FLAGSTAFF (AZFamily) \u2014 College football is just weeks away, and Arizona teams are deep in preseason prep.<\/p>\n
Northern Arizona University\u2019s football team is wrapping up preseason prep at 7,000 feet with the San Francisco Peaks as their backdrop. Soon, the Skydome will be filled as the Lumberjacks defend their turf.<\/p>\n
Last year, NAU made the playoffs for the first time in years. Now they are trying to build on that success and bring home a trophy.<\/p>\n
Coach Brian Wright is going into his second year as head coach. Last year, he led the team to its first playoff appearance since 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cA rough start to the season, played some tough opponents, but we learned a lot about ourselves and finished the season strong,\u201d Wright said. \u201cWe need to get better. We need to get bigger, and stronger, and faster.<\/p>\n
The team lost in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting knocked out early, getting shut out that first round of the playoffs hurt,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n
This year, Wright and his players have bigger goals and new strategies to get there.<\/p>\n
The team is also ranked for the first time since 2016 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25, at No. 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our guys came back this offseason really hungry,\u201d he said. \u201cNot that we\u2019re putting more emphasis on special teams, but we\u2019re asking a lot more of the top players.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also brought a new coaching staff and transfer players, including quarterback Ty Pennington.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think he\u2019s an unbelievable coach,\u201d Pennington said. \u201cHe\u2019s a great person, and you know, just the connection we\u2019ve made. I\u2019ve known him for like four years now.<\/p>\n
Pennington followed Coach Wright from Pittsburgh State.<\/p>\n
It paid off as Pennington was named the conference\u2019s newcomer of the year and is leading the team this year as captain.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally just try to be the best quarterback I can be and be the best leader I can be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
By the energy on the practice field, you can tell the team is exhilarated for the season to begin.<\/p>\n
Now, Wright said, they just want to get more of Flagstaff to fill the stands.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to defend the dome after being undefeated last year, so we have a lot riding on it and we need the entire community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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