Players to Watch: Wildcats vs Lumberjacks

Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats mascot Wilbur the Wildcat against the Boise State Broncos in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A different Arizona rivalry will take place Saturday night as the No. 20 Arizona Wildcats take on the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks in Tucson.

Normally, all the hype is surrounded by the Arizona State – Arizona rivalry, but this weekend, NAU will be no easy match for the team down south.

Both teams are a perfect 2-0 this season despite some significant injuries on the part of Arizona. The Lumberjacks, meanwhile, have played terrific football in the first two weeks of the season. Led by freshman quarterback Case Cookus, NAU has averaged 482.5 total yards and 37 points in wins over Stephen F. Austin and the New Mexico Highlands.

Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez called the Lumberjacks a really good team and said his team struggled against them a couple of years ago when they met in 2013.

Still, the Wildcats shutout the Lumberjacks 35-0 in that meeting to conquer their 11th straight series win against NAU. That was also the last time Arizona has shutout an opponent.

Despite their success so far this season, NAU is winless in Tucson. Overall, the Lumberjacks are 1-12 against Arizona with their lone win coming in 1932.

So will their 83-year drought come to an end? We’ll have to see come game time Saturday night.

Until then, take a look at some of the players who might make an impact in the latest match up.

Next: Player No. 1