Run Game, Late Stop Earns @UNCBearsFB Road Win

Saturday, October 27

Cedar City, Utah

6 pm

University of Northern Colorado

2-7 , 2-4

Southern Utah

1-7 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Colorado

Southern Utah

Photo by: Brian Smith / University of Northern Colorado

10/27/2018 9:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Northern Colorado football earned a road win on Saturday night 42-39 over Southern Utah

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

CEDAR CITY, Utah – Seven hundred and twenty-eight days ago Northern Colorado defeated Portland State in overtime in Portland. The clock since a UNC road win can rest to zero, after the Bears defeated Southern Utah 42-39 at Eccles Coliseum Saturday night. A Henry Stelzner interception with 15 seconds left sealed the deal.

The Bears used their run game to lead them to victory rushing for 289 yards on the day. For the first time in the program's DI history, they had a pair of 100 yard rushers in Milo Hall (128 yards) and Trae Riek (118 yards).

Northern Colorado came out fast and never looked back. The Bears defense forced a three and out their first two drives of the game and the offense responded with back-to-back touchdowns. Milo Hall got the scoring started on the night for UNC with a 3-yard TD. He went on to add two more scores in the game from 19 and 24 yards out. Hall finished the game with 21 carries for 128 yards going over the 100 yard mark for the second straight game.

Over the first two offensive drives of the game for each team, UNC outgained SUU 132-9.

Southern Utah scored eight straight as their defense and offense settled into the game during the second quarter.

The Bears extended their lead back to double figures at the half when Keaton Mott found Theron Verna for 35 yards on a hail mary set up by a facemask call on Dante Jackson's punt return.

Northern Colorado scored 10 straight points to start the second half, opening their lead to 35-11. Southern Utah never gave in though, cutting the UNC lead to 42-32 early in the fourth quarter and to 42-39 with 45 seconds left.

SUU had one final chance with 22 seconds left starting at their 15-yard line. Keifer Morris pressured the Thunderbirds quarterback and forced the pass that was picked off by Stelzner to secure the win.

What They Said
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr
"Three points is what I am most excited about out of all the numbers we had tonight. We scored three more points than Southern Utah and go the W. Last week we controlled the game for the whole second half, while this week it was we punch you and they punch us back. Our offense was on today and scored 42 points and then we were able to hold them off in the second half."

Game Notes
- Willie Fairman's touchdown catch in the first quarter was the first of his career. He finished the game with 2 caches 66 yards and the one score.
- Alex Wesley became the second Bear to post a pair of 1,000 yards receiving seasons, joining Vincent Jackson. Wesley achieved the mark in the third quarter and ended the day with 6 receptions for 96 yards.
- Milo Hall became the first Bear to score three touchdowns in a game since the 2017 opener when Trae Riek scored three. Hall also became the first Bears since Riek in the 2016 season to rush over 100 yards in back-to-back games.
- Sherand Boyd Jr led the team with 10 tackles on the night including one for a loss. He also recovered the key onside kick.
- The back-to-back wins are the first for UNC since October 22 and 29, 2016 against Sacramento State (27-19) and Portland State (56-49 ot).

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado is home for one final time next week when No. 5/4 Eastern Washington comes to town. EWU defeated Idaho on home on Saturday 38-14. The Bears will honor their seniors before kickoff on November 3 that is set for 12 pm MT.

To stay up to date on all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.