Montana State Tops Bears In Home Finale - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Saturday, November 14

Greeley, Colo.

5 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

3-8 , 2-6

Montana State

10-1 , 7-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Montana St.	7	7	3	14	31
Northern Colo.	7	0	7	7	21

Final Game Book Postgame Quotes Postgame Notes

Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics

11/14/2026 10:24:00 PM | Football

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By: Aiden Tank, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado closed its home season with a 31-21 loss to No. 3 Montana State on Saturday at Nottingham Field, a game that stayed within reach into the fourth quarter before the Bobcats pulled away.

The Bears (3-8, 2-6 Big Sky) drew 28,660 fans across six home dates this season, the program's largest total since 2006 and the second-highest in its Division I era. Northern Colorado averaged 4,777 per home game, its best average since 2021 and the fourth-highest mark in the Division I era.

Saturday followed a familiar shape. The Bears trailed 17-7 early in the third, cut it to 17-14 on Kieryus Boone's 7-yard touchdown run, then watched Montana State answer with two fourth-quarter scoring drives to seal it. Northern Colorado got a final touchdown with 36 seconds left when Brayten Silbor hit Evan Morris for 20 yards.

Silbor turned in his best game of the season, completing 22 of 32 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He connected with Trey Olsen on a 68-yard score in the first quarter that tied the game at 7.

"I feel like we just all wanted it," Silbor said. "It's a great stage to be on, being put on against the number two team in the nation. We were just playing efficient football. We weren't having huge explosive runs or huge explosive passes, but we were getting the yards we needed."

The run game was the difference. Montana State rushed for 227 yards on 38 carries behind Jared White's 12-carry, 112-yard afternoon and Justin Lamson's two rushing touchdowns, while Northern Colorado managed 86 yards on 27 attempts. The Bobcats also converted 10 of 13 third downs to the Bears' 5 of 12.

Head coach Ed Lamb was direct about how it turned.

"Our rushing attack disappeared in the second half in large part because we got down," Lamb said. "We out-rushed them in the first half. I think that's why the game was close and competitive. And in the second half, completely flipped the script."

KJ Smedley led the defense with eight tackles, and Hudson Voggesser added seven with a sack. Levi Little had a sack and two tackles for loss, and Aiden Merrihew finished with three stops. Franky Morales, Owen Wind and Cadence Turner each made six tackles in their final home game.

Lamb pointed to the gap between this meeting and the last one, when Montana State won 55-7 in Greeley.

"A year ago, these two programs were not even competitive on the same field," Lamb said. "This year there was no laying down. There were two teams competing with all they had, and we're narrowing the gap. There's no question."

Thirteen seniors were honored before kickoff in a game that was moved to 5 p.m. from noon because of the FAA ground stoppage.

Up Next
Northern Colorado closes the season at Northern Arizona on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. MT.

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