Bears Outgunned by Idaho State, 46-12

Saturday, October 25

Greeley, Colo.

1:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

2-6 , 1-4

Idaho State

5-3 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

ISU

UNCO

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

10/25/2014 11:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Northern Colorado couldn't match the offensive attack from Idaho State, dropping their third game in a row.

By: UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – The Northern Colorado football team (2-6, 1-4 Big Sky) couldn't snap its losing skid against Idaho State (5-3, 3-1 Big Sky) on Saturday. The Bengals' offensive presence was too much to handle as the Bears dropped the contest, 46-12.

"Facts are the facts and we didn't get it done," Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr., said. "We didn't stay in the game and we were outgunned. For us to stay in this game we would have had to match them offensively and try to hang on defensively. The facts are, and these are not excuses, when you're down five starting line backers like we are, you're going to give up rushing yards like we did today."

Backup junior quarterback, Jonathan Newsom led the UNC passing attack, going 10-19-1 for 171 yards and two touchdowns in just two quarters of play after replacing starting sophomore QB, Sean Rubalcaba in the second half.

Northern Colorado redshirt freshman, Brandon Cartagena once again took top honors in the rush game, gaining 42 yards on six attempts.

Junior wide out, Sean Leslie picked up most of his receptions in the second half, tallying 68 yards on four catches and adding a touchdown in the loss.

In the first quarter of action the Bears had trouble finding their rhythm on offense, punting on all three series.

The Bengals took advantage of UNC's struggles, tacking on 10 points in the quarter on a Zak Johnson field goal and an Xavier Finney rushing touchdown, on a 10-play, 88-yard drive led by a pass heavy attack from ISU QB Justin Arias.

Both squads went back and forth for the majority of the second quarter, but ISU found pay dirt again, this time on the heels of running back, Daniel McSurdy who broke free on a 41-yard rush to pay dirt. Idaho State claimed a, 17-0 lead over the Bears with 4:38 to play in the half.

The Bengals got on the board one more time before the first half was all said and done, as Arias connected with wide receiver, Tyler Graves for six points.
Northern Colorado would head into the locker room down, 24-0.

After getting sacked six times in the first half Rubalcaba's day would come to an end, throwing for just 81 yards and being intercepted once. Coach Collins would give Newsom the go-ahead nod to lead the offense in the second half.

"For whatever reason, Rubes [Rubalcaba] just wasn't seeing it," Collins said. "We came in at halftime and coach Boyer and I decided to give Jon the start in the second half and he proved to do some good things, so we'll do what we always do, go in and evaluate it and go from there."

The moved proved to be a successful one as Newsom delivered, taking the offense 75 yards on six plays and connecting with junior wide out, Stephen Miller for a 36-yard TD pass to give the Bears their first points of the day. UNC elected to go for two, but could not convert making it a 24-6 ball game early in the third quarter.

The celebration was short lived as Idaho State answered the touchdown with one of their own. Arias found receiver, CJ Hatchett for his second touchdown pass of the day on a series that went 82-yards on 12 plays. After a fake PAT attempt, and a roughing the passer call on UNC, Arias found wide out KW Williams on a two-point conversion to make it, 32-6 in favor of the Bengals with 8:44 to play in the third.

Newsom again led UNC to pay dirt, this time connecting with Leslie on a 22-yard catch. The PAT from freshman kicker, Seth Czapenski went wide right, bringing the score to, 32-12 midway through the quarter.

Unfortunately for UNC, the score was again nullified by another Bengal touchdown. McSurdy pounded it in from 2 yards out after a run heavy series from Finney took ISU deep into Northern Colorado territory. The quarter would come to an end with the Bears trailing, 39-12.

The Bengals crossed the goal line once more in the fourth quarter to add on to the already solidified win.

After recovering a fumble from Cartagena, PJ Gremaud took it 56 yards the other way before being pushed out of bounds at the UNC 1-yard line. McSurdy capped off the defensive effort with a 1 yard rush for his third touchdown run of the day, giving ISU a 46-12 victory over the Bears.

Defensively for UNC, sophomore DB Taylor Risner, junior DB, A.J. Battle, and junior DB, Trevor Douglass all finished the day with nine tackles.

"We need to try to figure out how to get guys going faster," said Collins. "We'll have to work on getting our younger guys better prepared and work on getting bodies in the game and stop some people."

Northern Colorado looks to snap its losing streak next Saturday, Nov. 1 when they head to Davis California, to take on the Aggies of UC Davis. Kickoff Aggie Stadium is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (MT).