University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
PREVIEW: Bears Travel to Fort Collins for In-State Clash
9/2/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football
WATCH: Altitude // Altitude+
LISTEN: Pirate Radio // 93.5 FM // pirateradio935.com
LIVE STATS: CSURams.com/sports/football/schedule
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GAMEDAY INFO
Fan information for Saturday's game can be found here.
Parking lots will open at 11 a.m.
Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.
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WEEK 1 RECAP: Northern Colorado opened its 132nd season with a 17-3 win over Chadron State at Nottingham Field, its first season-opening victory since 2017 and first under head coach Ed Lamb at home. The Bears (1-0) jumped out with 14 first-quarter points as quarterback Peter Costelli hit Brayden Munroe for a 60-yard touchdown and added a 19-yard scoring run to cap a 91-yard drive. From there, the defense controlled the game, holding the Eagles (0-1) to just three points, the fewest by a UNC opponent in a season opener since 2010, while forcing a fourth-quarter interception and turning away three red-zone trips. Costelli accounted for both touchdowns with 134 total yards, Mathias Price rushed for 73 of UNC's 160 ground yards, and Munroe led all receivers with 69 yards as the Bears finished with 291 total yards, converted 6-of-12 on third down, and committed no turnovers to extend their all-time series lead over Chadron State to 6-3.
SUPPORT FOOTBALL: In an exciting home opener, the Bears showed incredible heart and determination, proving that hard work pays off. You can use the momentum from this victory to provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to keep winning.
Celebrate the win and Give for the W today:Â https://www.give2unc.org/quarterbackclub
THE LAMB ERA: Head coach Ed Lamb enters year three with a clear vision for growth. A veteran of the Big Sky Conference and a two-time Eddie Robinson Award finalist for FCS national coach of the year at Southern Utah, Lamb continues to lay a foundation built on discipline, player development, and local recruiting. While the Bears went 1-11 (1-7 Big Sky) in 2024, they played their most competitive football late in the year and return several key contributors across both sides of the ball. That progress showed in Saturday's season opener, as Northern Colorado notched its first opening-day win since 2017 and first under Lamb at Nottingham Field, powered by quarterback Peter Costelli, who accounted for two touchdowns in the 17-3 victory over Chadron State.
CHANGE AT THE HELM: After opening the season as QB1, Peter Costelli suffered a season-ending injury in the third quarter of Saturday's win over Chadron State. Redshirt junior Eric Gibson Jr. will now take over as Northern Colorado's starting quarterback. Gibson brings valuable experience to the role, having played at LSU (2021-2022) before starring at Monterey Peninsula College (2023-2024). In his UNC debut, he showed poise off the bench by completing 3-of-4 passes for 39 yards, including a 30-yard strike. With his arm strength, athleticism, and collegiate experience, Gibson is set to guide a Bears offense that features returning receivers Carver Cheeks and Brayden Munroe.
CHAPA CHASING MORE: Cam Chapa enters 2025 as one of the top young defensive backs in the Big Sky after a breakout freshman campaign. The sophomore earned Freshman All-America honors, was named a Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week and landed on the 2024 Big Sky Fall All-Academic Team. Chapa led the team in tackles and interceptions last season and is poised to be a cornerstone of the Bears' secondary. He was also the lone Bear named to the 2025 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference list. Chapa opened the season with a steady performance in Saturday's season debut, recording four solo tackles as part of a balanced defensive effort. He was joined by several Bears who made big impacts, including Darrell Bryant Jr. and Zach Nowatzke, who each tallied a team-high nine tackles, with Bryant adding a tackle for loss. Mekhi Toms chipped in seven stops, while Hudson Voggesser and Makur Abram each notched sacks to set the tone up front.
LOCAL ROOTS RUN DEEP: Northern Colorado continues to lean into its Colorado recruiting pipeline. The 2025 roster features 58 in-state players, by far the most among the state's Division I programs. Colorado State has 22, Colorado has 13, and Air Force has 11. Head coach Ed Lamb and his staff have made it a point to recruit from within state lines, giving local talent an opportunity to develop and shine at the Division I level. The approach is paying dividends, with multiple starters hailing from Colorado, including Cam Chapa, Brayden Munroe, Carver Cheeks, and Ezra Ekuban.
SERIES HISTORY:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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LISTEN: Pirate Radio // 93.5 FM // pirateradio935.com
LIVE STATS: CSURams.com/sports/football/schedule
Â
GAMEDAY INFO
Fan information for Saturday's game can be found here.
Parking lots will open at 11 a.m.
Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.
