Bears Hold Off Aggies, 27-21

Saturday, November 1

Davis, Calif.

5:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

3-6 , 2-4

UC Davis

1-7 , 0-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNCO

UC Davis

Photo by: Wayne Tilcock

11/1/2014 9:43:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Northern Colorado's defense is back on track, posting a game-winning interception from junior DB Trevor Douglass in the game's final seconds.

By: UNCBears.com

DAVIS, Calif. - The Northern Colorado football team (3-6, 2-4 Big Sky) snapped a nine-game road losing streak dating back to the 2012 season after an impressive performance from sophomore quarterback, Sean Rubalcaba. Rubalcaba went 21-28-0 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, as well as leading the team in rushing, running for 74 yards and a touchdown in the, 27-21 nail-biting win over UC Davis (1-7, 0-5 Big Sky).

"I'm grateful for the way the team played tonight," Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr., said. "This was a total team win. The guys fought from the beginning, all the way to the end."

Senior running back, Robert Holland and sophomore back, Darius Graham combined for 90 yards on the ground in the win.

Senior wide out, Dimitri Stimphil snagged 7 receptions for 90 yards. Behind him was junior receiver Sean Leslie, catching 6 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively for UNC, sophomore cornerback Brandon Lenoir, sophomore safety Taylor Risner, and redshirt freshman linebacker, James Riddle all tallied 6 stops for the Bears.

Neither team could take advantage of their two drives in the first quarter. Even though the Bears racked up a 107 yards of total offense, the quarter would come to a close with the two teams in a scoreless draw.

The Bears scored the half's only points on a 12 play, 86-yard series ending in a 23-yard touchdown pass to junior wide out, Stephen Miller. After a holding penalty and a false start call on the offense, the Bears faced 1st and 25 on the 50-yd line. After two plays they managed to whittle it down to 3rd and 19. Flushed out of the pocket, Rubalcaba rolled out and connected with Leslie in the middle of the field who forced his way past the first down marker, setting up the touchdown pass.

Northern Colorado would head into the locker room on top, 7-0. This would be the first time all season Northern Colorado would head into the half with the lead.

The second half was more of the same for the Bears, adding 14 more points on to the scoreboard.

On the opening drive of the second half, Northern Colorado pounded it 65 yards in five plays. Holland did the majority of the heavy lifting, breaking free on a 21-yard stomp deep into the red zone. Rubalcaba took it from there, throwing his second touchdown pass of the night to Leslie from 8 yards out to make it, 14-0 in favor of the Bears.

The celebration was quickly silenced as the Aggies answered the drive, going 74 yards the other way for six points. UC Davis quarterback, Ben Scott rifled a 23-yard pass to wide out Ramon Vargas in the end zone, cutting the UNC lead in half, 14-7.

"Last week I was just waiting for things to happen," Rubalcaba said. "You can't do that. You have to either have to make changes during the play, or throw it away. The offense was really clicking throughout the game. The coaches were calling some great plays and the offensive line did everything right tonight. Those guys played a great game and deserve recognition."

The score didn't faze the offensive unit. Rubalcaba came back out and threw for 21 yards and ran for 28 more and a touchdown, bringing it to a 21-7 score with 4:50 to play in the third quarter.

Northern Colorado would enter the fourth and final quarter with a fourteen point lead.

A freshman kicker, Seth Czapenski field goal from 26 yards out in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter tacked on another three points, making it, 24-7.

But the Aggies weren't about to let the game get out of reach. UC Davis retaliated with a 7 play, 68-yard touchdown drive. Scott found Vargas again for his second touchdown reception, this time from 18 yards out to cut the lead to, 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter.

After a quick three and out from the offense, UC Davis needed only three plays to make it a single possession game. Scott aired it out on the opening play of the drive, connecting with receiver Alex Cannon for 49 yards, setting the Aggies up at the one yard line. Running back Gabe Manzanares made good off of the deep pass, crossing the goal line to make it, 24-21 with 4:55 to go in the contest.

Both teams traded possessions before Czapenski came up big again, this time from 28-yards out, sailing it through the uprights. Sophomore Isaiah Williams set up the score, forcing a fumble on the Aggies previous series, to give UNC the ball back on the UC Davis 23-yard line. The score read, 27-21 with the Bears still in the lead.

The Aggies got one last crack at it before it was all said and done, getting the ball back with 51 seconds to play. UC Davis moved it quickly, traveling 49 yards in 47 seconds, all the way down to the UNC 14 yard line.

After taking two shots at the end zone, the Aggies were looking at a 3rd and 10 with 8 seconds to play. Scott lasered a pass intended for Vargas, but junior defensive back, Trevor Douglass came up with the diving interception to seal the victory for the Bears.

"We knew that they could make some things happen," said Collins. "They have a strong offense and a quarterback that can make plays when he has to. Our defense came through for us on two big plays when we needed it and that's what has to happen for us to win games."

Northern Colorado will head into a bye-week before going back out on the road to Ogden, Utah to take on Weber State, Nov. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MT).