University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Look to Rebound, Reconnect at Northern Arizona
11/5/2025 12:15:00 PM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado football turns the page this week, traveling to Flagstaff to face Northern Arizona inside the Walkup Skydome. After a disappointing loss to now No. 3 Montana State, head coach Ed Lamb said the focus now is simple: rebuild trust, reestablish unity, and respond the right way.
Following what he described as the team's worst sideline in quite some time, Lamb made it clear that last week's 55-7 loss must serve as a turning point.
It has to be a catalyst for change, Lamb said. We lost confidence in each other; players, coaches, everyone. When things started to go wrong, instead of coming together, we separated. That can't happen again.
Lamb emphasized that while Montana State executed well, the loss wasn't about mismatched talent.
This wasn't a size or speed difference. It was a cultural difference, he said. We've got to learn to close ranks when things aren't going our way.
On the Quarterback Competition…
Lamb confirmed that Eric Gibson Jr. remains the starting quarterback, but Peter Costelli is healthy and competing after returning from injury.
Eric's our starter right now, that's earned, Lamb said. But Peter's a dual-threat quarterback who can bring a spark. We have two good quarterbacks, and we'll let them both compete.
Lamb added that competition should elevate both players.
The highest aspiration is that it raises the level of both guys, he said. Whoever's out there leading us to victory, the other guy needs to be dang happy for the team.
On the Defense…
Defensively, Lamb said the Bears made progress against the run but broke down in coverage.
We played improved run defense, but too many mental and technical mistakes in the secondary, he said. That's two weeks in a row of big breakdowns, and that has to get corrected.
Still, he praised the group's pride and resilience.
I hope they're hurting, Lamb said. Because that means it matters to them.
On Northern Arizona…
Northern Arizona (5-4, 2-3 Big Sky) enters the weekend as a receiving votes team and a legitimate FCS playoff contender. Lamb called the Lumberjacks one of the league's most balanced and unpredictable teams.
They do a lot of things really well, Lamb said. They're multiple on offense and defense. Their quarterback, Pennington, is one of the best we'll see: strong mechanically, a dual threat, and surrounded by good players.
He also noted the environment UNC will face inside the Skydome.
It's one of the best game-day settings in the Big Sky, Lamb said. Homecoming, big crowd, indoor fireworks, the size of their band, all of it. They'll be motivated, and we have to match that.
On the Mindset Moving Forward…
Even after a tough stretch, Lamb said his team's belief hasn't wavered.
We're embarrassed by how we handled ourselves last week, but not defeated, he said. We still believe we're a good football team. We just need to maintain our poise and confidence when things get hard.
That poise, Lamb added, will determine how the Bears finish the season.
We've shown we can fight when things are close, he said. Now we need to show we can fight when we fall behind. That's the next step.
Northern Colorado (3-6, 1-4 Big Sky) faces RV/RV Northern Arizona (5-4, 2-3 Big Sky) on Saturday at 4 p.m. MT inside the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with radio coverage available on Pirate Radio 93.5 FM and pirateradio935.com.
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