University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, October 1
Greeley, CO
1:05 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
3-1 , 1-0
21
vs
18
Northern Arizona University
1-4 , 0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
NAU
7
3
0
8
18
Northern Colorado
14
7
0
0
21
Team Stats
NAU
UNCO
Total Yards
493
263
Pass Yards
301
145
Rushing Yards
192
118
Penalty Yards
108
58
1st Downs
25
14
3rd Downs
7
3
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
34:24
25:36
1st Quarter
NAU 7, UNCO 0
NAU - J. Baldwin 28 yd pass from Hunter Burton (Griffin Roehler kick) 6 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:07
NAU 7, UNCO 7
UNCO - Trae Riek 27 yd pass from Kyle Sloter (Jamie Falloon kick) 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:30
NAU 7, UNCO 14
UNCO - B. Cartagena 12 yd run (Jamie Falloon kick), 2 plays, 41 yards, TOP 0:26
2nd Quarter
NAU 10, UNCO 14
NAU - Griffin Roehler 25 yd field goal 17 plays, 71 yards, TOP 6:56
NAU 10, UNCO 21
UNCO - Kyle Sloter 3 yd run (Jamie Falloon kick), 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:02
4th Quarter
NAU 18, UNCO 21
NAU - Elijah Marks 2 yd pass from Blake Kemp (Kendyl Taylor pass) 4 plays, 41 yards, TOP 1:16
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
14
TD
1
YDS
145
INT
0
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballPhoto by: Rob Trubia
Defense Leads @UNCBEARSFB to Win Over Northern Arizona
10/1/2016 6:40:00 PM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – A complete team win would be the best way to describe Northern Colorado's (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) Big Sky opening victory over Northern Arizona (1-4, 0-2 Big Sky) on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears clicked on offense in the first half and were locked in on defense in the second half to secure a 21-18 upset over the conference preseason favorite Lumberjacks.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UNC watched a young defensive unit gain confidence throughout the day, particularly in the second half. The Bears' defense held Northern Arizona to just 18 points on 87 plays, giving up only eight of those in the second half.
Northern Colorado had four players notch double-digit tackles, forced three fumbles, two of those in the red zone, which ultimately secured the win, and finished with three tackles for a loss and three pass breakups.
In the second half alone, the Bears' stout defense forced either an NAU punt, or a fumble in six of the seven Lumberjacks drives in the third and fourth quarters.
Linebackers, Kyle Newsom and Bryan Stansbury, and DBs, Thomas Singleton and Marshaun Cameron all finished with 10 or more tackles. Newsom collected a season-best 14 stops, while Cameron secured a new career-high 13 tackles in the three-point win.
If the defense finished it, the offense started it. All 21 of the Bears points came in the first half and did just enough to help earn the win.
UNC totaled only 263 yards in the game, and 107 of those came from running back, Trae Riek. Riek finished his day with 107 yards on 21 attempts, and another 43 yards receiving with a touchdown.
NAU put the first points on the board with a seven play, 60-yard drive that ended with 28-yard passing touchdown to take the lead, 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
The Bears offense responded with two TDs of its own, a 27-yard screen pass from QB, Kyle Sloter to Riek for six, and 12-yard run from back, Brandon Cartagena to make it 14-7 heading to the second stanza.
A Sloter 3-yard QB keeper for Northern Colorado's final touchdown of the afternoon, ultimately became the game-winner in the second quarter.
UNC took a 21-10 lead into halftime and that's all that was needed to give the Bears a 3-1 overall record for the first time under Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
GAME CHANGER:
Redshirt freshman corner, Marshaun Cameron was the unsung hero of the day for the defense. Cameron finished with a career-high 13 tackles (10 solo, 3 assist), had two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He was also good for a PBU late in the game that assured Northern Colorado the win.
KEY STAT:
Despite giving up 493 yards of total offense to Northern Arizona, UNC still limited the Lumberjacks to just 18 points on 87 plays. The 18 points allowed is a new season-low for the Bears.
IN THEIR WORDS:
Corner, Marshaun Cameron on the fumble recoveries:
"I saw the ball come out both times and all I've been taught to do is go get it. My eyes got pretty big both times and then guys jumped on me, but I was able to keep it secure both times. It feels good to come up with the recoveries, we talked about it all week in practice that we needed to get to the ball and create turnovers and we were able to do that today."
Running back, Trae Riek on his third straight 100-yard rushing game:
"NAU's defense is really good – They've always had a good defense. We played them last year and they shut us down, but I think we came out ready and our o-line did work today, so I was really proud of them. We talk about it all the time, just trying to get us, the running backs in general, or any of our guys on offense in the open field because that's the kind of weapons we have. If you get us out in the open field you see what happens and what we're capable of doing."
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr. on the win:
"For me, the main number is the score. To hold those guys (NAU) to 18 points and then their offense is predicated around no. 8 and no. 3. They want to get those guys the ball. At the end of the game you look at the stat sheet and for Emmanuel Butler to have only 58 yards is impressive, our defensive staff did a great job of taking those guys out of the game, forcing NAU to run the ball."
On the defensive turnovers:
"We came up with some timely turnovers down in the red zone. It's one thing to bend, but when you get turnovers and you get them down there with your back up against the wall, that's what you're looking for. I thought our kids stood up when they had to and made some plays. I think you saw a defense and a defensive coaching staff gain a lot of confidence today. They picked us up when we needed it and helped us accomplish an overall team win."
