The University of Northern Colorado football team lost in blowout fashion for the second time in two weeks Saturday, falling to Northern Arizona 49-10 in a Big Sky Conference game in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The loss was UNC’s fourth straight in the Big Sky and drops the Bears to 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference with two regular-season games to play. UNC lost to Montana State 55-7 last week at Nottingham Field in Greeley. The Bears travel to Eastern Washington for a Nov. 15 game before returning to Greeley for the season finale, Nov. 22 against Portland State.
NAU kept its Football Championship Subdivision playoff hopes alive with the win, moving to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference.
Northern Arizona scored twice in the final two minutes of the first half for a 28-10 lead, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kolbe Katsis. Katsis’ return came with 10 seconds left in the second quarter after UNC scored its first and only touchdown of the day to cut the Lumberjacks’ lead to 21-10.
Katsis’ 45-yard run on the opening possession of the second half set up a Seth Cromwell score and a 35-10 lead just two minutes into the third quarter. Katsis finished the game with 187 all-purpose yards (51 rushing, 36 receiving and 100 kick return yards) and a touchdown.
“He’s a great player and he’s had a great year,” UNC head coach Ed Lamb said of Katsis. “He’s had a lot great games. He’s an outstanding receiver.”
UNC played the game without one of its best players in sophomore safety Cam Chapa. Chapa, who was named to the Big Sky preseason team in July, didn’t make the trip to Flagstaff. Lamb said Chapa has a minor knee injury and he is expected to return next week.
The Lumberjacks went ahead 21-3 lead with two minutes to go in the first half to play on a 7-yard touchdown run by Quran Gossett. The touchdown was set up by a UNC failed fake punt on the previous series.
The Bears had fourth-down and six on their own 47-yard line. Punter Leo Blumentritt attempted a throw to Keenan Campbell at the NAU 33. The ball was not well thrown and thrown short and the Lumberjacks took over on downs.
UNC rallied for its touchdown after Gossett’s score. The Bears went 75 yards in 11 plays over 97 seconds capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Brandon Johnson. The touchdown was Johnson’s team-best fifth rushing score of the year.
Katsis took Leo Blumentritt’s high kickoff near his own goal line and went 100 yards for the touchdown return and the 28-10 halftime lead.
Katsis’ 45-yard run came on a double-reverse, end-around play that brought the Lumberjacks to the UNC 30-yard line. Cromwell scored three plays later from 2 yards out for the 35-10 lead. He scored a second touchdown on a 7-yard run with 1:04 left in the third for a 42-10 NAU lead.
The series of plays — from the fake punt to Katsis’ touchdown to Cromwell’s touchdown after halftime — changed the game for the Lumberjacks.
“We battled back and gave up the touchdown on the kickoff return and the touchdown on the first drive of the second half,” Lamb said. “Those three plays swung the momentum.”
UNC quarterback Peter Costelli came into the game in the fourth quarter for starter Eric Gibson Jr. Costelli was the Bears’ starter out of preseason camp, but he suffered a fractured left collarbone in the season opener against Chadron State. Costelli returned last week for a few plays of action against Montana State.
UNC had 285 total yards with 105 rushing yards. Gibson Jr. was 17 of 28 passing for 151 yards. Gibson Jr. didn’t throw for a touchdown or interception. He ran twice for four yards. Costelli was 3 of 5 for 29 yards and an interception. He ran four times for 19 yards.
“I think they both deserve the opportunity to play and to lead us,” Lamb said of the quarterback switch. “Today neither guy was able to spark much offense.”
Northern Arizona 49, Northern Colorado 10
UNC — 0- 10 – 0 – 0 — 10
NAU — 14- 14 – 14 – 7 — 49
1st Q, 8:03 — NAU Jayson Raines 14 yard pass from Ty Pennington (Sam Hunsaker kick), 7-0.
1st Q, 3:41 — NAU Darvon Hubbard 4 run (Hunsaker kick), 14-0.
2nd Q, 13:01 — UNC Jacob Willig 32 field goal. 14-3.
2nd Q, 2:00 — NAU Quran Gossett 7 run (Hunsaker kick), 21-3.
2nd Q, :23 — UNC Brandon Johnson 3 run (Willig kick), 21-10.
2nd Q, :10 — NAU Kolbe Katsis 99 kickoff return (Hunsaker kick), 28-10.
3rd Q, 13:00 — NAU Seth Cromwell 2 run (Hunsaker kick) 35-10
3rd Q, 1:04 — NAU Cromwell 7 run (Hunsaker kick), 42-10.
4th Q, 5:15 — NAU Ryan Fontaine 7 run (Hunsaker kick), 49-10.