's game in Flagstaff, they had to come from behind on Saturday. On the third play of scrimmage, Herrick's pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

The Jacks went three and out on their ensuing possession and the Thunderbirds kicked a 47-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead early in the first quarter.

NAU was able to move the ball on its second drive, though, and responded with a three-yard score by Bauman.

NAU kicker Matt Myers missed two field goals (47, 48 yards) on two of the following possessions, including one after safety Matt Estrada forced a fumble on Southern Utah's punt return.

Shortly after the second missed kick, Southern Utah running back Austin Minefee broke free for a 50-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead. Before halftime, Myers made his first field goal to bring NAU back within a touchdown.

While the first half couldn't have started much worse for Jacks, the second couldn't have started better. After holding the Thunderbirds to a three-and-out, Estrada received the punt and saw a wide-open field in front of him, and ran 66 yards to bring the score within one as Myers missed the extra point.

"There was great blocking on the play," Estrada said. "There was a huge hole. Anyone could have scored on that one. I knew I had to spark our team some way."

Brian Hunter intercepted Sorensen the following drive and Myers connected on a 30-yard field goal to give NAU its first lead, 19-17.

It wouldn't hold up, though, as Estrada muffed his punt return a few possessions later. The Thunderbirds recovered and only needed 19 yards to retake the lead, 23-19.

"They never quit, they never go away," linebacker Scott McKeever said. "They give us trouble every time we play them.

"It always comes down to that last drive."

It almost didn't. On the first play of the Jacks' ensuing drive, NAU tight end Drew Emanuel caught his first pass of the season and then fumbled, giving the Thunderbirds the ball at the 31 -- but they missed a field goal.

Two possessions later, the Jacks marched down the field for the winning score.

"We found out a lot about our team today," McKeever said. "They gave us a lot of trouble, but we fought through it and kept it going.

"If we fix all the gaps we had today, we're going to be a very tough team to beat."

Although the game showed the type of character the Jacks exhibit, there's definite improvement to be made.

"Really, a sloppy game, which hasn't been our nature," Souers said. "I think we're a better team than that."

Souers pointed out the inability to tackle in the first half, and the turnovers, as things to address in practice. Minefee ran wild in the first half, gaining 105 yards on eight carries, but finished the game with 140 on 19.

On offense, a few linemen were injured at different points in the game, which didn't help NAU establish much consistency. Still, Bauman had 109 yards on 24 carries while Herrick was 23-of-35 passing for 244 yards.

"Offensively, we sputtered here and there, we moved the ball a little bit, but then we killed ourselves with penalties and missed throws," Herrick said.

Despite the continuing hiccups, the Jacks were able to get it done when it counted the most.

"It's these types of games that make the season," Estrada said.

Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.