After leading the Northern Arizona football team to a 45-17 victory in his third career start, quarterback Ty Pennington has been honored as the Big Sky Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week. This is the first weekly award for the Lumberjacks this season and marks Pennington’s inaugural recognition in his young career. It’s also the first time an NAU quarterback has received Player of the Week honors since RJ Martinez in 2021.
In the game, Pennington completed 8 of 14 pass attempts for 123 yards and threw two touchdowns, connecting with Isaiah Eastman for a 31-yard score and Ta’ir Brooks for an eight-yard touchdown, helping NAU score on six consecutive drives. Notably, he has not thrown an interception in three straight games.
The Sand Springs, Oklahoma native also excelled in the rushing game, recording 67 yards on nine carries with a long of 19, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He scored twice on two-yard runs, contributing to four of NAU’s six touchdowns. Collectively, the Lumberjacks out-gained Utah Tech in rushing yards 339 to 111.
Pennington achieved career-highs in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, and passing touchdowns during this game.
Transferring from Pittsburg State, where he was coached by first-year NAU head coach Brian Wright, Pennington is just a sophomore and has started all three games for the Lumberjacks this season. He has completed 29 of 47 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, while amassing 140 rushing yards on 24 carries and adding three rushing touchdowns.
With a 2-1 record, NAU is celebrating its best start since 2019. The team will next travel to San Antonio, Texas to face No. 13/14 Incarnate Word on Saturday, Sept. 21, to conclude non-conference play, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on ESPN+.
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