Recap: @UNCBearsFB Mistakes Pile Up in Loss to Montana

Saturday, November 11

Missoula, Mont.

1:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

2-7 , 1-6

University of Montana

7-3 , 5-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Northern Colorado	7	0	0	7	14
Montana	14	23	7	0	44

11/11/2017 4:50:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Northern Colorado struggled with turnovers and other mistakes as they fell to Montana 44-14.

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

MISSOULA, Mont. – Mistakes from Northern Colorado compounded on themselves Saturday afternoon, as the Bears fell to Montana 44-14. The loss puts UNC to 2-7 on the season and 1-6 in Big Sky play, while Montana improves to 7-3, 5-2 Big Sky.

Montana forced a UNC three and out to begin the game and then drove 70 yards in 13 plays to go up 7-0 on the Bears.
UNC quickly responds with a three-play drive, sparked by Anthony Davis' 64-yard run and then Conor Regan finding Alex Wesley for a 26-yard touchdown.

UM's offense continued to click after UNC equaled the score at seven, scoring on their next two drives. Both drives lasted 11 plays, one going 75 yards and the other 92 yards. Griz quarterback Gresch Jensen found Makena Sims and Samori Toure to cap off the drives, respectively.

Mistakes for UNC started to mount on top of each other after that, with three interceptions a fumble and blocked punt setting Montana up inside Northern Colorado territory for the majority of the second quarter. Those mistakes turned into 23 points for the Griz in the quarter to put them up 37-7 at the break.

Montana's offense came out of the locker rooms at halftime and scored right away on a 56-yard touchdown pass. Following the strong first drive, both UNC and UM's offenses stalled out for the remainder of the game.

Marshaun Cameron ended Montana's streak of 37 straight points scored when he picked off a Caleb Hill screen pass for a 21-yard pick six. Cameron's interception for a touchdown was the final scoring play of the game.

What They Said

Head coach Earnest Collins, Jr.
"We had too many turnovers and did not make enough plays in today's game, that just hurt us. Our guys are not going to give up no matter how bad it gets. We just made too many mistakes and it came back to hurt us."

Game Notes
- Anthony Davis had a solid day on the ground rushing for 102 yards on 11 carries. His long of the day was a 64-yard run setting up the first UNC score of the game. Davis averaged 9.3 yards per carry. It is Davis' first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
- Alex Wesley continued his strong season, grabbing five catches for 74 yards. He caught his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season. He ended up second on the team in receiving for the game, trailing Frank Stephens who caught six passes for 98 yards.
- Turnovers hurt the Bears in the game, committing seven in the game, while Montana threw two interceptions after the game had been decided.
- The blocked punt was the first time this season UNC gave up a blocked kick of any kind. Last season, North Dakota blocked a Northern Colorado punt.
- Luke Nelson flew around the field for UNC's defense, recording 22 total tackles and breaking up a pass. The 22 tackles tied for sixth most in a single game in Northern Colorado history with David Hirsch from 1983.
- Keton Mott had a solid amount of playing time in the game, passing for 144 yards, completing 10 of his 24 pass attempts.
- Marshaun Cameron's interception returned for a touchdown is the first by a UNC player since 2014, when both Kyle Griffin and Dominick Sierra each returned picks for TDS against Northern Arizona.

What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado closes out the 2017 season when they host Cal Poly on November 18. The Bears and Mustangs kick off at 11:30 am MT. Last season the two teams played in a shootout in California with Cal Poly outlasting UNC 55-48.

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.