FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Over the last two seasons, Northern Arizona’s football team has a 9-2 record at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, a home-field advantage that stems at least in part from its elevation.
At 6,880 feet above sea level, the Skydome sits just a few hundred feet lower than Division I football’s highest stadium, War Memorial in Laramie, Wyoming (7,220).
“Playing at that elevation is no joke,” said EWU redshirt senior defensive end Ben Voigtlaender, who played in Flagstaff two years ago. “But you know, at the same time, familiarity is a real thing. … a good number of us are going to walk in there and it won’t be too new to us.”
Five of Eastern’s starters on defense participated in Eastern’s 30-18 loss in Flagstaff in 2024. So did senior kicker Soren McKee.
“It’s a factor. It’s going to play,” McKee said of the altitude.
But, he said, so does experience. And so does the dome at Walkup.
“It puts your mind at ease when you don’t have to deal with the external factors of the wind,” McKee said. “And in terms of elevation, you’ll see a little more juice out of all the kicks.”
A little juice and momentum are exactly what the Eagles are looking to get out of this weekend’s season opener – a Big Sky game for just the fourth time in program history.
Here are three aspects of Saturday’s game to keep an eye on as the Eagles try to win in Flagstaff for the first time since 2018:
### 1\. How well does Bell perform?
Redshirt junior Nate Bell won the starting quarterback job after a strong preseason camp and a consistent performance in spring ball despite the fact that redshirt sophomore Jake Schakel, his top backup, started two games at the end of last season after Bell had started seven times.
But Schakel, who was injured and did not play in the season finale at Cal Poly, is still in the mix going forward.
“We’ve got to play free,” EWU head coach Aaron Best said after last week’s scrimmage, before the depth chart, with Bell atop it, was officially released. “We’re still putting our resume together. … We feel good about both (Bell and Schakel), but right now Nate would (get) the nod.”
Bell proved last season he could run the ball, leading the team with 663 yards rushing. But his completion percentage of 53.7% (94 of 175) ranked 13th among eligible Big Sky quarterbacks, and he threw seven touchdowns and six interceptions and 1,003 yards.
Last season Schakel appeared in four games and completed 69% of his throws (105 of 152) for four touchdowns, three interceptions and 997 yards.
### 2\. Early success on special teams?
It was three games into last season that McKee first attempted a field goal and one more before he made one. He only missed twice all season – making 11 – but there also were times Best kept the offense on the field on fourth down when it stood at the edge of McKee’s range.
After kicking on grass most of the preseason, McKee and the rest of the team were able to get back on Roos Field for practice this week, something McKee said was important.
“It was much better than on the grass,” McKee said. “It was just like we never left.”
The Eagles will also be breaking in a new full-time kick and punt returner, with redshirt senior wide receiver Wesley Garrett getting the nod at both. Redshirt sophomore wide out Jaxon Branch is listed next to Garrett at punt return; sophomore receiver David Cabrera is expected to be back with Garrett on kickoffs.
Luke Faccone, a sophomore, will handle punts after backing up Landon Ogles a season ago.
### 3\. Who wins turnover battle?
Northern Arizona gave away just 10 turnovers last season, 10th fewest in the FCS, and it finished plus-3 in the overall turnover margin. Eastern took away more – it had 22 – but also gave away the football 18 times.
A big reason for that ball control was NAU quarterback Ty Pennington, who only threw four interceptions in 2025, twice as many as he had in 2024.
The Eagles are hoping to improve upon their turnover total from a year ago while also getting better on third downs: Last year, they allowed opponents to convert on 42.9% of the time.
Since 2010, Eastern is 77-10 when winning the turnover margin; it was 3-2 in such games last season and had a positive turnover margin in four of its final five games.