Football’s Bauman. Myers Earn National Honors

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Freshman running back Zach Bauman earned a pair of national awards for his performance in the season opener against Western New Mexico. The native of Chandler, Ariz., and Hamilton High School product was named The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS National Freshman of the Week and Division I FCS Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards on Monday.

A true freshman, Bauman rushed for 167 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries as Northern Arizona beat Western New Mexico, 48-0, in his collegiate debut. He scored three times in the first half and then raced for a 66-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving him an FCS-leading 24 points after the first week of action.

It was the most yards by a freshman under Head Coach Jerome Souers in a debut and most by a freshman at NAU since Deonte Williams rushed for 194 yards against Idaho State in 2008. He ranks first in the Big Sky and third in the FCS overall in rushing after the first week. It was the second-best performance by a freshman in Division I in the opening week thru games of Sept. 4.

Bauman was also the Running Back Performer of the Week, while kicker Matt Myers was selected a Placekicker Performer of the Week by the CFPA. The purpose of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.

Bauman joined Appalachian State quarterback DeAndre Presley, Gardner-Webb linebacker Jeffery Williams and Southern special teams performer Corey Cushingberry as The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS National Players of the Week for the season-opening games which ended Sept. 5.

The Lumberjacks dropped one spot in the FCS Coaches Poll to No. 24 despite the 48-0 shutout victory in the opener.

NAU travels to play at in-state rival Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium. The game is televised by Fox Sports Arizona Plus (Cox Phoenix - 608 (high definition) & 108 (standard definition), DISH - 450 (HD & SD), DirecTV - 680 (HD & SD). The Lumberjack Radio Network will broadcast the game on 105.1 FM The Big Talker in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott with live streaming available at http://www.bigtalkerradio.com.