FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thriller at Nottingham, Bears Come Away with OT Win
UNC football starts Big Sky play 1-0 with a 17-10 win over Northern Arizona
By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com
Game Book Attached
GREELEY, Colo. – It was déjà vu at Nottingham Field on Saturday. Well almost, this time the good guys won in overtime. Northern Colorado football defeated Northern Arizona 17-10 in overtime to open up Big Sky Conference play. The Bears even up their record at 2-2, while NAU drops to 1-3 and 0-1 in the Big Sky.
Northern Colorado started with the ball to open overtime this week and moved right down the field scoring a touchdown to put the pressure on NAU. The score was a little unconventional. Dylan McCaffrey stood in there as Northern Arizona brought the pressure, threw a strike to what was supposed to be Dylan Thomas, but the ball tipped into the air into the waiting hands of Jaren Mitchell for six.
McCaffrey, returning from injury, finished the game with 199 yards passing and a pair of scores. Adding in 14 yards on the ground.
Facing 4th and 1 from the 16 the UNC defense stuffed NAU’s rush attempt to secure the win and send the fans home happy. It was a gaggle of Bears in on the stop with Jace Bobo and Elijah Anderson-Taylor getting credit for the defense’s 10th tackle for a loss on the day.
UNC’s defense flew around the field once again on Saturday with four players finishing with double-figure tackles. Bobo matched his career-high with 14 to lead the Bears while Xander Gagnon, David Hoage and Jerone Jackson added in 12, 11 and 10, respectively.
Mirror images in colors, Blue & Gold, the team’s had almost mirror image games. Both teams scored their touchdowns on long methodical drives, missed a long field goal and had four three and outs.
Down 7-3 at the half, Northern Colorado put together a 16-play drive on their first offensive possession of the second half following a Lumberjacks’ three and out. Looking like they had their own three and out, NAU extended the Bears’ drive with a roughing the punter penalty.
UNC took advantage eating [8:29] off the clock ending with a McCaffrey to Thomas eight-yard touchdown pass.
Northern Arizona missed a 33-yard field goal attempt with [1:57] left in the game leading it to overtime.
What They Said
Game Notes
– Kassidy Woods became the first Bear to go over 100 yards receiving since Jaren Mitchell at North Dakota on November 16, 2019. He finished the day with 123 yards on 11 catches.
– The last time UNC held an opponent under 20 points was October 20, 2018, also against NAU. It’s the first time the Bears have held a team to 10 points or less since November 18, 2017.
– Northern Colorado is 1-0 in the Big Sky for the first time since 2017 when they beat Idaho State in the conference opener.
– David Hoage now has 10.0 tackles for a loss this year. He had two more on Saturday alongside his 11 tackles, two QB hurries and a pass breakup.
– While UNC only recorded one sack, they hurried Northern Arizona’s quarterback six times.
– Northern Colorado recorded 94 tackles on Saturday, the team came in with 200 on the year.
– Freshman Devin Bale had a strong day punting. On his five punts, he averaged 49.4 yards with three going over 50 yards. He pinned NAU inside the 20 twice including his long of 56 yards.
– Ben Raybon hit his second straight 50-plus yard field goal with a make of 51-yards on Saturday.
– Northern Colorado has held all four of its opponents under 210 yards passing this season. NAU had an opponent-best 208 yards on Saturday.
– No team has gone over 400 yards of total offense against the Bears in 2021.
What’s Ahead
Northern Colorado heads on the road to face No. 12/13 Montana State next Saturday in Bozeman, Montana. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.
The Bears return home on October 9 for homecoming when No. 6/6 Eastern Washington comes to town. Kickoff for the game is 1 pm. Tickets are on sale now at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
Ryan Pfeifer
Director of Strategic Communication
O: 970-351-3645 | C: 720-290-8886
#Bears Strong | @Rpfeifer82
