POCATELLO - The positive vibes from last week's contract extension for head coach John Zamberlin didn't translate onto the field last Saturday as Idaho State suffered a 30-7 home loss to Northern Colorado.

The Bengals (0-7, 0-4 Big Sky Conference) now hit the road and the high altitude of Flagstaff, Ariz., to take on Northern Arizona (4-2, 3-1) - a team ISU hasn't beaten there since 1984. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

Like ISU, the Lumberjacks play in a dome, in high altitude and recruit against bigger in-state schools. But the similarities end in the most important area: wins and losses. NAU is almost always competitive in the Big Sky, and Zamberlin knows why.

"Their head coach Jerome Souers has been there a long time," Zamberlin said. "He's consistent in what he does and the type of program he tries to bring in every season."

Souers is the longest tenured coach in the conference at 12 years.

The Lumberjacks lone conference loss was in overtime to Montana. But they are on a three-game winning streak.

"Their quarterback (Michael Herrick) is a transfer from Ole Miss, he's very good and they are good up front," said Zamberlin.

Herrick is the key to the second-highest scoring offense in the conference as NAU averages 32 points and 430 yards of offense per game. He's also fourth in the FCS division in passing efficiency and is going up against a Bengal defense allowing 42 points a game.

On the ground, Alex Henderson leads NAU with 540 yards and six touchdowns.

Ed Berry has already caught 40 passes and is averaging over 100 receiving yards a game. That offensive balance means it could be another long day in Flagstaff for ISU.

"I don't know why they haven't been able to win in Flagstaff," Zamberlin said. "Maybe it's a mental issue, but I've been telling the players all this week that you have to look within yourselves to get it done. Hard work eventually pays off. We as coaches are going to continue to coach hard, keep working and keep evaluating to see how we can improve."

One area ISU must improve is the run game, which took a step back against Northern Colorado.

Said Zamberlin: "We've got to be able to run the football to win. If you can't run the football, the defense doesn't respect any of your play-action fakes. They just pin their ears back and go after your quarterback."