University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
3-4 , 1-2
Sacramento State
4-3 , 2-1
Northern Colorado Falls on the Road to Sacramento State, 40-35
10/18/2025 11:48:00 PM | Football
After a slow offensive start in the opening quarter, the Bears' defense held strong, limiting the Hornets to a single field goal and forcing multiple punts. Linebacker Hudson Voggesser anchored the defense early, tallying five first-quarter tackles and matching his career high with 16 total stops.
Northern Colorado's offense came alive in the second quarter. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. connected with Carver Cheeks on a 75-yard strike to put the Bears on the board, then Brandon Johnson powered in a two-yard rushing touchdown to give UNC its first lead. Sacramento State briefly regained the advantage, but Gibson and Cheeks linked up again, this time from six yards out, to send the Bears into halftime with a 21-17 lead.
The teams traded scores in the third quarter as Johnson added his second rushing touchdown of the night. Sacramento State answered with a late field goal to close the gap to one score entering the fourth, 28-27.
An early fourth-quarter pick-six pushed the Hornets back in front, but Northern Colorado immediately responded as Gibson found Cheeks once more for a 62-yard touchdown, his third of the night and fifth of the season. Sacramento State ultimately pulled ahead late with a pair of field goals to seal the 40-35 final.
Cheeks finished with a historic performance, hauling in nine receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns, marking the second-highest single-game total in Northern Colorado's Division I era and fourth all-time. Gibson threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns, while Johnson and Mathias Price combined for 119 rushing yards on the ground.
Defensively, Voggesser led the way with his 16 tackles, while Zach Nowatzke added 13. Keenan Guthrie and Cam Chapa each added nine. The Bears' defensive front totaled three sacks in the effort.
Northern Colorado (3-4, 1-2 Big Sky) returns home next weekend looking to build on its momentum as it continues conference play against No. 6/6 UC Davis. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MDT.
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Team Stats
UNC 0, SAC 3
SAC - Meadors,Grant 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:26
UNC 0, SAC 10
SAC - Hammond Jr.,Rodney 46 yd run (Meadors,Grant kick), 4 plays, 54 yards, TOP 01:32
UNC 7, SAC 10
UNC - Cheeks,Carver 75 yd pass from Gibson,Eric (Willig,Jacob kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:45
UNC 14, SAC 10
UNC - Johnson,Brandon 2 yd run (Willig,Jacob kick), 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 05:10
UNC 14, SAC 17
SAC - Tenney,Bear 25 yd pass from Williams,Cardell (Meadors,Grant kick) 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 04:09
UNC 21, SAC 17
UNC - Cheeks,Carver 6 yd pass from Gibson,Eric (Willig,Jacob kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:56
UNC 21, SAC 24
SAC - Adams II,Sam 34 yd run (Meadors,Grant kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:31
UNC 28, SAC 24
UNC - Johnson,Brandon 2 yd run (Willig,Jacob kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:37
UNC 28, SAC 27
SAC - Meadors,Grant 28 yd field goal 14 plays, 61 yards, TOP 07:05
UNC 28, SAC 34
SAC - Lee III,Ricky 34 yd interception (Meadors,Grant kick)
UNC 35, SAC 34
UNC - Cheeks,Carver 62 yd pass from Gibson,Eric (Willig,Jacob kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:53
UNC 35, SAC 37
SAC - Meadors,Grant 34 yd field goal 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 04:30
UNC 35, SAC 40
SAC - Meadors,Grant 42 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 02:07
