Game Preview: UNC Travels to No. 5 Montana for Big Sky Conference Match-Up

Northern Colorado (0-7, 0-4 Big Sky) at Montana (6-1, 3-1 Big Sky)

Missoula, Mont. / Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 28 | 1 p.m. MDT
Radio – KFKA | Live Stream – ESPN +
Press Conference – Week 9 vs. Montana

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Northern Colorado football team returns to the gridiron and travels to perennial power and No.5/No.7-ranked Montana in a Big Sky Conference tilt.

Bears and the Grizzlies

Montana leads the all-time series 10-1 and has won two in a row in the series. The Grizzlies and Bears last played on November 6, 2021, which was a 35-0 UNC setback in Greeley. The last time the two programs met in Missoula was November 11, 2017, the Grizzlies won 44-14. Luke Nelson tied his own school record (NCAA Division I era) record with 20 tackles. UNC's lone win in the series was a 28-25 win on November 12, 2014, in Greeley.

Strength of Schedule

According to the Massey Index Rankings, the Bears are playing the fourth-hardest schedule in the FCS this season. The Bears have played four ranked opponents this season: Incarnate Word (No. 8/9), Washington State (No. 23 FBS), Weber State (No. 13/14), Sacramento State (No. 4/5), Montana (No. 5/7), and Idaho (No.8/9). Idaho State and Abilene Christian have also earned significant wins and are in contention for their conference championships in the final month of the regular season.

The Bears

Last time out for the Bears

The Bears are coming off a close 24-17 setback at Cal Poly.
The defense tallied two interceptions with Tizell Lewis and Jacob Stanton coming down with the interceptions.
Jordan Knapke finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including a career-high 11 solo stops.
Six different student-athletes recorded a reception (Jamarii Robinson, Brayden Munroe, Blake Haggerty, Zain Zinicola, Ty Arrington, and Fisher Clements.

More about the Bears

David Afari ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference with 464 rushing yards. Afari averages 4.8 yards per carry and 66.3 yards per game.
Darius Stewart ranks 16^th in the conference with 261 rushing yards.
Jacob Sirmon has thrown for 1312 yards for seventh overall. Just 250 passing yards separate third from seventh amongst Big Sky quarterbacks.
Blake Haggerty is eighth in the conference with 377 receiving yards.
Dustin Johnson is 10^th overall in total tackles with 52 overall.
Jordan Knapke ranks 11^th overall in total tackles with 48 overall.
Tizell Lewis is third in the conference with 10 pass breakups.
Nathaniel Gillis is fourth in the conference with nine pass breakups.
Jacob Stanton and Lewis are tied for third in the conference with two interceptions.

Last time out for the Grizzlies

Montana coming off a bye week.
The Grizzlies defeated then-No.3 Idaho 23-21 on October 14.
Montana rushed for 158 yards and one touchdown.
Clifton McDowell completed 11-of-18 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown.
Grizz defense added five sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble.

More about the Grizzlies

Montana defense ranks second overall in the conference and allows 19.3 points per game.
Eli Gillman ranks third in the conference with 508 rushing yards.
Gillman's six rushing touchdowns rank third in the conference.
Braxton Hill has tallied 61 tackles and ranks third in the conference.
Trevin Gradney has recorded four interceptions, which ranks atop the conference standings.

Hoage and Knapke Named to Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team

University of Northern Colorado All-American linebacker David Hoage and defensive back (turned linebacker) Jordan Knapke were named to the Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team, the conference office announced Monday morning. Hoage, a 6-foot-3, 245-pounder out of Smoky Hill High School in Denver, returns after missing the 2022 season due to injury. The veteran had a stellar 2021 campaign.

Hoage was a Third-Team All-America selection by AP and Stats Performance and First-Team Sophomore All-America selection by Hero Sports He was a Second-Team All-Big Sky Conference selection and led the Big Sky and ranked third in the nation with 22 tackles for a loss. Hoage set the program's DI single-season record for sacks with 10.5 and was the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week after recording eight tackles, four and a half tackles for a loss, three sacks, and recovering two fumbles against Houston Baptist. Also recorded 70 tackles on the year, 39 solo, and led the team with eight QB hurries.

Knapke, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound Aurora, Colorado native and Grandview High School product, is a leader of the Bears defense. He appeared in 11 games and recorded 90 tackles, 36 solo, and dad three PBUs. Last season Knapke had four games with double-digit tackles (vs. Idaho, at Sacramento State, vs. Montana State, at Eastern Washington).

Tickets on Sale

UNC football tickets are on sale. The Bears play a challenging home schedule with five teams that qualified for the 2022 playoffs.

Tickets can be purchased at uncbears.com/tickets or call 970-351-4849.

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Players Mentioned

David Afari

Ty Arrington

Fisher Clements

Nathaniel Gillis

Blake Haggerty

David Hoage

Dustin Johnson

Jordan Knapke

Tizell Lewis

Brayden Munroe

Jamarii Robinson

Jacob Sirmon

Jacob Stanton

Darius Stewart

Zain Zinicola

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