The game started about as well as the University of Northern Colorado could’ve hoped Saturday against nationally ranked UC Davis.
The No. 6-ranked Aggies came to Greeley without their starting quarterback, a Big Sky Conference offensive force in redshirt freshman Caden Pinnick.
UNC, though, couldn’t convert points on a strong opening drive, which seemed to switch some momentum, and a late-game rally never materialized in a 27-16 loss at Nottingham Field in Greeley.
The loss leaves UNC (3-5, 1-3 Big Sky) still searching for its first home Big Sky win under third-year coach Ed Lamb, whose team and program has made noticeable strides and progress this season.
The Bears held UC Davis (6-1, 4-0 Big Sky) to three points in the second half, but missed chances — dropped passes, special teams miscues and penalties ultimately kept the Bears from rallying for the upset.
“We were not able to find a way to win a close game in the end,” Lamb said after the game. “What I’m proud of is we made it a close game. It certainly did not start out that way (down 24-0). I felt that we had opportunities on offense and were not able to at least somewhat keep pace.”
With Pinnick out with an illness, the Aggies turned to senior Grant Harper for his first career start, and he delivered in the first half — guiding the Aggies to a 24-7 lead.
Harper was 12 of 18 for 192 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, and it looked as if the game was going to be another runaway for the Aggies. UC Davis beat UNC 59-7 last year in Davis, Calif., and the Aggies led 24-0 at halftime.
Harper finished the game 15 of 31 for 216 yards with two interceptions and the three touchdown passes. The Aggies ran for 236 yards, 90 of which came from Carter Vargas.
UC Davis coach Tim Plough said Harper had some time during the Aggies’ off-week last week to become more familiar with the offense.
“He got into a good rhythm, the offensive staff did a good job mixing things up and hit some explosives,” the coach said. “On short notice, I think he’s a stud for what he did.”
The Bears were much better Saturday. Lamb said the team showed it’s physically matching up with its conference opponents.
“The team that beat us 59-7 last year, we had no business being on the same field with them,” Lamb said. “We couldn’t cover them. Couldn’t tackle them.
“Narrowing the gap. Our young guys are getting older, they’re playing better, they’re playing more competitive.”
The Bears, grabbing a little momentum back for themselves, scored with 24 seconds left in the first half on a 51-yard pass from Eric Gibson Jr. to Brayden Munroe.
Munroe caught eight passes for 100 yards and the touchdown. He dropped a pass on first down early in the game with plenty of field in front of him for a long run. Two plays later, Gibson Jr. was sacked by Sam Goligoski and the Bears had to punt on their second drive of the game.
UNC won the pregame coin toss and marched down the field on a really good first drive. The Bears stalled in the red zone, and set up for a 41-yard field goal attempt by Jacob Willig. Aggies defensive lineman Rayne Mayo Jr. got a hand on the ball and it went left for the miss. The play killed a nine-play, 51-yard drive, and it proved to be a momentum-turning moment.
Willig also missed a point-after-touchdown late in the third quarter after a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Brandon Johnson cut Davis’ lead to 24-13. A University of Arizona transfer, Johnson led the Bears rushing attack with nine carries for 65 yards. Sophomore Mathias Price was dealing with an ankle injury through the week and played limited time, Lamb said after the game.
Taking advantage of a UNC turnover, UC Davis got on the scoreboard first with a 40-yard field goal by Hunter Ridley late in the first quarter.
Gibson Jr. rolled out under pressure from the UC Davis defense. He was hit by lineman Trent Carrade and the quarterback fumbled the ball. Jacob Psyk recovered for the Aggies near the UNC red zone as the first quarter ended.
UNC cut into the Aggies’ lead late in the third quarter off a Harper interception by linebacker Sione Tuha. Tuha read the play perfectly, circling toward the sideline at the Aggies’ 36 and returning it for an apparent touchdown.
Officials ruled Tuha stepped out of bounds at the 9. Two plays later, Johnson scored from 2 yards out. Willig’s PAT was blocked by Psyk and the score stayed at 24-13.
Plough said UNC did a better job in the second adjusting its pre-snap defense and presenting different looks to Harper.
A second Harper interception early in the fourth quarter set up another UNC score. The Bears defense pressured Harper, and he threw a ball that sailed. UNC safety Cam Chapa intercepted the pass at the Bears’ 44-yard line. The interception was Chapa’s third of the year.
The Bears drive took them into the Aggies’ red zone, but an offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Charles Garrison backed UNC to the UNC Davis 32. Willig hit a 29-yard field goal and UNC cut Davis’ lead to 24-16.
“We didn’t execute the way we needed to create a huge moment for our program,” Lamb said.
UC Davis 27, UNC 16
UC Davis — 3 – 21 – 0 – 3 — 27
UNC — 0 – 7 – 6 – 3 — 16
1st Q, 2:10 — UC Davis, Hunter Ridley 40 field goal. 10 plays, 52 yards, 3:37.
2nd Q, 15:53 — UC Davis, Jordan Fisher 24 pass from Grant Harper (Ridley kick). 2 plays, 31, :037 seconds.
2nd Q, 9:46 — UC Davis, Samuel Gbatu Jr. 34 pass from Harper (Ridley kick). 7 plays, 84 yards, 3:16.
2nd Q, 3:50 — UC Davis, Laviel Pickett 18 pass from Harper (Ridley kick). 3 plays, 52 yards, 1:31.
2nd Q, :24 — UNC, Brayden Munroe 51 pass from Eric Gibson Jr. (Jacob Willig kick). 3 plays, 80 yards, 26 seconds.
3rd Q, 2:56 — UNC, Brandon Johnson 2 run (Willig miss). 2 plays, 9 yards, 0:43.
4th Q, 7:50 — UNC, Willig 29 field goal. 9 plays, 45 yards, 4:20.
4th Q, 0:50 — UC Davis, Ridley 41 field goal. 16 plays, 51 yards, 7:00.