Defense Sets Up Homecoming Upset Over #25 Northern Arizona, 24-17

Saturday, October 4

Greeley, Colo.

1:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

2-3 , 1-1

Northern Arizona

3-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Arizona

UNCO

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

10/4/2014 10:41:00 PM | Football

Box Score

The Bears defense tallied three interceptions, two of them for touchdowns, and two forced fumbles to keep UNC unbeaten at home.

By: UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – The Bears (2-3, 1-1 Big Sky) continued to show resiliency at Nottingham Field recording three interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns, two forced fumbles, and a 27-yard touchdown catch from senior wide receiver, Dimitri Stimphil to give Northern Colorado a, 24-17 upset over #25 Northern Arizona (3-3, 1-1 Big Sky) on homecoming this Saturday. This was the first time since defeating Idaho State, 29-9 in 2008 that UNC has picked up a 'W' on homecoming. It's also first time since the 2012 season that the Bears have defeated a conference opponent.

"Whenever you win a game like this it's about the kids and how they stuck together," said head coach Earnest Collins Jr. "They easily could have turned on each other, but they didn't do that. There were some things that happened in this game that were awesome for our guys to be a part of. As a coach, when you get a victory like this it means so much to our program because the kids are starting to see that if they believe in one another and continue to fight, they can come out of top."

Junior quarterback, Jonathan Newsom started for the second game in a row and continued to show growth, going 14 of 24 for 158 yards, throwing his first career touchdown pass in a Northern Colorado uniform.

The Bears didn't get much out of the run game, but it wasn't from a lack of effort. Senior back, Robert Holland touched the ball 17 times for 54 yards and added three catches for 32 yards. Sophomore running back, Darius Graham saw six carries on the afternoon, gaining 24 yards in the win.

Stimphil found his way back into the end zone for the first time in three weeks. The wide out caught four passes for 80 yards and a TD.

Northern Colorado's offense started off slowly, only converting one first down on their opening drive. The Bears took a shot deep down field on 3rd and 8 to junior wide receiver, Malcolm Whye who was wide open, but Newsom's pass was just out of reach. UNC was forced to bring freshman punter, Bailey Landwehr on to the field for the first time of the day.

The Bears defense displayed major improvements from the previous weeks, stopping the Lumberjacks' opening drive. This was the first time all season Northern Colorado didn't give up points on an opponent's opening series.

The small victory was short lived however, after a three and out by the offense, NAU took the ball 65-yards in 10 plays, to take a, 7-0 lead with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter.

UNC's offense still wasn't able to find their rhythm in the second quarter, only converting three first downs and netting just 75-yards, compared to Northern Arizona's 101-yards of offense.

The second 15 minutes of action went back-and-forth until the Lumberjacks jumped on the board again, with a 1:07 remaining in the half. NAU drove it 37-yards in 12 plays and relied on kicker, Ryan Hawkins to convert a 45-yard field goal. Hawkins didn't disappoint, putting the ball through the uprights and extending the 'Jacks lead to, 10-0.

"The kids just kept coming back. The offense knew they were struggling," said Collins. "They weren't sitting on the sidelines feeling sorry for themselves, they were up, urging our defense to keep going and make stops. They played in the moment."

Northern Colorado answered the field goal with seconds remaining in the half. The Bears drove 53-yards on seven plays to set up a 39-yard field goal for freshman kicker, Seth Czapenski, who put it straight through the middle for three points.

On the opening play of the drive, Newsom found Stimphil on a 32-yard pass to move the sticks. Newsom went right back to Stimphil again, this time for nine more yards to make it 2nd and 1 on the NAU 34-yard line. Back-to-back rushes from Holland produced three more yards and on 3rd and 7 Newsom looked to put six points on the board with a pass to junior wide out, Sean Leslie. Leslie was unable to bring the ball down in the back of the end zone and Northern Colorado set up the kick.

UNC would head to the locker room down by seven, 10-3.

The Bears defense remained strong in the second half, forcing NAU to go three and out on its opening series of the second half, bringing on the punt team for the 'Jacks. Redshirt freshman returner, Ellis Onic set up UNC with excellent field position, taking the punt 24-yards to the 50-yard line.

That's when the momentum of the game started to shift. Northern Colorado aired it out on its opening play of the second half. Newsom connected with redshirt freshman receiver, Samad Hinds for 18-yards and the first down. The reception was the first in Hinds' career. Two rushes from Holland were good for another 10-yards, setting up 1st and 10 just outside the red zone. A false-start on the Bears on the next play pushed them back to the NAU 27-yard line. With chemistry between the duo, Newsom went right back to Stimphil who made an amazing grab between two defenders for the touchdown pass, knotting the game up at, 10-10 with 11:59 to play in the third.

"I've just been patient and waiting for my number to get called," Stimphil said. "When it finally did I was there to deliver. The offensive coordinator trusted in me and Jon trusted in me to come up with catches and that's what I did."

After trading possessions Northern Arizona took over on offense with 5:15 remaining in the quarter. The 'Jacks drove it deep into UNC territory and looked like they were going to answer the Bears' touchdown with one of their own. NAU quarterback, Kyren Poe threw a bullet, looking deep for the touchdown pass, but junior linebacker Dominick Sierra stepped up and picked it off, taking it the other way for 91-yards and another UNC touchdown. The 91-yard run broke the program's DI record for longest interception return for a touchdown and gave UNC its first lead of the day, 17-10.

"I read the quarterback like I was supposed to and I was in the right place at the right time," said Sierra. "I'm thankful that I had my teammates out in front of me. They were able to give me the support, so I could score the touchdown.

Again the celebration was short lived as NAU started the fourth and final quarter, marching 78-yards in seven plays to tie the game up at, 17-17. 'Jacks running back, Marquice Paige capped off the drive with a 24-yard run to pay dirt.

The Bears' offense was plagued by penalties on the next series, only going 18-yards on nine plays and forced to give the ball back to NAU.

Landwehr's punt only traveled 27-yards setting up the Lumberjacks with excellent field position, starting the series on their own 30-yard line. With a worn out Bear defense, NAU again had no problems moving the ball down the field, into UNC territory. This time, senior safety, Kyle Griffin answered the call, picking off Poe and running 84-yards the other way for UNC's second pick six of the day. The INT was the fourth on the season for Griffin and made him the new single-season record holder in the program's DI history for interceptions.

"I think the biggest thing was that we stuck together," Griffin said. "Our team stepped up on both sides of the ball when we had to. This win is a huge momentum builder and will help us to continue to build and be successful."

With a 24-17 lead and 7:17 to go in the fourth quarter, fans in Nottingham Field were all too familiar with the scenario displayed before them and nervousness filled the stadium. Northern Arizona got three more cracks at it on offense before it was all said and done, but again the defense continued to make play after play.

UNC forced the 'Jacks to punt on the first drive after the touchdown, then junior defensive end, Chris Urbaniak stripped the ball from running back, Casey Jahn, and finally in typical Bears fashion, junior defensive back, A.J. Battle came up with an interception to seal the 24-17 upset.

"It was a great win for us because we talked all week about raising our standards," said Collins. "We asked the guys to raise their standards in how they practice, how they play, what they do on and off the field, so that we can get this program back where it needs to be. Today was a step in the right direction."

Junior linebacker, Ryan Gackle led UNC in tackles on the day with 10. Senior defensive end, Kyle Todd and sophomore cornerback, Brandon Lenoir weren't far behind with nine tackles each.

With the win, Northern Colorado remains undefeated at Nottingham Field on the year. The Bears will look to keep that streak alive next Saturday, Oct. 11 when they host Sacramento State at 1:30 p.m.