Â
WEEK 1 RECAP: Northern Colorado opened its 132nd season with a 17-3 win over Chadron State at Nottingham Field, its first season-opening victory since 2017 and first under head coach Ed Lamb at home. The Bears (1-0) jumped out with 14 first-quarter points as quarterback Peter Costelli hit Brayden Munroe for a 60-yard touchdown and added a 19-yard scoring run to cap a 91-yard drive. From there, the defense controlled the game, holding the Eagles (0-1) to just three points, the fewest by a UNC opponent in a season opener since 2010, while forcing a fourth-quarter interception and turning away three red-zone trips. Costelli accounted for both touchdowns with 134 total yards, Mathias Price rushed for 73 of UNC's 160 ground yards, and Munroe led all receivers with 69 yards as the Bears finished with 291 total yards, converted 6-of-12 on third down, and committed no turnovers to extend their all-time series lead over Chadron State to 6-3.
SUPPORT FOOTBALL: In an exciting home opener, the Bears showed incredible heart and determination, proving that hard work pays off. You can use the momentum from this victory to provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to keep winning.
Celebrate the win and Give for the W today:Â https://www.give2unc.org/quarterbackclub
THE LAMB ERA: Head coach Ed Lamb enters year three with a clear vision for growth. A veteran of the Big Sky Conference and a two-time Eddie Robinson Award finalist for FCS national coach of the year at Southern Utah, Lamb continues to lay a foundation built on discipline, player development, and local recruiting. While the Bears went 1-11 (1-7 Big Sky) in 2024, they played their most competitive football late in the year and return several key contributors across both sides of the ball. That progress showed in Saturday's season opener, as Northern Colorado notched its first opening-day win since 2017 and first under Lamb at Nottingham Field, powered by quarterback Peter Costelli, who accounted for two touchdowns in the 17-3 victory over Chadron State.
CHANGE AT THE HELM: After opening the season as QB1, Peter Costelli suffered a season-ending injury in the third quarter of Saturday's win over Chadron State. Redshirt junior Eric Gibson Jr. will now take over as Northern Colorado's starting quarterback. Gibson brings valuable experience to the role, having played at LSU (2021-2022) before starring at Monterey Peninsula College (2023-2024). In his UNC debut, he showed poise off the bench by completing 3-of-4 passes for 39 yards, including a 30-yard strike. With his arm strength, athleticism, and collegiate experience, Gibson is set to guide a Bears offense that features returning receivers Carver Cheeks and Brayden Munroe.
CHAPA CHASING MORE: Cam Chapa enters 2025 as one of the top young defensive backs in the Big Sky after a breakout freshman campaign. The sophomore earned Freshman All-America honors, was named a Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week and landed on the 2024 Big Sky Fall All-Academic Team. Chapa led the team in tackles and interceptions last season and is poised to be a cornerstone of the Bears' secondary. He was also the lone Bear named to the 2025 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference list. Chapa opened the season with a steady performance in Saturday's season debut, recording four solo tackles as part of a balanced defensive effort. He was joined by several Bears who made big impacts, including Darrell Bryant Jr. and Zach Nowatzke, who each tallied a team-high nine tackles, with Bryant adding a tackle for loss. Mekhi Toms chipped in seven stops, while Hudson Voggesser and Makur Abram each notched sacks to set the tone up front.
LOCAL ROOTS RUN DEEP: Northern Colorado continues to lean into its Colorado recruiting pipeline. The 2025 roster features 58 in-state players, by far the most among the state's Division I programs. Colorado State has 22, Colorado has 13, and Air Force has 11. Head coach Ed Lamb and his staff have made it a point to recruit from within state lines, giving local talent an opportunity to develop and shine at the Division I level. The approach is paying dividends, with multiple starters hailing from Colorado, including Cam Chapa, Brayden Munroe, Carver Cheeks, and Ezra Ekuban.
SERIES HISTORY:
- Northern Colorado and Colorado State are meeting for the 21st time, with the Rams holding a commanding 19-1 advantage in the series.
- The lone UNC victory came in the inaugural matchup back in 1899, a 5-0 win in Fort Collins.
- Colorado State has won the last 19 meetings, including a 38-17 victory on Sept. 7, 2024, at Canvas Stadium.
- The series was played annually in the 1920s and 1930s, with UNC facing double-digit losses in eight straight contests from 1927–36.
- Northern Colorado has faced CSU 10 times in Fort Collins (1-9) and 10 times in Greeley (0-10).
- The programs renewed the series in the modern era in 2011, with the Rams winning 33-14 at Canvas Stadium. They also met in 2016 (49-21 CSU in Fort Collins) before last year's matchup in 2024.
- UNC will be seeking its first win in the rivalry in 125 years when the teams square off again.
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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Sunday, October 12
Lyndsey Oates Post Game Press Conference vs Portland State
Saturday, October 11
Lyndsey Oates Post Game Press Conference vs Sacramento State
Friday, October 10
Ed Lamb Press Conference 10/8/25
Wednesday, October 08