University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, October 20
Greeley, Colo.
12PM
University of Northern Colorado
1-7 , 0-5
42
vs
14
Northern Arizona
3-4 , 2-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northern Arizona
7
7
0
0
14
Northern Colorado
12
0
16
14
42
Photo by: Woody Myers
First @UNCBearsFB Win Comes in a Complete Team Game.
10/20/2018 4:50:00 PM | Football
UNC football turned in a complete game all-around to defeat Northern Arizona 42-14
A win is a win, it does not matter how they come. Northern Colorado showed that on Saturday in its 42-14 win over Northern Arizona. The Bears scored on a blocked punt, pick six, safety and fumble recovery while scoring 30 straight points on their way to victory. It was a complete team effort.
UNC came out of the gates driving right down the field to score on the opening drive of the game. The team swiftly moved the 75 yards, scoring when Keaton Mott found Dontay Warren on the right sideline. Warren fighting for extra yardage on the play fumbled at the NAU 3-yard line but scrambled to recover it in the end zone.
The unconventional scoring continued near the end of the first quarter for the Bears when Jerone Jackson blocked a punt in the end zone and freshman Aaron Harris grabbed the ball before it rolled out of the back to make it a 12-7 Northern Colorado lead.
Northern Arizona took a 14-12 lead into the half, but would not score again, with UNC outscoring them 30-0 in the second half.
The Bears tied the game at 14 when NAU quarterback Daniel Bridge-Gadd scrambled and fumbled the ball at his 22 yard-line, a group of players tried to pounce on the loose pigskin, but it slipped out the end zone for a safety.
Northern Colorado rode a balanced offensive attack and pick-six from Sherand Boyd Junior the rest of the way.
Quarterback Keaton Mott finished the game 15-of-27 for 217 yards and three touchdowns along with nine rushing yards and another TD. Meanwhile, on the ground, Milo Hall accumulated 119 yards. As a total offense, UNC 363 yard, 146 of them on the ground and 217 through the air.
What They Said
   Â
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
Overall thoughts on the game
"I am proud of our guys and the circumstances of this week. I am proud of the way we won and the statement that was made about us as a football team. The guys played their butts off today and I could not be prouder of them."
Quarterback Keaton Mott
About picking up the first win of the season
"It is an amazing feeling to pick up the first win. I said it after the Sacramento State game in this interview that no one could stop us but ourselves and I still believe that and we showed it today."
Safety Sherand Boyd Jr
On the resilience of the team.
"We have guys who love the game and push through practice every day. No matter if things are going well or not we are always pushing each other to compete and get better every day. Today just showed how we can persevere and earn the win."
Game Notes
- Milo Hall's 53-yard run was the first over 50 yards this season for UNC. It was the team's first rush over 50 yards since Anthony Davis last season at Montana.
- Jerone Jacksons blocked punt and recovered by Aaron Harris is the first blocked punt and returned for a touchdown since last season when Jacob Bobenmoyer blocked the kick and Sherand Boyd Jr returned it for a score against Cal Poly.
- It is the second time this season Sherand Boyd Jr has been a part of a pick-six, the other coming on opening day against McNeese State. Unlike the first one in which Boyd lateraled it to Michael Walker, he took it the 49-yards to the house.
- Dontay Warren had a career day recording five catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
- Noah Sol showed he was more than a wide receiver on Saturday, averaging 50.8 yards per punt including a 68-yard boot. He also had a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs.
- The Bears won the turnover battle on Saturday 4-1.
- Junior linebacker Luke Nelson led the team with nine tackles, also forcing a fumble and recording an interception.
What's Ahead
The Bear embark on their next to last road trip of the year going to Cedar City, Utah to face Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds came to Greeley last year and won 27-14. Kickoff between UNC and SUU is set for 6 pm MT.
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To stay up to date on all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.
UNC came out of the gates driving right down the field to score on the opening drive of the game. The team swiftly moved the 75 yards, scoring when Keaton Mott found Dontay Warren on the right sideline. Warren fighting for extra yardage on the play fumbled at the NAU 3-yard line but scrambled to recover it in the end zone.
