The Southern Utah football team is a program NAU can't seem to shake. Today's noon contest is the third matchup between the two teams in as many years and the Lumberjacks (2-1, 1-0 Big Sky Conference) have slipped away with a win each time.
The Jacks saw their large lead erased in last year's 42-39 victory after the Thunderbirds rallied for 22 points in the fourth quarter. The year before, NAU cornerback K.J. Gerard intercepted a pass in the end zone in the final minute to preserve a 19-14 win.
Although the Thunderbirds are 1-3 after narrowly losing to Football Bowl Series teams Wyoming and San Jose State, NAU is expecting another tough matchup against a team that's hoping to make its way into the Big Sky.
"They have been for 12 years," NAU coach Jerome Souers said. "They've always been a candidate to get into the conference."
NAU defensive backs coach Andy LaRussa knows why the Thunderbirds tend to play the Jacks so tough. He graduated from Southern Utah in 2002 and lost to NAU twice in his playing career.
"Southern Utah always feels that they're thought less of, like a little brother, because they're not in the Big Sky and they don't have all the things that NAU does," LaRussa said. "They have a chip on their shoulder and they want to beat NAU."
But with the conference landscape continuing to shift -- earlier this week the Western Athletic Conference said Montana is on its short list of potential new members -- Southern Utah may finally get its chance to join the Big Sky after being an independent for so long.
The Jacks think Southern Utah's a natural fit, as the two teams are close in proximity and have developed into non-conference rivals over the past few years. It's a move that would be mutually beneficial to both schools as the two are one of a few programs within driving distance.
"It's a geographic game," Souers said. "A lot of the players know each other and it's been a great rivalry for us."
LaRussa experienced the Jacks' side of the rivalry last year. Today's game in Cedar City marks the first time LaRussa visits his alma mater as an opposing coach. Although he roots for Southern Utah every other week of the season, there aren't any conflicting emotions for him.
"Once the whistle blows on Saturday, I don't care who we're playing, I want to beat them," he said.
Last season's win in Flagstaff also helped LaRussa deal with some mixed emotions and believes it better prepared him for today's game.
"You get that normal anxiousness before a game, but I think there's a little bit of excitement this time," LaRussa said. "I think the trip would be a little more enjoyable if they weren't as good as they are."
Despite the record, the Thunderbirds have played competitively in each of their games, most notably against Wyoming and San Jose State, whom they lost to by a single score.
They're led by quarterback Brad Sorensen, a sophomore transfer from BYU, who's competed 90 of 152 passes for 1,037 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. His primary receiver is senior preseason All-American Tysson Poots, who's caught 26 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns.
Last year, Poots helped rally the comeback after catching six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, as did junior running back Austin Minefee, who caught two touchdown passes in the final minutes.
As exciting as those games were, the Jacks hope to make today's game a bit less gut-wrenching. Still, they may have to get used to playing these border-rivalry games on an annual basis.
"It's fun every year when you get those last-second wins," senior center Jeff Hines said. "But, it's also bad on the heart."
Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.
