University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Houston, TX
6:00 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
2-0
34
at
10
Houston Baptist University
1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northern Colorado
6
7
14
7
34
HBU
3
0
0
7
10
Team Stats
UNCO
HBU
Total Yards
307
309
Pass Yards
150
127
Rushing Yards
157
182
Penalty Yards
53
76
1st Downs
17
15
3rd Downs
1
8
4th Downs
0
3
TOP
23:31
36:29
1st Quarter
UNCO 6, HBU 0
UNCO - Jonathan Newsom 4 yd run (Marques Combs kickfailed), 3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:40
UNCO 6, HBU 3
HBU - Shinn, Travis 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 57 yards, TOP 5:30
2nd Quarter
UNCO 13, HBU 3
UNCO - Ellis Onic 71 yd punt return (Marques Combs kick)
3rd Quarter
UNCO 20, HBU 3
UNCO - Stephen Miller 19 yd pass from Jacob Knipp (Marques Combs kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:02
UNCO 27, HBU 3
UNCO - Trae Riek 3 yd run (Marques Combs kick), 7 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:26
4th Quarter
UNCO 27, HBU 10
HBU - Fry, Ethan 19 yd pass from Staver, Max (Shinn, Travis kick) 14 plays, 77 yards, TOP 9:01
UNCO 34, HBU 10
UNCO - Anthony Davis 36 yd run (Marques Combs kick), 1 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:10
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
@UNCBearsFB Win Big In Texas, Roll By Houston Baptist 34-10
9/12/2015 7:59:00 PM | Football
HOUSTON, Texas – Not since 2003 has a Northern Colorado football team started its season 2-0, but that all changed after the Bears put it on Houston Baptist, 34-10 on Saturday night.
In UNC's first trip to Texas since 2006, their defense made a big statement in the Lone Star State holding the Huskies to the second lowest point total in Collins' tenure.
The secondary shut down the pass game with HBU totaling just 122 yards in the air, but they did put up some numbers on the ground with 182 yards rushing, however that is still 285 yards less than UNC gave up in week one.
"You always like to see your defense get better from week to week," said head coach Earnest Collins Jr. "The most important changes to a team are made between week one and week two, and we really preached about gang tackling all week and thought it showed tonight. Our defense took a big step in the right direction tonight."
After having an off night, QB Jonathan Newsom was replaced with redshirt freshman Jacob Knipp midway through the second quarter. Knipp led the offense to three scoring drives in the second half and did it with poise and confidence in the pocket in his first career action.
After trading a pair of drives to open the game, Northern Colorado jumped out on the board early on a three-play 60-yard jolt across the field. Newsom connected with redshirt junior QB Kyler Sloter for 14 yards and then slung a bullet deep down field to Riek for another 40 yards, setting UNC up at the Houston Baptist 5-yard line.
Newsom punched it in himself putting points on the board for the Bears. The PAT attempt was no good, giving UNC the 6-0 advantage early in the first quarter.
Fast forward to late in the first quarter, the Huskies put points up themselves, but a stout UNC defensive didn't make it easy.
HBU went 57 yards in 12 plays and had to settle for a 32-yard field goal after redshirt sophomore Tyler Bloyer came up with a huge pass breakup in the end zone to stop a potential touchdown, forcing fourth down. HBU's kick was true, making it a 6-3 ball game in favor of the Bears with 3:08 to play in the first.
Over half of the second quarter passed before the end zone was close to seeing any action. Houston Baptist put together another long drive, this one for 51 yards on 10 plays. But it didn't have the same ending as HBU's first scoring drive.
Facing a 3rd and 5, Huskies QB Max Staver was looking to connect with wide out Ethan Fry, but overthrew him, and Bloyer was there for his first career interception and the defense's first pick of the season.
Once again both teams traded drives. With time dwindling in the half, redshirt sophomore Ellis Onic II gave UNC a much needed spark and some breathing room after taking a punt return 71 yards to pay dirt. The PAT was good and Northern Colorado took a 13-3 lead into the half.
Now with Knipp at the helm of the offense, UNC started off the third quarter with a bang. After forcing the Huskies to punt to open the half, Knipp took the squad 73 yards in just seven plays ending in his first career touchdown toss to junior receiver Stephen Miller from 19 yards out for six. Northern Colorado jumped to a three possession lead, 20-3.
"Like I said all throughout camp, we have three really talented quarterbacks," Collins said about his QB change. "Jon [Newsom] just wasn't feeling so we gave Knipp a shot and he was rolling so we left him in there."
Knipp's third quarter wasn't done as he again put together a successful drive, leading UNC to another touchdown drive behind a solid run game from the combo of Riek and junior back, Darius Graham. All 35 yards of the drive came from carries by the duo before Riek punched it in from three yards out for an even larger, 27-3 lead.
