University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Recap: @UNCBearsFB Unable to Put Enough Plays Together, Falls to North Dakota
10/7/2017 5:17:00 PM | Football
UNC football fell to North Dakota Saturday afternoon 48-38
North Dakota struck first on a fourth and one from the UNC 41-yard line as QB Keaton Studsrud broke through a hole on the left side of the line and raced into the end zone.
The Bears offense struggled through its first five plays of the game, including giving up a pair of sacks. On 3rd and 15, Jacob Knipp kept the play alive scrambling to his right and finding Theron Verna for an 80-yard touchdown pass to even the game at seven.
Momentum swung in the favor of North Dakota for the remainder of the first quarter as they converted a pair of fourth downs on a scoring drive, and then scored on the first play following a Knipp interception. UND extended its lead to 28-7 before the Bears worked their way back into the game.
It began with a seven-play drive leading to a 46-yard field goal from Collin Root and make it a 28-10 game. Northern Colorado's defense came up with a couple of big plays after that to get the team back into the game.
The Bears defense forced back-to-back fumbles starting with Luke Nelson hitting Studsrud on the blind side and Khairi Baily scooping up the loose ball to return it 25 yards for UNC touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, it was Marshaun Cameron who forced the fumble recovered by Kiefer Glau at the North Dakota 22-yard line. That second fumble recovered was cashed in three plays later as Anthony Davis scored from a yard out cutting the UND lead to just 28-24.
Collin Root missed on the chance to make it a one-point game going into the half as his 49-yard attempt went wide left. The kick attempt was set up by a 28-yard pass from Knipp to Frank Stephens. On the play, Knipp was brought to the ground and knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury.
Connor Regan replaced Knipp as the quarterback for UNC, coming out and completing a pass for 36 yards to Frank Stephens. The pass started another scoring drive for Northern Colorado as Trae Riek ran in from five yards out to make it 24 unanswered points for the Bears and a 31-24 lead.
The Fighting Hawks responded with a scoring drive of their own, sparked by a Brady Oliveira 42-yard run, to even the game.
After North Dakota reclaimed the lead at 38-31, Regan equalized the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Deggs. The touchdown was the first of Regan's career, that capped off a five play 72-yard drive.
UND had a pair of opportunities to put the Bears away, by moving the ball inside the UNC 5-yard line, but were held to just three points. One of the key reasons for that came on a Michael Walker interception in the end zone.
While the defense held serve, the offense missed out on chances to move the ball and tie the game or reclaim the lead.
A UND rushing touchdown from five yards out with 2:00 left on the clock, all but sealed the game for the Fighting Hawks.
What They Said
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
"We are not playing good enough ball right now the way we need to on both sides of the ball. It comes down to all sides of it the coaches and players. We have to take this bye week and make some gut checks and improve otherwise this season is not going to end the way we want it to."
Game Notes
- Kahari Bailey's fumble return for a touchdown was the first by a UNC player since Mikhail Dubose did so in 2015 against Portland State.
- Conor Regan who came in for an injured Jacob Knipp ended his day completing 8 of 19 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for eight yards.
- Northern Colorado has forced at least one fumble in each of the past four games, including the three today.
- Stone Kane led the team with 11 tackles, while teammates Henry Stelzner and Luke Nelson added in 10 each. Nelson also had a sack, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
- Three Bears went over 50 yards receiving in Theron Verna (91), Alex Wesley (80) and Frank Stephens (70). All of them had four receptions each, while Verna and Stephens caught a touchdown.
- For the third time this season and second straight game, Northern Colorado's run game was held below 100 yards. The team finished with 18 net yards rushing.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado returns to the field on Oct. 21 for Homecoming against Montana State at 12:30 pm. It is the first game between the Bears and Bobcats since 2013 when MSU came to Greeley and won 35-28.
Tickets for the game start as low as $14. Fans can purchase tickets by going to UNCBears.com, visiting the Nottingham Field Box Office, opened Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, or by calling 970-352-4849. Fans can also reserve a spot for tailgating at the Pepsi Fan Fest by online at UNCBears.com, or by calling Brian Lukas at 970-351-4409.
To stay up to date with all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.
Team Stats

NC 0, UND 7
UND - STUDSRUD, K. 41 yd run (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:21

NC 7, UND 7
NC - VERNA,Theron 80 yd pass from KNIPP,Jacob (ROOT,Collin kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:01

NC 7, UND 14
UND - TOIVONEN, T. 5 yd run (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 7:41

NC 7, UND 21
UND - CLOYD, Alex 21 yd pass from STUDSRUD, K. (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick) 1 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:07

NC 7, UND 28
UND - JOHANNESSON, J. 4 yd run (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:33

NC 10, UND 28
NC - ROOT,Collin 46 yd field goal 7 plays, 23 yards, TOP 2:00

NC 17, UND 28
NC - BAILEY,Khairi 25 yd fumble recovery (ROOT,Collin kick)

NC 24, UND 28
NC - DAVIS,Anthony 1 yd run (ROOT,Collin kick), 3 plays, 22 yards, TOP 0:57

NC 31, UND 28
NC - RIEK,Trae 10 yd run (ROOT,Collin kick), 5 plays, 66 yards, TOP 1:25

NC 31, UND 31
UND - TAUBENHEIM, R. 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:00

NC 31, UND 38
UND - SANTIAGO, John 2 yd run (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick), 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:43

NC 38, UND 38
NC - DEGGS,Hakeem 9 yd pass from REGAN,Conor (ROOT,Collin kick) 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:58

NC 38, UND 41
UND - TAUBENHEIM, R. 19 yd field goal 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:54

NC 38, UND 48
UND - TOIVONEN, T. 5 yd run (TAUBENHEIM, R. kick), 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:06