University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, November 7
Cedar City, Utah
1 p.m. MDT
University of Northern Colorado
at
Southern Utah
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
11/6/2026 9:00:00 AM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado returns from its bye week Saturday to face Southern Utah at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
The Bears are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Big Sky play. Southern Utah is also 3-6 and 2-4.
The Lamb Connection
Saturday brings head coach Ed Lamb back to Cedar City, where he coached from 2008-15. Lamb led the Thunderbirds to a 45-47 record and the program's first Big Sky championship in 2015.
"That school, when I was there, has a lot of similarities to UNC," Lamb said. "It's the up-and-coming team, the team nobody expects to be good in the preseason, and they don't vote the team high enough. I know Southern Utah is one of the best football teams in the Big Sky, and I think the success that we had there built a fan base that understood the core themes the football team was built around."
Lamb also said the matchup is not about him.
"When the game starts, 100 percent of my focus is our roster, their goals, their dreams, what they've worked so hard to achieve," Lamb said. "I don't know any of the Southern Utah players as people. I know some of the coaches and their friends, many of the fans and boosters and administrators. Once the game starts, I don't feel like that's ever been any kind of a distraction."
The Bears have won their last two trips to Cedar City, including a 17-9 decision in 2021. The all-time series is tied 4-4.
Scouting Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have the most productive running game in the conference at 257.0 yards per game, and Lamb said it is not just the running back.
"Their rushing production doesn't just come from the running back position," Lamb said. "The fact that they have a quarterback with an option or designed carries is what makes it really difficult. There are two types of running games. They've got a quarterback that's on track for over 1,000 yards, and they've got the number top rushing attack in the country. That's the task our guys are up against."
Floyd Chalk has carried 196 times for 1,223 yards and 12 touchdowns, with eight games over 100 yards, and his 130-yard performance against Northern Arizona moved him to ninth on Southern Utah's single-season rushing list. Will Burns has 884 yards and 10 scores on the ground to go with 1,642 passing yards and 12 touchdowns on 140-of-223 passing.
Mark Bails averages 20.6 yards per catch with 23 grabs for 473 yards and three touchdowns, and tight end Joshua Acord leads the team with six touchdown receptions. David Spjut has 30 catches for 344 yards and averages 12.1 yards per punt return.
On defense, safety Parker Vance leads the Thunderbirds with 73 tackles and five interceptions after an 11-tackle game against Northern Arizona. Linebacker Mason Stromstad has 53 stops, Aiden Hall leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries, and Myles Amey paces the pass rush with four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Two Quarterbacks, Both Playing
Keegan Patterson and Brayten Silbor are both expected to play Saturday, and Lamb was direct about why.
"Brayten is really finding his rhythm," Lamb said. "For all the game reps he's had, he hasn't had a lot of practice reps. He's dealt with some minor issues that held him back. I think he's really finding his rhythm now in the passing game, which is where he's made most of his contribution for us, and we can build around that."
On Patterson, Lamb used a comparison he has returned to before.
"Keegan is a water chestnut. It doesn't matter how long you boil him, he's the same consistency," Lamb said. "Before he ever played a snap for us, he was among, if not our best leader on the team. He didn't need to be named captain or starting quarterback. He just found a way to lead."
Lamb said the bye week finally settled the question the offense had been living with all season.
"Finding our identity on offense as we've gone back and forth between quarterbacks, that's really difficult," Lamb said. "Being able to lock into the statement that we are a two-quarterback team, we are a two-quarterback system, we need to pour into that, and that takes work and time and commitment, as opposed to telling those guys that they're always competing against each other. Now they both have a role they can buy into. They're both our starting quarterbacks, and they're both going to play on Saturday."
Silbor is 71-of-136 for 823 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, and Patterson has thrown for 325 yards in four games will contributing 174 yards on the ground.
The Rest of the Bears
Justin Guin leads the ground game with 535 yards and four touchdowns on 102 carries. Marcus Mozer has a team-high 32 receptions for 444 yards and four scores. Landon Richardson is 10-of-15 on field goals with a long of 48.
On defense, Hudson Voggesser leads with 54 tackles, and KJ Smedley has 49. Dominic Butts has 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries, while Ezra Ekuban has six tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks. Franky Morales has 44 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups.
The Bears allow 145.3 rushing yards per game at 4.5 yards per carry.
