Week 3 Preview: UNC at No. 23 Washington State

Saturday, September 16

Pullman, Wash.

3 p.m. (MTN)

University of Northern Colorado

Washington State

9/14/2023 11:41:00 AM | Football

By: Dennis Driscoll, UNC Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications

Northern Colorado (0-2) at No. 23 Washington State (3-0)
Martin Stadium – Pullman, Wash.
Saturday, Sept. 16 | 3 p.m. MT
PAC-12 Network Washington | KFKA | Live Stats | UNC Game Notes | Washington State Game Notes

GREELEY, Colo. – The University of Northern Colorado football travels to Pac-12 foe Washington State for its final non-conference game of the 2023 season.

Bears and the Cougars

This is the second time UNC and WSU will meet on the gridiron. The two teams last met in 2019, which was a 59-17 setback in Pullman.

The Bears

·       Incarnate Word defeated UNC 42-7 in the home opener at Nottingham Field.
·       Hank Gibbs connected with Blake Haggerty for a 43-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
·       The Bears went 2-for-3 on fourth down and 2-for-18 on third down.
·       Sirmon finished 13-for-27 for 114 yards and one interception.
·       David Afari was the Bears' leading rusher with 33 yards on 14 attempts. Darius Stewart was right behind him with 32 yards on 13 attempts.
·       Blake Haggerty added four receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown.
·       Vincent King finished with a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo and two assists.
·       Tywonne Harris picked up the interception.
·       Sirmon, Vincent King, and Keyvon Lakes were the captains for game two.
·       King leads the team with 14 total tackles, 10 solo stops, and four assists. King also has tallied a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
·       Tizell Lewis is second on the squad with 11 stops, nine solo stops, and two assists.
·       As a team, the Bears have totaled 11 tackles for loss.

The Cougars

·       Washington State is coming off a 31-22 upset win over than-ranked No. 23 Wisconsin.
·       Through three games the Cougars average 444.5 yards per game – 356.5 passing yards per game, and 88 rushing yards per game.
·       Cameron Ward is the Cougars' leading rusher and leading passer. Ward has totaled 659 passing yards with 659 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.         He's also tallied 83 rushing yards with a long of 22 yards.
·       Lincoln Victor is the Cougars' go-to receiver with 223 receiving yards and one touchdown.
·       10 different WSU student-athletes have recorded a reception.
·       On defense, WSU is led by Sam Lockett III and Devin Richardson. Lockett has totaled 18 tackles, 10 solo, eight assists, and a QB hurry. Richardson also sports 18         tackles, with five solo, 13 assists, and one QB hurry.

Knapke Makes the Move; Linebackers a Strength

Jordan Knapke has successfully made the move from safety to linebacker, and in the process beefed up to 225 pounds. He was a preseason All-Big Sky selection at defensive back and recorded 90 tackles in 2022.

Last season, Vincent King and Tama Tuitele found the ball carrier on a consistent basis. King finished with 66 tackles, 33 solo, and 33 assisted. He also added two sacks. Tuitele added 60 tackles, 32 solo and 28 assisted to go along with four tackles for loss.

Keyvon Lakes, Payton Polson, Jacob Stanton, and Keenan Guthrie all earned significant playing time in 2022.

Secondary Deep with Talent

The UNC secondary is deep with 18 student-athletes. At cornerback, Tizell Lewis, Tywonne Harris, Nathaniel Lewis, Noah Mangham, Darren Mercer, and Kaleb Quammie stand out. At the safety position, Makhi Johnson, and Dustin Johnson (no relation) expect to see significant playing time.

Running Back Depth

Coach Lamb and company are pleased with the talent and depth at the running back position. David Afari is listed atop the depth chart, but feel great with Darius Stewart and Caden Meis, with both listed as Co-No.2 backs.

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

University of Northern Colorado All-American linebacker David Hoage and defensive back 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, leads the Bears' secondary. 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).