Northern Colorado Comes up Just Short Against #2 Eastern Washington, 26-18

Saturday, October 18

Cheney, Wash.

2:05 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

2-5 , 1-3

Eastern Washington

7-1 , 4-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

10/18/2014 6:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score

The Bears clawed their way back from 17 point second half deficit, falling just short of the upset bid.

By: UNCBears.com

CHENEY, Wash. - In a game that many thought would be a high scoring affair, defense ruled the day. Northern Colorado (2-5, 1-3 Big Sky) held Eastern Washington (7-1, 4-0 Big Sky), to its lowest scoring game of the season, giving up only three touchdowns to the Eagles in the, 26-18 defeat.

"All the pieces are starting to come together, but it always seems there is something on special teams that sets us back each game," said head coach Earnest Collins Jr. "We cannot continue to shoot ourselves in the foot week after week by making those kinds of mistakes. We dig ourselves into too deep of a whole that we can't climb out of."

Sophomore quarterback Sean Rubalcaba continued to have success at the helm of the offense, going 21-31-1 for 240 yards and touchdown.

Redshirt freshman running back, Brandon Cartagena led the team in rushing on the afternoon, racking up 59 yards and TD, all in one series.

Senior wide out, Dimitri Stimphil led UNC in catches, hauling in five balls for 60 yards.

After deferring the coin toss in front of a sold out crowd at Roos Field, Northern Colorado came out and stopped the Eagles' run-and-gun offense on the opening drive of the game, forcing Eastern Washington to punt. UNC couldn't make good on the defensive stop, going a quick three and out to bring on freshman punter, Bailey Landwehr for his first action of the day.

EWU turned things around midway through the first quarter, traveling 72 yards in nine plays for the first points of the game. Backup quarterback Jordan West found Shaq Hill on a 40-yard pass for pay dirt, taking the early, 7-0 lead with 3:47 remaining in the quarter.

Northern Colorado again had trouble moving the ball, punting the next two drives. Rubalcaba was under fire the majority of the first half, being sacked twice and getting tackled two more times for losses, along with being hurried on a handful of plays.

The first quarter came to an end with the Bears behind by just a touchdown, 7-0.

Eastern Washington would get on the board again early in second quarter, but for just three points. A stout Bears defense made a stand at their own 26-yard line, bringing up the 43-yard field goal try from Tyler McNannay which stayed true through the uprights, giving the Eagles a, 10-0 lead.

The Bears offense finally clicked and put a together a drive, answering the score. UNC drove 69 yards in 14 plays, setting up a freshman kicker, Seth Czapenski 24-yard field goal.

Rubalcaba slowly chipped away at the yardage, connecting on back-to-back passes to junior wide out, Malcolm Whye, and senior running back Robert Holland, good for 14-yards. Rubalcaba continued to pick apart the Eagles secondary, finding sophomore wide receiver, Stephen Miller for 12-yards and another UNC first down. After getting shut down on the previous two plays, Holland came up big with a 23-yard gainer off the running back screen pass, taking UNC deep into EWU territory for the first time all game. The drive was cut short though after the Bears were unable to keep the momentum going, getting stopped at the Eastern Washington 6-yard line. Czapenski came through for UNC putting three points on the board to make it, 10-3 with 3:41 left in the half.

"The offense is slowly getting there," said Collins. "Coach Boyer is making the right calls and we're starting to put up more points on the board and extend drives. That's what we have to do in this conference if we want to be successful."

The small victory was short lived as EWU quickly moved it 70 yards in the two minute drill offense, setting up another McNannay field goal to make it a 13-3, ball game heading into the locker room.

Northern Colorado's offensive struggles continued in the third quarter, going three and out on the opening series of the second half. Landwehr once again came on the field, but this time his punt was blocked by the Eagles, giving EWU excellent field position on the Bears' 30-yard line.

With their back to the end zone the defense fought off the Eastern Washington offense for as long as they could. After a false start call on the Eagles, UNC came up with three straight stops to make it 4th and 13 on the Northern Colorado 15-yard line. EWU brought the field goal unit on looking for the 28-yard attempt, but instead faked the field goal which led to the first Eagles touchdown of the half and putting the Bears into a, 20-3 hole.

