PREVIEW: Northern Colorado Set for Road Matchup at Eastern Washington

Saturday, November 15

Cheney, Wash.

2 p.m. MST | 1 p.m. PST

University of Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics

11/11/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football

UNC Game Notes

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN: Pirate Radio // 93.5 FM // pirateradio935.com
LIVE STATS: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=604323

TICKETS & PARKING
Information for Saturday's game is available at GoEags.com/Tickets.

THE SERIES: Eastern Washington holds a commanding 16-1 lead in the all-time series against Northern Colorado. The Bears' lone win came in 1981, a 13-9 victory in Greeley. Since then, the Eagles have claimed 15 straight matchups, including a 43-15 win in the most recent meeting in 2024.

GAME 10 RECAP: Northern Colorado football fell 49-10 on the road at Northern Arizona on Saturday afternoon at Findlay Toyota Field. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. completed 17-of-28 passes for 151 yards, while Peter Costelli added 29 passing yards and 19 on the ground in his second game back from injury. Brandon Johnson led the rushing attack with 36 yards and a 3-yard touchdown, while Mathias Price and Justin Guin combined for 47 yards on the ground. Brayden Munroe paced the receiving corps with 64 yards on four catches, including a 30-yard grab. Luke Wooten and Carver Cheeks each added four receptions, totaling 31 and 28 yards respectively, while tight end Charles Garrison contributed three catches for 21 yards. On defense, Franky Morales anchored the effort with a game-high 11 tackles. Darrell Bryant Jr. added nine stops, while Evan Harrell and Zach Nowatzke each finished with six tackles. Makur Abram added three tackles and one for loss. Special teams continued to be a steady force, Jacob Willig was perfect on the day, connecting on a 32-yard field goal and his lone PAT, while Leo Blumentritt averaged 41.2 yards per punt and placed one inside the 20.

THE LAMB ERA: Now in his third season, head coach Ed Lamb continues to guide Northern Colorado through a disciplined and detail-driven rebuild focused on culture, effort, and execution. The Bears have matched last year's win total with three victories, highlighted by a 49-33 upset of then-No. 11/13 Idaho and a near-road win over FBS Colorado State. UNC remains among the nation's most disciplined programs and one of the Big Sky's cleanest teams.

By the Numbers:
- Top 10 FCS / 1st Big Sky – Fewest Penalties (4.1 per game)
- Top 10 FCS / 1st Big Sky – Fewest Penalty Yards (34.3 per game)
- Top 40 FCS / 2nd Big Sky – Pass Efficiency Defense (124.6)

GIBSON AND COSTELLI UNDER CENTER: Eric Gibson Jr. continues to power the Bears' offense, ranking among the Big Sky's top passers and in the Top 15 nationally in total passing yards. His consistency and accuracy (64.8%) have anchored a passing attack averaging more than 250 yards per game. Peter Costelli's return from injury has added a dual-threat dimension to UNC's quarterback room, giving the Bears flexibility and experience in the pocket.

GIBSON SEASON STATS
- 2,331 passing yards | 233.1 YPG (No. 23 FCS / No. 5 Big Sky)
- 64.2% completion rate (No. 5 Big Sky)
- 10 passing touchdowns
- 200+ yards in six of 10 games

CHEEKS STAYS CONSISTENT: Junior wideout Carver Cheeks remains one of the most productive receivers in the FCS, leading the Big Sky in receptions, receiving yards, and yards per game. His blend of size and speed continues to drive UNC's vertical offense.

CHEEKS BY THE NUMBERS
- 859 yards | No. 7 FCS / No. 1 Big Sky
- 6.2 catches per game | No. 6 FCS / No. 1 Big Sky
- 85.9 yards per game | No. 10 FCS / No. 1 Big Sky
- Three 100-yard performances | 5 TDs

MUNROE EMERGING: Brayden Munroe has developed into a key secondary option in the Bears' aerial attack, ranking among the Big Sky's top 10 in receptions and receiving yards.

MUNROE BY THE NUMBERS
- 622 yards | No. 59 FCS / No. 10 Big Sky
- 77.8 yards per game | 3 TDs
- 15.9 yards per catch

CHAPA ANCHORS THE DEFENSE: Sophomore safety Cam Chapa continues to lead UNC's defense with elite production and leadership on the back end. He ranks No. 5 nationally in solo tackles per game (5.9) and leads the team in total tackles and interceptions.

CHAPA BY THE NUMBERS
- 82 total tackles (8.2 per game – team leader)
- 3 interceptions (Top 10 Big Sky)
- No. 1 Big Sky / No. 5 FCS – Solo Tackles (5.9 per game)

PRICE & JOHNSON IN THE BACKFIELD: The duo of Mathias Price and Brandon Johnson continues to anchor UNC's rushing attack, providing balance and toughness in short-yardage situations.
PRICE: 423 yards | 4.6 yards per carry | 47.0 YPG
JOHNSON: 5 rushing TDs (team leader) | 36 yards & 1 TD vs. NAU

WILLIG & BLUMENTRITT STAND OUT ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Special teams remain one of UNC's strongest units under coach Lamb, ranking No. 11 nationally in net punting and top-three in the Big Sky in both kicking and punting production.
WILLIG: 11-of-15 FG (75%) | 52 total points | No. 3 Big Sky in FG per game (1.2)
BLUMENTRITT: 43.5-yard average | No. 21 FCS / No. 2 Big Sky

DISCIPLINED & DETAILED: Northern Colorado continues to demonstrate strong execution and discipline in all three phases:
- No. 5 FCS / 1st Big Sky – Fewest Penalty Yards per Game (34.3)
- No. 6 FCS / 1st Big Sky – Fewest Penalties per Game (4.1)
- Even Turnover Margin (T-72 FCS)
- No. 3 Big Sky / No. 37 FCS – Third-Down Defense (37.1%)

TRENDING UP / QUICK HITTERS
- Road Tested: Two of UNC's three wins have come on the road (Idaho, Houston Christian).
- Passing Prowess: 251.6 YPG – No. 5 Big Sky / No. 23 FCS.
- Strong Starts: Within one score at halftime in six of ten games.
- Passing Defense: 207.7 YPG – No. 3 Big Sky / No. 55 FCS.
- Special Teams Strength: Top-15 nationally in net punting; Willig is 19-for-20 on PATs.
- Clean Football: Among just six FCS programs averaging under 35 penalty yards per game.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.