Bears unable catch Bobcats in Bozeman

Saturday, October 2

Bozeman, Mont.

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

2-3 , 1-1

Montana State

4-1 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Colo.

Montana St.

Photo by: Thomas Hoffman

10/2/2021 5:05:00 PM | Football

Box Score

UNC dropped its Big Sky contest to Montana State Saturday

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

BOZEMAN, Mont. – A second-half flurry of scoring kept Northern Colorado from getting within reach of No. 11/12 Montana State as the Bears fell, 40-7, Saturday afternoon.

Following an opening 11 play, 75-yard opening touchdown drive from Montana State, UNC gave the home side a short field via Dylan McCaffrey's second interception of the season.

While the Bobcats put together its second consecutive scoring drive, defensive coordinator Scott Darnell's defense began to settle in.

Twice UNC held MSU to field goals in the red zone, keeping the Bears alive.

Sensing a changing of the tide, Northern Colorado pieced together its most impressive drive of the afternoon. Nine plays, 73 yards and 5:03 off the clock, McCaffrey marched down the field, capping the drive off with a seven-yard strike to Kassidy Woods.

The Bears' defense stood strong once again and with a little under two minutes to play in the half, and the offense had intentions of putting more points on the board before heading into the locker room.

Runs from Jaire Moore and Tru Wilson had Northern Colorado in business. However, McCaffrey was picked off scrambling to his right on a pass intended for Woods.

Montana State found the end zone three plays later, leaving a severe uphill battle for Northern Colorado to climb.

It wasn't UNC's day in the second half. The Bobcats combined 241 yards in the second half, scoring 13 more points.

Daego Albert recovered a muffed punt just before the end of the third quarter, setting up McCaffrey and the offense in prime position.

Gene Sledge hammered it down to the one-yard line before MSU thwarted the scoring opportunity with its third interception of the day in the end zone.

What They Said

UNC Athletics · Montana State Postgame - Ed McCaffrey

Game Notes

Captains for the game were Dylan McCaffrey, David Hoage, Grant Stephen and Jace Bobo
Jaire Moore scampered for 11 yards, including a season-long nine during the Bears' touchdown drive in the second quarter.
Xander Gagnon carded a season-high eight solo tackles. He had 10 tackles overall on the day.
Running back Tru Wilson rushed for 60 yards, eclipsing the 42 he had amassed over the previous four games.
Kassidy Woods caught his second touchdown pass of the season, a seven-yard strike from Dylan McCaffrey.
Zach Rush took his first collegiate snap.
Ty Arrington and Elijah Anderson-Taylor earned their first career starts on Saturday. Arrington caught the first pass of the game for 25 yards, UNC's longest offensive play of the day. Anderson-Taylor racked up four tackles including one for a loss.

What's Ahead
Northern returns home to Nottingham Field for another ranked matchup against Eastern Washington. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at UNCBears.com/Tickets.