FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Plenty of Good to Build Upon after Footballs Season Opener
UNC football opened the 2021 season at Colorado Friday Night
By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com
Game Book Attached
BOULDER, Colo. – The long-awaited debut of head coach Ed McCaffrey finally arrived on Friday night against in-state foe Colorado. The Bears showed there are plenty of solid building blocks after the first game of the season that ended with the host Buffs winning 35-7.
UNC’s defense forced back-to-back three and outs and held the reigning PAC 12 Offensive Player of the Year to just eight yards on five carries in the first quarter. Short fields helped the Buffs take a 14-0 lead into the break.
Linebacker Jace Bobo led the charge for the defense recording a career-best 14 tackles including one for a loss.
The defense also put steady pressure on Colorado’s quarterback recording two sacks and having an additional two QB hurries.
The Bears’ offense looked like a team that had been off for 650 days, needing some time to get into a rhythm. Quarterback Dylan McCaffrey ended up with 236 yards passing and a touchdown on the night.
Northern Colorado’s lone score of the game came in the third quarter when McCaffrey rolled right and found Kassidy Woods on the sideline who trucked a CU defender and scored from 34-yards out.
Woods led Northern Colorado with 88 yards receiving. Running back Tru Wilson led the team in receptions with eight for 69 yards.
What They Said
https://youtu.be/pnslpX8T_X8
Game Notes
– Head coach Ed McCaffrey named the team’s season-long captains on Thursday night in Dylan McCaffrey, Eddie Gonzalez, Jace Bobo, Jordan Knapke, Xander Gagnon, Kevin Williams and Grant Stephens
– Twenty-seven Bears made their Blue & Gold debut on Friday: RJ Potts, Jihad Marks, Komatay Koffie, Jonah Morris, Jordan Knapke, Tru Wilson, Kassidy Woods, Elijah Anderson-Taylor, Dylan Thomas, Xander Gagnon, Daego Albert, Dylan Emery, Zain Zincola, Uryan Hudson, Tristan Dietz, Nick Ciccio, Dustin Johnson, Caleb Brickhouse, Zach Angelillo, Charles DeRoiser, Austin Williams, Jacob Stanton, Max Pierce, Kurt Gallup, Patrick Carr, Vincent King, and Germaine Carmena.
– Northern Colorado forced a three-and-out on its two defensive possessions under new DC Scott Darnell.
– Joe Golden recorded his first sack of the season, he led the Bears with three in 2019.
– The scoreless first quarter was Northern Colorado’s first since Sept. 21, 2019 against South Dakota.
– Dylan McCaffrey was 5-7 for 55 yards in the first quarter with a 137.5 passer rating.
– Dylan McCraffrey tossed two passes in the first half for 15+ yards
– Kassidy Woods caught two passes for 31 yards in the first half, with the longest at 17 yards.
– Tru Wilson led all receivers in the first half with four catches for 46 yards and a long of 19.
– Wilson finished the game with a team-leading eight catches.
– Northern Colorado outgained CU 106-92 in the first half.
– Punter Caleb Brickhouse pinned the Buffs inside the 10-yard line twice.
– UNC’s two sacks were the most since bringing down Portland State’s QB three times on Oct, 19, 2019.
– Kassidy Woods rumbled into the end zone for his first career touchdown (34 yards).
– Woods led all receivers with 88 yards on four catches and a touchdown.
– Dylan McCaffrey’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Kassidy Woods was his first as a Bear.
– Jace Bobo recorded a career-high 14 tackles, including 11 solo tackles and one tackle for loss.
– Bobo’s 14 tackles were the most since Luke Nelson (20) against Idaho State, 2019.
What’s Ahead
UNC will stay on the road next week when they head to Houston to face Houston Baptist. Kickoff between the Bears and Huskies is set for 6 pm MT.
Northern Colorado’s home-opener is September 18 against Lamar at 2 pm. Season tickets are still available at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
To stay up to date on all things Northern Colorado football, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the UNC Athletics App by clicking here.
Ryan Pfeifer
Director of Strategic Communication
O: 970-351-3645 | C: 720-290-8886
#Bears Strong | @Rpfeifer82