Up Next
Northern Colorado returns home to host Montana State on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. MT for Senior Day.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
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.
The Bears are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Big Sky play. Southern Utah is also 3-6 and 2-4.
The Lamb Connection
Saturday brings head coach Ed Lamb back to Cedar City, where he coached from 2008-15. Lamb led the Thunderbirds to a 45-47 record and the program's first Big Sky championship in 2015.
"That school, when I was there, has a lot of similarities to UNC," Lamb said. "It's the up-and-coming team, the team nobody expects to be good in the preseason, and they don't vote the team high enough. I know Southern Utah is one of the best football teams in the Big Sky, and I think the success that we had there built a fan base that understood the core themes the football team was built around."
Lamb also said the matchup is not about him.
"When the game starts, 100 percent of my focus is our roster, their goals, their dreams, what they've worked so hard to achieve," Lamb said. "I don't know any of the Southern Utah players as people. I know some of the coaches and their friends, many of the fans and boosters and administrators. Once the game starts, I don't feel like that's ever been any kind of a distraction."
The Bears have won their last two trips to Cedar City, including a 17-9 decision in 2021. The all-time series is tied 4-4.
Scouting Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have the most productive running game in the conference at 257.0 yards per game, and Lamb said it is not just the running back.
"Their rushing production doesn't just come from the running back position," Lamb said. "The fact that they have a quarterback with an option or designed carries is what makes it really difficult. There are two types of running games. They've got a quarterback that's on track for over 1,000 yards, and they've got the number top rushing attack in the country. That's the task our guys are up against."
Floyd Chalk has carried 196 times for 1,223 yards and 12 touchdowns, with eight games over 100 yards, and his 130-yard performance against Northern Arizona moved him to ninth on Southern Utah's single-season rushing list. Will Burns has 884 yards and 10 scores on the ground to go with 1,642 passing yards and 12 touchdowns on 140-of-223 passing.
Mark Bails averages 20.6 yards per catch with 23 grabs for 473 yards and three touchdowns, and tight end Joshua Acord leads the team with six touchdown receptions. David Spjut has 30 catches for 344 yards and averages 12.1 yards per punt return.
On defense, safety Parker Vance leads the Thunderbirds with 73 tackles and five interceptions after an 11-tackle game against Northern Arizona. Linebacker Mason Stromstad has 53 stops, Aiden Hall leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries, and Myles Amey paces the pass rush with four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Two Quarterbacks, Both Playing
Keegan Patterson and Brayten Silbor are both expected to play Saturday, and Lamb was direct about why.
"Brayten is really finding his rhythm," Lamb said. "For all the game reps he's had, he hasn't had a lot of practice reps. He's dealt with some minor issues that held him back. I think he's really finding his rhythm now in the passing game, which is where he's made most of his contribution for us, and we can build around that."
On Patterson, Lamb used a comparison he has returned to before.
"Keegan is a water chestnut. It doesn't matter how long you boil him, he's the same consistency," Lamb said. "Before he ever played a snap for us, he was among, if not our best leader on the team. He didn't need to be named captain or starting quarterback. He just found a way to lead."
Lamb said the bye week finally settled the question the offense had been living with all season.
"Finding our identity on offense as we've gone back and forth between quarterbacks, that's really difficult," Lamb said. "Being able to lock into the statement that we are a two-quarterback team, we are a two-quarterback system, we need to pour into that, and that takes work and time and commitment, as opposed to telling those guys that they're always competing against each other. Now they both have a role they can buy into. They're both our starting quarterbacks, and they're both going to play on Saturday."
Silbor is 71-of-136 for 823 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, and Patterson has thrown for 325 yards in four games will contributing 174 yards on the ground.
The Rest of the Bears
Justin Guin leads the ground game with 535 yards and four touchdowns on 102 carries. Marcus Mozer has a team-high 32 receptions for 444 yards and four scores. Landon Richardson is 10-of-15 on field goals with a long of 48.
On defense, Hudson Voggesser leads with 54 tackles, and KJ Smedley has 49. Dominic Butts has 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries, while Ezra Ekuban has six tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks. Franky Morales has 44 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups.
The Bears allow 145.3 rushing yards per game at 4.5 yards per carry.
Up Next
Northern Colorado returns home to host Montana State on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. MT for Senior Day.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
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.
Players Mentioned
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