NOTABLES:
- For the third straight game, redshirt sophomore running back, Trae Riek has rushed over 100 yards. It is also the fourth straight game of him recording a touchdown.
- Northern Colorado put up a season-low 263 total yards against NAU. They finished with just 145 yards passing and 118 yards rushing.
- UNC out-tackled NAU 99-53. The 99 team tackles are a new season-high. The Bears recorded 93 at Colorado State two weekends ago.
- This is the first time the Bears have opened up Big Sky Conference play with a win under Collins. They were previously 0-5 in league openers under the sixth year head coach.
- Northern Colorado moves to 4-13 overall against Northern Arizona and 3-6 all-time against the 'Jacks at home.
UP NEXT:
Northern Colorado faces back-to-back road games in the next two weeks beginning at no. 4 Eastern Washington on Oct. 15. Kickoff against the Eagles in Cheney, Washington is slated for 2:05 p.m.
The Bears clicked on offense in the first half and were locked in on defense in the second half to secure a 21-18 upset over the conference preseason favorite Lumberjacks.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UNC watched a young defensive unit gain confidence throughout the day, particularly in the second half. The Bears' defense held Northern Arizona to just 18 points on 87 plays, giving up only eight of those in the second half.
Northern Colorado had four players notch double-digit tackles, forced three fumbles, two of those in the red zone, which ultimately secured the win, and finished with three tackles for a loss and three pass breakups.
In the second half alone, the Bears' stout defense forced either an NAU punt, or a fumble in six of the seven Lumberjacks drives in the third and fourth quarters.
Linebackers, Kyle Newsom and Bryan Stansbury, and DBs, Thomas Singleton and Marshaun Cameron all finished with 10 or more tackles. Newsom collected a season-best 14 stops, while Cameron secured a new career-high 13 tackles in the three-point win.
If the defense finished it, the offense started it. All 21 of the Bears points came in the first half and did just enough to help earn the win.
UNC totaled only 263 yards in the game, and 107 of those came from running back, Trae Riek. Riek finished his day with 107 yards on 21 attempts, and another 43 yards receiving with a touchdown.
NAU put the first points on the board with a seven play, 60-yard drive that ended with 28-yard passing touchdown to take the lead, 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
The Bears offense responded with two TDs of its own, a 27-yard screen pass from QB, Kyle Sloter to Riek for six, and 12-yard run from back, Brandon Cartagena to make it 14-7 heading to the second stanza.
A Sloter 3-yard QB keeper for Northern Colorado's final touchdown of the afternoon, ultimately became the game-winner in the second quarter.
UNC took a 21-10 lead into halftime and that's all that was needed to give the Bears a 3-1 overall record for the first time under Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
GAME CHANGER:
Redshirt freshman corner, Marshaun Cameron was the unsung hero of the day for the defense. Cameron finished with a career-high 13 tackles (10 solo, 3 assist), had two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He was also good for a PBU late in the game that assured Northern Colorado the win.
KEY STAT:
Despite giving up 493 yards of total offense to Northern Arizona, UNC still limited the Lumberjacks to just 18 points on 87 plays. The 18 points allowed is a new season-low for the Bears.
IN THEIR WORDS:
Corner, Marshaun Cameron on the fumble recoveries:
"I saw the ball come out both times and all I've been taught to do is go get it. My eyes got pretty big both times and then guys jumped on me, but I was able to keep it secure both times. It feels good to come up with the recoveries, we talked about it all week in practice that we needed to get to the ball and create turnovers and we were able to do that today."
Running back, Trae Riek on his third straight 100-yard rushing game:
"NAU's defense is really good – They've always had a good defense. We played them last year and they shut us down, but I think we came out ready and our o-line did work today, so I was really proud of them. We talk about it all the time, just trying to get us, the running backs in general, or any of our guys on offense in the open field because that's the kind of weapons we have. If you get us out in the open field you see what happens and what we're capable of doing."
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr. on the win:
"For me, the main number is the score. To hold those guys (NAU) to 18 points and then their offense is predicated around no. 8 and no. 3. They want to get those guys the ball. At the end of the game you look at the stat sheet and for Emmanuel Butler to have only 58 yards is impressive, our defensive staff did a great job of taking those guys out of the game, forcing NAU to run the ball."
On the defensive turnovers:
"We came up with some timely turnovers down in the red zone. It's one thing to bend, but when you get turnovers and you get them down there with your back up against the wall, that's what you're looking for. I thought our kids stood up when they had to and made some plays. I think you saw a defense and a defensive coaching staff gain a lot of confidence today. They picked us up when we needed it and helped us accomplish an overall team win."
NOTABLES:
- For the third straight game, redshirt sophomore running back, Trae Riek has rushed over 100 yards. It is also the fourth straight game of him recording a touchdown.
- Northern Colorado put up a season-low 263 total yards against NAU. They finished with just 145 yards passing and 118 yards rushing.
- UNC out-tackled NAU 99-53. The 99 team tackles are a new season-high. The Bears recorded 93 at Colorado State two weekends ago.
- This is the first time the Bears have opened up Big Sky Conference play with a win under Collins. They were previously 0-5 in league openers under the sixth year head coach.
- Northern Colorado moves to 4-13 overall against Northern Arizona and 3-6 all-time against the 'Jacks at home.
UP NEXT:
Northern Colorado faces back-to-back road games in the next two weeks beginning at no. 4 Eastern Washington on Oct. 15. Kickoff against the Eagles in Cheney, Washington is slated for 2:05 p.m.
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