In the fourth, Houston Baptist made one final push at a comeback, scoring early on in the quarter off a 19-yard pass from Staver to Fry, making it 27-10.
The score was quickly squandered three drives later as redshirt sophomore Anthony Davis found an opening and blazed his way 36 yards for more points, sealing the UNC win, 34-10.
Defensively, junior safety Taylor Risner led the team in tackles with 16, including one big TFL on a third down situation. Junior linebacker A.J. Isenburg wasn't far behind with 10 tackles.
As a unit, the D forced six punts, one INT, and stopped the Huskies 14 times on third down (9-of-23).
"Anytime you start out with two wins and showed improvement, it's a good thing." Collins said. "We'll enjoy it tonight and then start focusing on Southern Utah tomorrow night."
The Bears face another road test next week when they travel to Cedar City, Utah to take on Southern Utah on Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
In UNC's first trip to Texas since 2006, their defense made a big statement in the Lone Star State holding the Huskies to the second lowest point total in Collins' tenure.
The secondary shut down the pass game with HBU totaling just 122 yards in the air, but they did put up some numbers on the ground with 182 yards rushing, however that is still 285 yards less than UNC gave up in week one.
"You always like to see your defense get better from week to week," said head coach Earnest Collins Jr. "The most important changes to a team are made between week one and week two, and we really preached about gang tackling all week and thought it showed tonight. Our defense took a big step in the right direction tonight."
After having an off night, QB Jonathan Newsom was replaced with redshirt freshman Jacob Knipp midway through the second quarter. Knipp led the offense to three scoring drives in the second half and did it with poise and confidence in the pocket in his first career action.
After trading a pair of drives to open the game, Northern Colorado jumped out on the board early on a three-play 60-yard jolt across the field. Newsom connected with redshirt junior QB Kyler Sloter for 14 yards and then slung a bullet deep down field to Riek for another 40 yards, setting UNC up at the Houston Baptist 5-yard line.
Newsom punched it in himself putting points on the board for the Bears. The PAT attempt was no good, giving UNC the 6-0 advantage early in the first quarter.
Fast forward to late in the first quarter, the Huskies put points up themselves, but a stout UNC defensive didn't make it easy.
HBU went 57 yards in 12 plays and had to settle for a 32-yard field goal after redshirt sophomore Tyler Bloyer came up with a huge pass breakup in the end zone to stop a potential touchdown, forcing fourth down. HBU's kick was true, making it a 6-3 ball game in favor of the Bears with 3:08 to play in the first.
Over half of the second quarter passed before the end zone was close to seeing any action. Houston Baptist put together another long drive, this one for 51 yards on 10 plays. But it didn't have the same ending as HBU's first scoring drive.
Facing a 3rd and 5, Huskies QB Max Staver was looking to connect with wide out Ethan Fry, but overthrew him, and Bloyer was there for his first career interception and the defense's first pick of the season.
Once again both teams traded drives. With time dwindling in the half, redshirt sophomore Ellis Onic II gave UNC a much needed spark and some breathing room after taking a punt return 71 yards to pay dirt. The PAT was good and Northern Colorado took a 13-3 lead into the half.
Now with Knipp at the helm of the offense, UNC started off the third quarter with a bang. After forcing the Huskies to punt to open the half, Knipp took the squad 73 yards in just seven plays ending in his first career touchdown toss to junior receiver Stephen Miller from 19 yards out for six. Northern Colorado jumped to a three possession lead, 20-3.
"Like I said all throughout camp, we have three really talented quarterbacks," Collins said about his QB change. "Jon [Newsom] just wasn't feeling so we gave Knipp a shot and he was rolling so we left him in there."
Knipp's third quarter wasn't done as he again put together a successful drive, leading UNC to another touchdown drive behind a solid run game from the combo of Riek and junior back, Darius Graham. All 35 yards of the drive came from carries by the duo before Riek punched it in from three yards out for an even larger, 27-3 lead.
In the fourth, Houston Baptist made one final push at a comeback, scoring early on in the quarter off a 19-yard pass from Staver to Fry, making it 27-10.
The score was quickly squandered three drives later as redshirt sophomore Anthony Davis found an opening and blazed his way 36 yards for more points, sealing the UNC win, 34-10.
Defensively, junior safety Taylor Risner led the team in tackles with 16, including one big TFL on a third down situation. Junior linebacker A.J. Isenburg wasn't far behind with 10 tackles.
As a unit, the D forced six punts, one INT, and stopped the Huskies 14 times on third down (9-of-23).
"Anytime you start out with two wins and showed improvement, it's a good thing." Collins said. "We'll enjoy it tonight and then start focusing on Southern Utah tomorrow night."
The Bears face another road test next week when they travel to Cedar City, Utah to take on Southern Utah on Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
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