PREVIEW: Bears Travel to Sacramento State for Receiving Votes Matchup

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GAMEDAY INFO & TIMELINE
Kickoff – 7 p.m. MDT / 6 p.m. PDT

TICKETS & PARKING
Ticket and parking information for Saturday's game are available here.

WEEK 7 RECAP: Northern Colorado made a statement on Saturday, knocking off No. 11/13 Idaho 49-33 in one of the program's biggest wins of the Division I era. The Bears (3-3, 1-1 Big Sky) silenced the Homecoming crowd inside the Kibbie Dome with a dominant first half, scoring 35 points, their second-highest in a half since joining Division I, and piling up 482 total yards of offense. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. continued his strong play, completing 22 of 34 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third 300-yard performance of the season. Brayden Munroe led the receiving corps with 151 yards and a score on five catches, while Carver Cheeks added nine receptions for 120 yards and a rushing touchdown. Mathias Price contributed two total touchdowns and 89 yards of offense. UNC jumped out early and never looked back, scoring on seven of its first nine drives. The Bears' defense also rose to the occasion, forcing three takeaways and three sacks to keep the Vandals in check. Cam Chapa led the way with 10 tackles and a pivotal interception returned 43 yards, while Darrell Bryant Jr. added an interception of his own. Hudson Voggesser, Zach Nowatzke, and Dominic Butts each recorded a sack as Northern Colorado handed Idaho its first home loss since 2023.

SERIES HISTORY

The series began in 2006 after Northern Colorado joined the Big Sky Conference.
Sacramento State has dominated the matchup, winning 14 of 16 meetings.
Northern Colorado's last victory came in 2016, a 27-19 home win.
Five of UNC's seven home losses have been decided by 10 points or fewer, including one-possession heartbreakers in 2007 (17-20), 2009 (35-38), 2014 (38-43), 2018 (25-28), and 2021 (24-27).
Sacramento State has posted 50+ points three times (2008, 2017, 2019, 2022).
UNC's offense has surpassed 30 points just twice in the series (2009, 2014).
The Hornets have won the last six matchups since 2016, including a 21-13 win in Greeley in 2023.

THE LAMB ERA: In his third season, Ed Lamb continues to define Northern Colorado's identity on his own terms. A two-time Eddie Robinson Award finalist, Lamb's emphasis on discipline, player development, and in-state recruiting is yielding tangible results. After a 1-11 (1-7 Big Sky) finish in 2024, the Bears have already matched and surpassed that total win count in 2025, while demonstrating competitiveness in nearly every contest. The season kicked off with a 17-3 win over Chadron State (first season-opening victory since 2017), then a 21-17 near-upset at FBS Colorado State. UNC pushed No. 20/12 South Dakota to overtime (24-17) before edging Houston Christian 26-23 in OT to reach 2-2. The Bears' 49-33 road triumph over No. 11/13 Idaho propelled them to 3-3 (1-1 Big Sky) and earned national attention. That said, their earlier 26-18 loss to Idaho State underscored areas still needing consistency. What stands out: Lamb's approach is forming a competitive, resilient program that now demands respect in the Big Sky.

GIBSON JR. SPARKS HIGH-POWERED ATTACK: Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. continues to elevate the offense. The redshirt junior torched No. 11/13 Idaho for 350 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing, his third 300-yard game of the season. Gibson has surpassed 1,400 yards through six contests, ranking among the Big Sky's most productive passers. Earlier this year, he threw for a career-high 396 yards against Idaho State, the ninth-best single-game mark in UNC's Division I history.

CHEEKS KEEPS MOVING THE CHAINS: Junior wideout Carver Cheeks has been Gibson's go-to option all season. Against Idaho, Cheeks hauled in nine receptions for 120 yards and added a rushing touchdown. He's topped 90 yards in multiple games and continues to lead the Bears in receptions and yards, bringing reliability and explosiveness to every drive.

CHAPA CHARGES THE DEFENSE: The Bears' defense powered the upset in Moscow with three takeaways and three sacks, led by standout linebacker Cam Chapa. The sophomore finished with 10 tackles, a 43-yard interception return, and a tackle for loss, earning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform National Defensive Honorable Mention honors. Fellow defenders Hudson Voggesser, Zach Nowatzke, Darrell Bryant Jr., and Dominic Butts all contributed key plays as UNC limited Idaho's offensive attack.

SPECIAL TEAMS SETS THE TONE: Kicker Jacob Willig stayed sharp, converting a 52-yard field goal and both PATs in the Idaho win. He's now 8-of-11 on field goals and perfect on extra points through six games. Leo Blumentritt continues to flip the field with precision punting, while UNC's coverage units have kept opponents in check.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOR THE BLUE & GOLD: UNC's statement win over a top-15 opponent earned national attention:

Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week: Cam Chapa
Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention: Cam Chapa
Receiving Votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25

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Players Mentioned

Leo Blumentritt

Darrell Bryant Jr.

Dominic Butts

Cam Chapa

Carver Cheeks

Eric Gibson Jr.

Brayden Munroe

Zach Nowatzke

Mathias Price

Hudson Voggesser

Jacob Willig

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