University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, November 2
Pocatello, Idaho
2:30 pm
University of Northern Colorado
2-7 , 2-3
26
at
20
Idaho State
3-6 , 2-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northern Colorado
6
6
6
8
26
Idaho State
0
10
7
3
20
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Bears Dig Deep to Defeat Idaho State
11/2/2019 7:26:00 PM | Football
UNC football picked up its second win of the year with a 26-20 game at Idaho State
POCATELLO, Idaho – Northern Colorado football dug deep and came away with a gutty 26-20 win over Idaho State on Saturday. It was a complete team effort in the win as the Bears offense accumulated 387 yards scoring three touchdowns, while the defense forced four turnovers and scored a touchdown of their own.
Michael Walker and Aaron Harris set the tone early for the defense and would be heard from often. In a bizarre start to the contest, UNC fumbled the opening kickoff but gained the ball back on the very next play. Walker stripped Idaho State's running back and Harris recovered the fumble.
Walker went on to have a pair of interceptions including a 35-yard pick-six, while Harris made the game-ending interception with 39 seconds left.
It was a balanced attack offensively for the Bears as Jacob Knipp passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, while Milo Hall ran for 118 yards on 30 carries. Willie Fairman caught two of Knipp's three touchdown passes including the go-ahead 14-yard pass with one hand early in the fourth quarter.
Fairman finished the game with six catches for 65 yards. Jaren Mitchell led the team with 98 yards receiving on seven receptions.
Northern Colorado scored first in the game on Knipp's 11-yard pass to Fairman after the teams traded fumbles to start it. The Bears held the lead at 6-0 after the first quarter as they outgained ISU 150-42.
Idaho State cut the lead in half early in the second and then took it on a 40-yard pass five minutes before the half. UNC reclaimed the lead just before half on a Knipp to Noah Sol 17-yard pass and hold a 12-10 advantage at the break.
Walker extended the lead to 18-10 with his house call on the first drive of the second half. Once again Idaho State responded with 10 straight points as they went primarily to the run game in the second half. ISU changed quarterbacks after the pick-six and ran the ball 34 times in the second half.
After going down 20-18, UNC responded with a six-play 63-yard drive capped off by Fairman's one-handed catch to go up for good. Milo Hall converted the team's two-point conversion attempt on a low snap that he ended up picking up and used all heart and determination to get in the endzone and make it 26-20.
Northern Colorado's defense held strong the rest of the way as they forced Idaho State to pass leading to the Harris game-ending pick.
What They Said
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
Overall thoughts on today's game
"This is an awesome feeling. We have been struggling on the road and we had never one here until today in my career. I am just proud of the guys and the way they fought today. The defense bent but didn't break. Michael Walker played his butt off today and Aaron Harris made the big play at the end when we needed it."
On the defense's performance
"Our defense did a good job today. The defensive line got good pressure on their quarterback and we were able to get them to pull him after he threw it to us a few times. They kept grinding and forced the mistakes from their backup as well."
About the offense's balance
"It starts with the offensive line. We were able to keep Jacob standing up today and allow him to distribute the ball. Then you have Milo who has a heart as big as this dome and just keeps grinding no matter what."
Game Notes
- Michael Walker's pick-six was the second of his career. The other came against McNeese State in the 2018 opener when Sherand Boyd lateraled the ball to Walker who took it to the house.
- The two interceptions by Walker is the second time this year he has recorded two picks in a game. The other came against Idaho, also ending in a Northern Colorado win. He is now tied for UNC's Division I record for interceptions in a season with four.
- Aaron Harris recorded his first interception of the year and the fumble recovery was the second of the season for him.
- Luke Nelson recorded his second career 20-plus tackle game. He finished the day with 20 tackles, six solo, 14 assisted. It is two shy of his career-high of 22 he made at Montana in 2017.
- Milo Hall's 100-yard game is his third of the season and sixth of his career. It was also the third time this season he has rushed the ball at least 30 times.
- Noel Reid made a career-high 11 tackles.
- The win at Idaho State is the first by UNC since 2009.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado returns home to host No.15/14 Montana State. The Bears and Bobcats kick off at Noon on November 9. MSU defeated Southern Utah on Saturday 42-7.
The game will be broadcast on Eleven Sports and Pluto TV ch. 541 and you can listen to the game on 1310 KFKA.
As a thank you to all of the veterans and in honor of Veteran's Day, UNC Athletics is offering all veterans a free ticket to the game with a valid military ID. This special can only be used in person at the UNC Ticket Office located in the Campus Commons or at the Nottingham Field Box Office the day of the game.
Tickets to the game and all UNC Athletic events can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets, calling 9703551-4849 or visiting the UNC Box Office located in the Campus Commons.
To stay up to date on all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @UNC_BearsFB.
Michael Walker and Aaron Harris set the tone early for the defense and would be heard from often. In a bizarre start to the contest, UNC fumbled the opening kickoff but gained the ball back on the very next play. Walker stripped Idaho State's running back and Harris recovered the fumble.
Walker went on to have a pair of interceptions including a 35-yard pick-six, while Harris made the game-ending interception with 39 seconds left.
