2023 Northern Colorado Bears football team

Last updated

2023 Northern Colorado Bears football
UNC Bears.png
Conference Big Sky Conference
Record0–11 (0–8 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBlair Peterson (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorPreston Hadley (1st season)
Home stadium Nottingham Field
Seasons
←  2022
2024  →
2023 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Montana $^  7 –1   13 –2  
No. 8 Idaho ^  6 –2   9 –4  
No. 9 Montana State ^  6 –2   8 –4  
Northern Arizona  5 –3   5 –6  
No. 24 UC Davis  5 –3   7 –4  
No. 13 Sacramento State ^  4 –4   8 –5  
Portland State  4 –4   5 –6  
Weber State  4 –4   6 –5  
Eastern Washington  3 –5   4 –7  
Idaho State  3 –5   3 –8  
Cal Poly  1 –7   3 –8  
Northern Colorado  0 –8   0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Ed Lamb and played their home games at Nottingham Field.

Contents

Preseason

Polls

On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Bears were predicted to finish tenth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media. [1]

Coaches poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Montana State120 (10)
2UC Davis96 (1)
3Sacramento State94 (1)
4Weber State91
5Idaho89
6Montana84
7Eastern Washington52
8Portland State45
9Northern Arizona44
10Northern Colorado37
11Cal Poly25
12Idaho State15
Media poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Montana State447 (26)
2Idaho410 (8)
3Montana359 (2)
4Sacramento State334 (3)
5UC Davis330
6Weber State320
7Eastern Washington216
8Northern Arizona178
9Portland State167
10Northern Colorado109
11Cal Poly103
12Idaho State69

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 316:00 p.m.at Abilene Christian *
 ESPN+ L 11–316,164
September 92:00 p.m.No. 10 Incarnate Word *
ESPN+L 7–423,898
September 163:00 p.m.at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State *
 P12N L 21–6423,595  
September 234:00 p.m.at Idaho State
ESPN+L 21–35N/A
September 301:00 p.m.No. 13 Weber State
  • Nottingham Field
  • Greeley, CO
ESPN+L 21–283,375
October 141:00 p.m.No. 4 Sacramento State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Nottingham Field
  • Greeley, CO
ESPN+L 13–214,783
October 217:05 p.m.at Cal Poly
ESPN+L 17–249,263
October 281:00 p.m.at No. 7 Montana
ESPN+L 0–4025,463
November 41:00 p.m.No. 3 Idaho
  • Nottingham Field
  • Greeley, CO
ESPN+L 13–273,608
November 111:00 p.m.at Northern Arizona
ESPN+L 7–286,003
November 1812:00 p.m. Portland State
  • Nottingham Field
  • Greeley, CO
ESPN+L 23–272,578

Conference opponents not scheduled this season: Eastern Washington, Montana State, UC Davis

Game summaries

at Abilene Christian

vs No. 10 Incarnate Word

Game Two – Incarnate Word Cardinals (0–1) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–1)
Quarter1234Total
No. 10 Cardinals71414742
Bears00077

at Nottingham Field, Greeley, CO

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Wind: NE 9 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 3,898
  • Referee: Gregg Wilson
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Alveen (play-by-play) and Nick Hager (analyst)
  • Box Score Pregame line: UIW −17.0
Game information
First Quarter
  • UIW – 8:34 Marquez Perez 21 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 7–0 Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 0:41
Second Quarter
  • UIW – 14:24 Caleb Chapman 1 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 14–0 Drive: 16 plays, 97 yards, 6:50
  • UIW – 1:53 Timothy Carter 16 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 21–0 Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 1:39
Third Quarter
  • UIW – 9:22 Zach Calzada 11 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 28–0 Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 3:18
  • UIW – 5:10 Tre Siggers 11 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 35–0 Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:05
Fourth Quarter
  • UIW – 10:04 Caleb Chapman 25 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
    UIW 42–0 Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:37
  • UNC – 6:28 Blake Haggerty 43 yard pass from Hank Gibbs, Hunter Green kick
    UIW 42–7 Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 3:36
StatisticsUIWUNC
First downs2914
Plays–yards82–61769–261
Rushes–yards42–23537–93
Passing yards382168
Passing: comp–att–int29–40–115–32–1
Time of possession31:0328:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Incarnate WordPassing Zach Calzada 23/32, 255 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingTimothy Carter16 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCaleb Chapman5 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD
Northern ColoradoPassing Jacob Sirmon 13/27, 114 yards, 1 INT
RushingDavid Afari14 carries, 43 yards
ReceivingBlake Haggerty4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD

at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State

Northern Colorado Bears (0–2) at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State Cougars (2–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears077721
No. 23 (FBS) Cougars222114764

at Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA

  • Date: September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: SW 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 23,595
  • Referee: Gary Reed
  • TV: P12N
Game information
First quarter
  • (10:28) WSU – Cameron Ward 8-yard run, Billy Riviere pass (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:32; Washington State 8–0)
  • (6:08) WSU – Kyle Williams 37-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 3:23; Washington State 15–0)
  • (3:41) WSU – Lincoln Victor 28-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:07; Washington State 22–0)
Second quarter
  • (12:27) WSU – Josh Kelly 18-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:33; Washington State 29–0)
  • (8:45) WSU – Nakia Watson 6-yard run, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 1:40; Washington State 36–0)
  • (3:20) WSU – Lincoln Victor 31-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:31; Washington State 43–0)
  • (0:12) NCU – Jamarii Robinson 18-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Washington State 43–7)
Third quarter
  • (9:43) WSU – Josh Meredith 15-yard pass from John Mateer, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 93 yards, 2:38; Washington State 50–7)
  • (5:45) NCU – Hank Gibbs 1-yard run, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:58; Washington State 50–14)
  • (5:10) WSU – Tsion Nunnally 72-yard pass from John Mateer, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:30; Washington State 57–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:46) WSU – Dylan Paine 1-yard run, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:04; Washington State 64–14)
  • (11:36) NCU – Darius Stewart 52-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:10; Washington State 64–21)
StatisticsNCUWSU
First downs1733
Total yards366718
Rushes/yards31–15836–229
Passing yards208489
Passing: Comp–Att–Int18–30–029–38–1
Time of possession29:1130:49
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern ColoradoPassingJacob Sirmon16/24, 171 yards, 2 TD
RushingDavid Afari17 carries, 116 yards
ReceivingBlake Haggerty6 receptions, 70 yards
Washington StatePassing Cam Ward 20/26, 327 yards, 4 TD
RushingDylan Paine7 carries, 71 yards, TD
Receiving Lincoln Victor 6 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD

at Idaho State

Idaho State Bengals (0–3) vs. Northern Colorado Bears (0–3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears7014021
Bengals7147735

at Holt Arena, Pocatello, Idaho

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Indoors
  • Game attendance: 8,012
  • Referee: Jim C.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dylan Carder (play-by-play), Kody Graves (analyst)
  • Spread: Idaho State –6.5 • Odds to win: Northern Colorado 51.7% •
Game information
First quarter
  • 7:04 UNC – Darius Stewart 16-yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Northern Colorado 7–0, Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards, 4:37
  • 0:07 ISU – Alfred Jordan Jr. 32-yard pass from Jordan Cooke (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Tied 7–7, Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:37
Second quarter
  • 5:31 ISU – Jordan Cooke 1-yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 14–7, Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 4:25
  • 0:20 ISU – Chedon James 1-yard pass from Hunter Hays (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 21–7, Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 1:14
Third quarter
  • 10:32 UNC – Jacob Sirmon 1–yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Idaho State 21–14, Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:22
  • 5:09 UNC – David Afari 18–yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Tied 21–21, Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 4:00
  • 2:45 ISU – Aiden Taylor 8–yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 28–21, Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:24
Fourth quarter
  • 5:05 ISU – Hunter Hays 2–yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 35–21, Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:56
StatisticsNorthern ColoradoIdaho State
First downs2526
Plays–yards72–36572–429
Rushes–yards40–24230–103
Passing yards123326
Passing: comp–att–int22–32–226–42–1
Turnovers31
Time of possession31:1328:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern ColoradoPassingJacob Sirmon22/32, 123 yards, 2 INT
RushingDarius Stewart14 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTy Arrington5 receptions, 42 yards
Idaho StatePassingJordan Cooke14/23, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingHunter Hays13 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChristian Fredericksen7 receptions, 108 yards

vs No. 13 Weber State

vs No. 4 Sacramento State

No. 4 Sacramento State Hornets (4–1) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–5) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 4 Hornets1407021
Bears370313

at Nottingham Field, Greeley, CO

  • Date: October 14, 2023
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 4,783
  • Referee: Jim Crowley
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Play-by-Play: Jason Alvine • Analysis: Mik Hager
  • Sources: [2] [3]
Game information
StatisticsSACUNC
First downs2317
Total yards334332
Rushing yards15175
Passing yards183257
Passing: Comp–Att–Int25–31–020–39–0
Time of possession30:5729:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sacramento StatePassingKaiden Bennett25/31, 183 yards, 3 TD
RushingEzra Moleni16 carries, 93 yards
ReceivingMarshel Martin7 receptions, 52 yards
Northern ColoradoPassingJacob Sirmon20/39, 257 yards, TD
RushingDavid Afari10 carries, 36 yards
ReceivingBrayden Munroe3 receptions, 66 yards, TD

at Cal Poly

at No. 7 Montana

1234Total
Bears00000
No. 7 Grizzles014121440

vs No. 3 Idaho

No. 3 Idaho Vandals (6–2) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–8) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 3 Vandals3771027
Bears070613

at Nottingham Field • Greeley, CO

  • Date: November 4, 2023
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game attendance: 3,608
  • TV: ESPN+

at Northern Arizona

vs Portland State

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References

  1. ↑ "Montana State Tabbed Preseason Football Favorites". July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Football vs Northern Colorado on 10/14/2023 - Box Score - Sacramento State". October 14, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Football Wins Another Close Game In Victory At Northern Colorado". October 14, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
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