FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.
— Ty Pennington led Northern Arizona to a 30-18 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday, throwing for 312 yards and connecting for a touchdown while also contributing a rushing touchdown.

Seth Cromwell supported the effort with a remarkable 112 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground for the Lumberjacks, who now hold an impressive record of 8-4 and 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Arizona has extended its winning streak to five games, with hopes of securing an at-large invitation to the upcoming FCS playoffs.

Eastern Washington, who fell to 4-8 overall with a 3-5 conference record, briefly took an 18-17 lead late in the third quarter after Soren McKee split the uprights for a field goal. However, Northern Arizona quickly responded with a 6-yard touchdown run from Cromwell, though they were unsuccessful in converting a subsequent two-point attempt.

The Eagles managed an 11-play drive but ultimately turned the ball over on downs at the Lumberjacks’ 34-yard line with 8:46 left to play. Northern Arizona capitalized on this opportunity by orchestrating a decisive 12-play, 66-yard drive, capped off by Pennington’s 12-yard rushing touchdown with just 2:17 remaining in the contest.

Pennington completed 15 of his 29 passing attempts, contributing to Northern Arizona’s substantial total of 539 offensive yards. Tay Lanier shone with five receptions amounting to 122 yards, while Kolbe Katsis added three catches for 130 yards, both securing a touchdown in the process.

On the other side, Jared Taylor of Eastern Washington threw for two touchdowns, finishing the game with 301 passing yards. This performance came after a previous week in which the team amassed an astonishing 77 points and 478 rushing yards. One of Taylor’s touchdown passes was a notable 67-yard connection with Efton Chism III, who had an impressive 13 catches that netted 119 yards.

Chism, a senior with a remarkable record of catching a pass in every game of his career, has established himself as the FCS leader with 120 receptions totaling 1,311 yards, thus breaking Cooper Kupp’s previous school record for receptions in a single season.