It was a balanced attack offensively for the Bears as Jacob Knipp passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, while Milo Hall ran for 118 yards on 30 carries. Willie Fairman caught two of Knipp's three touchdown passes including the go-ahead 14-yard pass with one hand early in the fourth quarter.
Fairman finished the game with six catches for 65 yards. Jaren Mitchell led the team with 98 yards receiving on seven receptions.
Northern Colorado scored first in the game on Knipp's 11-yard pass to Fairman after the teams traded fumbles to start it. The Bears held the lead at 6-0 after the first quarter as they outgained ISU 150-42.
Idaho State cut the lead in half early in the second and then took it on a 40-yard pass five minutes before the half. UNC reclaimed the lead just before half on a Knipp to Noah Sol 17-yard pass and hold a 12-10 advantage at the break.
Walker extended the lead to 18-10 with his house call on the first drive of the second half. Once again Idaho State responded with 10 straight points as they went primarily to the run game in the second half. ISU changed quarterbacks after the pick-six and ran the ball 34 times in the second half.
After going down 20-18, UNC responded with a six-play 63-yard drive capped off by Fairman's one-handed catch to go up for good. Milo Hall converted the team's two-point conversion attempt on a low snap that he ended up picking up and used all heart and determination to get in the endzone and make it 26-20.
Northern Colorado's defense held strong the rest of the way as they forced Idaho State to pass leading to the Harris game-ending pick.
What They Said
Head Coach Earnest Collins Jr.
Overall thoughts on today's game
"This is an awesome feeling. We have been struggling on the road and we had never one here until today in my career. I am just proud of the guys and the way they fought today. The defense bent but didn't break. Michael Walker played his butt off today and Aaron Harris made the big play at the end when we needed it."
On the defense's performance
"Our defense did a good job today. The defensive line got good pressure on their quarterback and we were able to get them to pull him after he threw it to us a few times. They kept grinding and forced the mistakes from their backup as well."
About the offense's balance
"It starts with the offensive line. We were able to keep Jacob standing up today and allow him to distribute the ball. Then you have Milo who has a heart as big as this dome and just keeps grinding no matter what."
Game Notes
- Michael Walker's pick-six was the second of his career. The other came against McNeese State in the 2018 opener when Sherand Boyd lateraled the ball to Walker who took it to the house.
- The two interceptions by Walker is the second time this year he has recorded two picks in a game. The other came against Idaho, also ending in a Northern Colorado win. He is now tied for UNC's Division I record for interceptions in a season with four.
- Aaron Harris recorded his first interception of the year and the fumble recovery was the second of the season for him.
- Luke Nelson recorded his second career 20-plus tackle game. He finished the day with 20 tackles, six solo, 14 assisted. It is two shy of his career-high of 22 he made at Montana in 2017.
- Milo Hall's 100-yard game is his third of the season and sixth of his career. It was also the third time this season he has rushed the ball at least 30 times.
- Noel Reid made a career-high 11 tackles.
- The win at Idaho State is the first by UNC since 2009.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado returns home to host No.15/14 Montana State. The Bears and Bobcats kick off at Noon on November 9. MSU defeated Southern Utah on Saturday 42-7.
The game will be broadcast on Eleven Sports and Pluto TV ch. 541 and you can listen to the game on 1310 KFKA.
As a thank you to all of the veterans and in honor of Veteran's Day, UNC Athletics is offering all veterans a free ticket to the game with a valid military ID. This special can only be used in person at the UNC Ticket Office located in the Campus Commons or at the Nottingham Field Box Office the day of the game.
Tickets to the game and all UNC Athletic events can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets, calling 9703551-4849 or visiting the UNC Box Office located in the Campus Commons.
To stay up to date on all things UNC football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @UNC_BearsFB.
Team Stats
NC
ISU
Total Yards
387
430
Pass Yards
237
128
Rushing Yards
150
302
Penalty Yards
51
24
1st Downs
22
24
3rd Downs
6
5
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
31:14
28:46
1st Quarter
NC 6, ISU 0
NC - Willie Fairman 11 yd pass from Jacob Knipp (Collin Root kickfailed) 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:32
2nd Quarter
NC 6, ISU 3
ISU - ALLISH, David 45 yd field goal 6 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:51
NC 6, ISU 10
ISU - DEAN, Michael 40 yd pass from STRUCK, Matt (ALLISH, David kick) 4 plays, 51 yards, TOP 1:22
NC 12, ISU 10
NC - Noah Sol 17 yd pass from Jacob Knipp (Collin Root kickfailed) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:19
3rd Quarter
NC 18, ISU 10
NC - Michael Walker 35 yd interception (Collin Root kickfailed)
NC 18, ISU 17
ISU - RANGO, Malakai 10 yd run (ALLISH, David kick), 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:46
4th Quarter
NC 18, ISU 20
ISU - ALLISH, David 20 yd field goal 13 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:08
NC 26, ISU 20
NC - Willie Fairman 14 yd pass from Jacob Knipp (Milo Hall rush) 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:28
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
3
YDS
237
INT
1
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
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