@UNCBearsFB Opens Big Sky Play with Game Winning Field Goal

Saturday, September 23

Greeley, Colo.

1:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

2 , 1-0

Idaho State University

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Idaho State

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Rob Trubia

9/23/2017 8:25:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Northern Colorado football started Big Sky play with a game winning field goal to defeat Idaho State 43-42

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – With three seconds on the clock and his team down two points, kicker Collin Root wasn't worried about the upcoming game-winning field goal try, but where he and teammate Rand Fraizer-Turnbull were headed for a postgame meal. As Idaho State took a pair of timeouts to ice him, Root was making his case that Texas Roadhouse's rolls were better than Red Lobsters.

"I wasn't really trying to think about anything," Root said, "But Rand Turnbull kept coming up to me and talking about where I was going to eat after the game. Looking back at it now, it was probably helpful that he did that, keeping my mind off the kick."

(9/23/2017) Football vs Idaho State

For Root, that side conversation, and not having to think about the game-winning kick paid off, as he nailed the 37-yard attempt to secure the 43-42 Northern Colorado victory over Idaho State. The win improved UNC's record to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky play while dropping Idaho State to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Root's kick closed out a game that saw its first drive end in an interception but became all offense after that. Stone Kane intercepted Tanner Gueller's pass as the Bengals were driving into UNC territory and returned it 64 yards to set up the first score of the game. Coincidentally the first points on the game were a Root field goal as well, this one 35 yards.

The early 3-0 lead did not last long for Northern Colorado as Idaho State responded with a nine play, 89 yard drive to lead 7-3 just over nine minutes into the game. The Bengals lead extended to seven when Parker Johnson hit a 26-yard field goal.
After taking a while to get things going, the Bears offense started running like a well-oiled machine as the first quarter neared an end. It started with a Trae Riek 36 yard run following the Johnson field goal and was followed up by Jacob Knipp's first touchdown pass of the game to freshman Jaison Miller from 29 yards to even the game at 10 in two quick plays.

The next time the offense stepped on the field it took them just three more plays to score another touchdown. A Hakeem Deggs 20 yard run and Theron Verna 35 yard catch set the Bears up on the Idaho State 25-yard line. Knipp found an open Frank Stephens who made his way into the end zone, putting UNC up 17-10.
Following an Idaho State game-tying touchdown drive, Northern Colorado used chunk plays from Riek, 20-yard run, and Verna, 52-yard catch, to set up Root's second field goal of the game making it 20-17. The Bears took that lead into halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, UNC scored right away when Knipp placed a beautiful ball into a streaking Alex Wesley's hands and he did the rest of the work for a 59-yard score. A missed extra point made it 26-17 Bears.

The nine-point lead didn't last long for as Idaho State responded right away finishing with an 11 yard run from Nehamiah McFarlin.

Neither team was done trading blows, as UNC responded in one play following a failed surprise on-side kick attempt from ISU that traveled only seven yards, setting up the Bears at the Idaho State 42-yard line. A defensive missed assignment led to a wide open Verna for an easy 42-yard touchdown pass.

Northern Colorado extended its lead to its largest of the game at 16 when Anthony Davis walked in for a 4-yard touchdown with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter.
Idaho State cut the lead to 10 just before the quarter ended, missing a two-point conversion follow it.

The Bengals defense stepped up to slow down the Northern Colorado offense in the fourth quarter holding them to just 33 yards and a fumble, giving its offense a chance to earn the comeback win. ISU's offense supported its defense with a field goal and then touchdown with 7:01 remaining in the game. A key play came on the extra point though, as Marshaun Cameron blocked the extra point attempt off the left side, making it at 42-40 ISU lead.

With their backs against the wall, Northern Colorado's defense came up with the big play when they needed it. After Idaho State converted a fourth and short earlier in the drive, Keifer Morris and Luke Nelson came up with a sack on third and eight, forcing the Bengals to punt.

The Bears took over on their own 13-yard line with 2:17 left in the game. Jacob Knipp completed five straight passes to move the team 49 yards and into fringe field goal range. Expecting another pass, UNC handed the ball off to Reik, who dashed upfield for 12 yards to the Idaho State 26. The Bears elected to run one more play with eight seconds remaining as Reik gained another six yards on the ground setting up Root's game-winning field goal from the right hash.

Root took care of business after that and ended up winning the debate with teammate Fraizer-Turnbull choosing Texas Roadhouse over Red Lobster for the postgame meal.

What did they say?
Head Coach Earnest Collins
Overall statement on the game

"It was a great team win. It was great to see our players never give up. It was great to see the team have each other's back. When the defense was on the field needing that last stop it was great to have the offense behind me cheering them on and letting them know they have their back. Then you flip it around and the offense goes out there and the defense is supporting the offense. You have Coach Boyer up there calling the plays and Knipp running them and it was just a special feeling watching them go to work. Then you have everybody at the end together supporting our special teams on the last play."

Quarterback Jacob Knipp

On offenses success for the night
"We knew that they were going to pressure us a lot and blitz. We were able to pick those blitzes up and make the most of those opportunities. It makes my job really easy when the receivers are running wide open and I just get them the ball and our skills guys make plays."

Linebacker Luke Nelson

What the win means for the team
"This gives us confidence. We were able to pick up the first conference win, which was important. We are just going week-by-week this was game three for us and we are just looking towards game four next."

Kicker/Linebacker Collin Root

If he knew the kick was good
"I knew as soon as I kicked it. As soon as I kicked it I knew I had the distance and then I saw it was going right down the middle I didn't have to see the refs give the signal I just took off and went to go celebrate with my teammates.

Game Notes
- Stone Kane is the first Bear with an interception in two straight games since Kyle Griffin in 2014.
- Jaison Miller's touchdown catch was the first of his career.
- Jacob Knipp finished the game going 19-of-25 for 413 yards and four touchdowns. It is the first time in his career that he passed for over 400 yards, and even eclipsing the 300 yard plateau.
- Tight end Theron Verna had a career-high in receiving yards with 165 on four receptions and a touchdown.
- For the second straight game, Knipp connected on a pass over 50 yards with Alex Wesley. Today's touchdown pass was 59 yards, seven more yards than last week's 52 yarder.
- Keifer Morris has now recorded at least a sack in the first three games this season. Morris is the first Northern Colorado player since Max Flores in 2013 to have a sack in three straight games. He finished the day with 2.0 sacks for nine yards and 12 total tackles.
- Luke Nelson was all over the field for UNC finishing with a team-best and career-high 17 tackles. He had 1.5 tackles for a loss and half a sack.
- The two teams combined for over 1,000 total yards. UNC finished the game with 619 offensive yards, while Idaho State had 609.

What's ahead?
Northern Colorado hits the road for another Big Sky game next week as they take on Northern Arizona. Kickoff between the Bears and Lumberjacks is set for 5 pm MDT.