FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Ty Pennington threw two touchdown passes, Ammon Allen returned a fumble for a score and Northern Arizona upset Sacramento State 34-16 in a Big Sky Conference opener on Saturday.
Sacramento State (2-3), ranked 10th in the coaches' poll, managed only three first-half field goals by Zach Schreiner and trailed 10-9 at intermission.
Northern Arizona (3-2) led by four points when Alex McLaughlin sacked Sacramento State quarterback Carson Conklin, forcing a fumble that Allen scooped up and returned 8 yards for a touchdown and a 20-9 advantage. Pennington followed with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tay Lanier 12 seconds later. It came on the first play after Zach Lewis picked off Conklin at the 30-yard line and returned it 17 yards.
Darvon Hubbard added a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter for the Lumberjacks to complete the scoring.
Pennington's 9-yard scoring toss to Bryzai White gave Northern Arizona a 10-6 lead with 3:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Pennington completed 21 of 25 passes for 240 yards. Lanier and White combined for 13 catches and 158 yards.
Conklin totaled 162 yards on 17-for-36 passing with two interceptions and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jared Gipson in the fourth quarter for the Hornets.
NAU also recovered three fumbles and outgained Sac State 355-221.
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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