The unconventional scoring continued near the end of the first quarter for the Bears when Jerone Jackson blocked a punt in the end zone and freshman Aaron Harris grabbed the ball before it rolled out of the back to make it a 12-7 Northern Colorado lead.
Northern Arizona took a 14-12 lead into the half, but would not score again, with UNC outscoring them 30-0 in the second half.
The Bears tied the game at 14 when NAU quarterback Daniel Bridge-Gadd scrambled and fumbled the ball at his 22 yard-line, a group of players tried to pounce on the loose pigskin, but it slipped out the end zone for a safety.
Northern Colorado rode a balanced offensive attack and pick-six from Sherand Boyd Junior the rest of the way.
Quarterback Keaton Mott finished the game 15-of-27 for 217 yards and three touchdowns along with nine rushing yards and another TD. Meanwhile, on the ground, Milo Hall accumulated 119 yards. As a total offense, UNC 363 yard, 146 of them on the ground and 217 through the air.
What They Said
   Â
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
Overall thoughts on the game
"I am proud of our guys and the circumstances of this week. I am proud of the way we won and the statement that was made about us as a football team. The guys played their butts off today and I could not be prouder of them."
Quarterback Keaton Mott
About picking up the first win of the season
"It is an amazing feeling to pick up the first win. I said it after the Sacramento State game in this interview that no one could stop us but ourselves and I still believe that and we showed it today."
Safety Sherand Boyd Jr
On the resilience of the team.
"We have guys who love the game and push through practice every day. No matter if things are going well or not we are always pushing each other to compete and get better every day. Today just showed how we can persevere and earn the win."
Game Notes
- Milo Hall's 53-yard run was the first over 50 yards this season for UNC. It was the team's first rush over 50 yards since Anthony Davis last season at Montana.
- Jerone Jacksons blocked punt and recovered by Aaron Harris is the first blocked punt and returned for a touchdown since last season when Jacob Bobenmoyer blocked the kick and Sherand Boyd Jr returned it for a score against Cal Poly.
- It is the second time this season Sherand Boyd Jr has been a part of a pick-six, the other coming on opening day against McNeese State. Unlike the first one in which Boyd lateraled it to Michael Walker, he took it the 49-yards to the house.
- Dontay Warren had a career day recording five catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
- Noah Sol showed he was more than a wide receiver on Saturday, averaging 50.8 yards per punt including a 68-yard boot. He also had a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs.
- The Bears won the turnover battle on Saturday 4-1.
- Junior linebacker Luke Nelson led the team with nine tackles, also forcing a fumble and recording an interception.
What's Ahead
The Bear embark on their next to last road trip of the year going to Cedar City, Utah to face Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds came to Greeley last year and won 27-14. Kickoff between UNC and SUU is set for 6 pm MT.
Â
To stay up to date on all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.
Team Stats
NAU
NC
Total Yards
336
365
Pass Yards
132
217
Rushing Yards
204
148
Penalty Yards
71
105
1st Downs
20
14
3rd Downs
4
5
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
29:37
30:23
1st Quarter
NAU 0, NC 6
NC - Warren,D. 0 yd fumble recovery (Mott,K. rushfailed)
NAU 7, NC 6
NAU - LOGAN, Joe 2 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:11
NAU 7, NC 12
NC - Harris,A. 0 yd blocked punt return (Mott,K. passfailed)
2nd Quarter
NAU 14, NC 12
NAU - LOGAN, Joe 1 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:50
3rd Quarter
NAU 14, NC 14
NC - Team 22 yd safety
NAU 14, NC 22
NC - Mott,K. 9 yd run (Warren,D. rush), 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:08
NAU 14, NC 28
NC - Dalacroix,D. 19 yd pass from Mott,K. (Mott,K. passfailed) 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:35
4th Quarter
NAU 14, NC 36
NC - Warren,D. 29 yd pass from Mott,K. (Littrell,J. pass) 5 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:30
NAU 14, NC 42
NC - Boyd,S. 49 yd interception (Warren,D. rushfailed)
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
3
YDS
217
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
S
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