SACRAMENTO, Calif. — 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.
GAME PREVIEW
Sac State is led by cornerback Elias Mullican, who is coming off a strong game against Texas A&M-Commerce where he received his first career pick that came on a fourth-down play in the first quarter.
Mullican was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week.
Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington, who had a solid game against Incarnate Word Cardinals last weekend, completed 20 of 35 for 247 yards.
Hornets quarterback Carson Conklin, a redshirt freshman, threw a 16-yard touchdown pass and completed 13 of 22 for 154 yards.
Game Details
1 p.m., Saturday, Sep. 28 in Arizona
Watch: The game will be live on ESPN+ streaming services
Listen: ESPN 1320
Watch More on ABC10: More join the campaign for Sacramento State to join the PAC-12