After trading possessions, Northern Colorado started its comeback drive with 5:29 to play in the third quarter. On the heels of redshirt freshman running back Brandon Cartagena, the Bears forced their way 84 yards in five plays to make it a, 20-10 game. Cartagena broke free on a 2nd and 6 situation from the EWU 49-yard line and took it all the way to pay dirt. On the drive, Cartagena touched it three times for 59 yards and six points.

UNC would head to the fourth and final quarter trailing, 20-10.

Eastern Washington was quick to return the favor, taking it 65-yards to tack on to their lead. The Eagles stuck to the run game rushing on every play of the drive, capping it off with a one yard run into the end zone by Jalen Moore. The PAT attempt went wide right, giving the eagles a 16 point, 26-10 lead with 13:38 left to play.

The Bears leaned on the passing game to mount another successful drive and the offense didn't disappoint. Stimphil and Rubalcaba connected on the very first play of the series for 16 yards. After a rush from Holland, UNC went right back to the air, this time for a 22-yard reception by junior wide out, Sean Leslie. Rubalcaba connected with Leslie one more time to push the Northern Colorado into EWU territory, setting up a 3rd and 4 on the Eagles' 30-yard line. An incomplete pass brought up fourth down. After getting flushed out of the pocket, Rubalcaba launched a pass deep down field finding junior wide receiver, Malcolm Whye who did the rest, taking it in for the touchdown.

UNC needing two points to make it a single-possession game, sent the offense back on to the field. Rubalcaba faked the hand off to Holland and then swung around and walked into the end zone untouched to cut the deficit to eight, 26-18 with 10:14 remaining in the contest.

"Our team giving up hasn't been an issue all year," said Collins. "I know my guys are going to continue to battle for the full 60 minutes. Rubes [Rubalcaba] did what he had to do to keep our team in the game and I thought he gave it everything he had."

Eastern Washington continued its ground attack, as the clock continued to wind down. After driving it down to the Northern Colorado 31-yard line, The Bears defense had enough in them for one more stop. Two straight rushes from EWU brought up 4th down and 2. UNC sent an all-out blitz, forcing West to throw it early. Junior defensive end, Mikhail Dubose played excellent coverage, breaking up the pass and giving Northern Colorado the ball back on downs.

With 7:07 left on the clock, Northern Colorado began what they hoped to be the game tying drive from their own 21-yard line. After a one-yard rush from Holland, a sack, and a false start on the offense, it was third and long for the Bears. Rubalcaba was again forced from the pocket, but refused to let the play die, breaking three tackles and heaving it to the sideline for Miller. Miller came up with 21-yard catch, but UNC was just shy of the first down. Junior tight end, Leonard Rhodes pounded it up the middle on fourth down for a gain of four, keeping the drive going.

Again Rubalcaba was sacked, forcing a 2nd and 18. The sophomore QB kept it on the next play, dashing up the middle for a gainer of 14, making it 3rd and 4. Rubalcaba hit his senior wide out, Stimphil on a slant route for six more yards, making it 1st and 10 on the UNC 46-yard line.

With momentum on his side, Rubalcaba found Leslie wide open in the middle of the field for another eight yards. Back-to-back incomplete passes brought on another fourth down for the Bears. On a play action pass and the pocket collapsing, Rubalcaba looked for sophomore tight end, Derek Vander Velde, but the pass was intercepted by the Eagles' Victor Gambia, sealing the game for EWU.

Defensively, senior linebacker Dominick Sierra led the Bears in tackles, with 10 stops, including two tackles for a loss. Behind him were redshirt freshman linebacker, James Riddle, sophomore cornerback Brandon Lenoir, and senior defensive end Kyle Todd, all with eight tackles in the loss.

Northern Colorado held Eastern Washington to 417 yards of total offense, a team that averages 517 yards per game.

The Bears return home to Nottingham Field next Saturday, Oct. 25 taking on Idaho State University. Kickoff is in the books for 1:30 p.m.