BOZEMAN — Montana State snapped its two-game winning streak and moved into its final home game with a winning record. The Bobcats can clinch their first winning mark since 2014 with a victory over Northern Colorado.
The Bears lost seven straight games to open the 2018 season despite entering this fall with elevated internal expectations. The Bears won two straight before last week’s 48-13 loss to No. 5 Eastern Washington in UNC’s home finale.
Montana State is gunning for a winning campaign and a seven-win season, a mark that could put the Bobcats on the FCS playoff bubble. On paper, the Bobcats are the decided favorites against one of the Big Sky Conference’s struggling squads.
But MSU head coach Jeff Choate does not see a deficient team when he looks at the Bears on film. Especially with one game remaining before the Bobcats gun for their third straight win over the rival Montana Grizzlies. A win Saturday against Northern Colorado could sew up a winning season for the Bobcats. A three-game winning streak to end the season that included a third victory in three tries under Choate against UM would mark Montana State’s first three-game winning streak in the rivalry since 1983-85.
“Northern Colorado is an interesting team, they really are,” Choate said. “I’ve watched every single game, every single snap and it’s the same recipe. Nothing really changes. They are a very, very competitive team in just about the first half of every game they are in.
“You watch the first half of every game and you would think this is a 7-2 team, not a 2-7 team. I don’t know if it’s lack of depth or what the deal is but they fight. They play hard. I think they’ve got good personnel. I don’t see them as being deficient in that area.”
Northern Colorado entered the season, its eighth under Earnest Collins Jr., with a core of seniors, including all-league talents quarterback Jacob Knipp, running back Trae Riek, wide receiver Alex Wesley and defensive end Kiefer Morris. UNC nearly rallied for an upset win over No. 17 McNeese State in its season opener, falling just short 17-14 in Greeley.
Knipp threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns, Wesley hauled in 10 catches for 184 yards and a score but Northern Colorado could not contain South Dakota quarterback Austin Simmons (542 yards of total offense, five total touchdowns) in a 43-28 loss.
Sac State knocked Knipp out of the game in a non-conference game between Big Sky foes. Then the Hornets rallied from a 17-14 fourth quarter deficit for a 28-25 victory, marking the last time Sac won a game.
With sophomore Keaton Mott and junior Conor Regan sharing quarterback snaps, UNC struggled the first four weeks of Big Sky play, losing at Weber State (45-28), to North Dakota (38-13), to UC Davis (49-36) and at Portland State (35-14).
Following the Portland State game, Collins suspended 12 players for an undisclosed violation of team rules. With some younger players filling elevated roles for the first time this season, Northern Colorado whipped Northern Arizona 42-14 for its first victory.
The following week, Northern Colorado rushed for a season-high 289 yards in a 42-39 win over Southern Utah.
Against Eastern Washington, the Bears surrendered six first half sacks, turned the ball over three times total and missed a fake punt in falling to 2-5 in Big Sky play, 2-8 overall.
Saturday marks Northern Colorado’s final game. The team has its bye the final week of the season.
“It’s kind of that wounded animal syndrome so we have to be ready for just about anything when they come in here on Saturday,” Choate said.
QUICK HITS
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Nickname:.Bears
Founded: 1889, the university’s main campus is located in Greeley, Colorado, about an hour north of Denver, with extended campus locations in Loveland, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Established as the State Normal School of Colorado, the university has a long history in teacher education, and was an early innovator in the field. In addition to education awards and rankings, UNC has nationally ranked programs in business, performing and visual arts, nursing, and sports and exercise science.
Enrollment: 12,084 students and an endowment of $81.49 million
Stadium: Nottingham Field. The 8,533-seat multi-purpose stadium also has a track. Erected in 1995, the Bears won a pair of Division II national championships playing on the field. The stadium is named for Victor R. Nottingham former Colorado State College of Education (UNC) Student Body President who spearheaded the effort to raise private funds for the entire $4 million project. The Bears averaged 4,216 fans in six home games this season. MSU is averaging 18,277 fans per game in five home games this season.
The Coach
Earnest Collins Jr., 8th season — The UNC alum was a standout defensive back and punt returner for Joe Glenn between 1991 and 1994. His coaching career began as the defensive backs coach at Northwest Missouri State from 1996-1999. He coached defensive backs and coordinated the special teams at UNC from 2000-2003 before spending five seasons in the FBS. He coached at Kansas from 2003-2006 and spent 2007 at Central Florida. Collins Jr. became the head coach at Alcorn State in 2009 and spent that season and the next one before his hiring at UNC. His is 26-61 overall, 17-46 against Big Sky competition as his eighth season nears its end.
THE OFFENSE – Players to watch
Conor Regan OR Keaton Mott, quarterbacks — The 6-foot-3, 201-pound Regan threw for just 128 yards and two touchdowns in his brief time at Ventura College before joining UNC last season. This season marks the third time in his career that Knipp has gone down with a season-ending injury. Regan started Northern Colorado’s final five games last season, throwing for 1,305 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Regan threw for 218 yard and two touchdowns in his first career start in a 27-24 loss to Montana State. He threw for 392 yards and a touchdown against Southern Utah and for four touchdowns against Cal Poly.
This season, Regan threw for 386 yards and two touchdowns as UNC rallied from a 49-14 deficit in a 49-36 loss to UC Davis. The following week against Portland State, he threw for 351 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted three times. He has thrown five touchdowns and eight picks this season.
Mott, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore from South Jordan, Utah was ranked as one of the top 25 quarterback recruits in the country as a high school senior in 2015. He redshirted in 2016 but served as Kyle Sloter’s backup with Knipp on the shelf.
Last season, Mott’s largest chunk of time came in the second half of a 44-15 loss at Montana. He threw for 144 yards in that game.
In relief of Knipp against Sac State, Mott threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns. The following week against Weber State’s salty league-leading defense, Mott threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns.
Mott threw for 217 yards and three scores in the win over NAU and for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Southern Utah. He was the starter in both of UNC’s victories this season.
Against Eastern Washington, Mott hit his right throwing hand on Chris Ojoh’s helmet late in the second quarter. He did not return.
In total, Mott has completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. Regan is completing 57.5 percent of his passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns.
“I think they are close and stylistically, the offense doesn’t change much, but I would say 14 (Mott) probably has a stronger arm,” Choate said.
Alex Wesley, wide receiver, 6-0, 184, senior — Wesley is one of the great 400-meter runners in the history of the Big Sky Conference. Over the last two seasons, he’s established himself as one of the most dangerous weapons on the league.
As a freshman in 2014, he advanced to the NCAA West Region track meet by winning the Big Sky Outdoor championship in the event, setting a new track record at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington in the process.
As a sophomore, Wesley finished in 2nd place at the BSC Indoor championship meet and won the outdoor title in the 400 for the second straight year, advancing to regionals again. The fall before those accomplishments, Wesley broke into the starting lineup, catching 17 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
Wesley redshirted for the 2016 track seasons while totaling 374 yards and five tocuhdowns as a receiver. Last year, Wesley won his third straight outdoor 400 title and finished high enough at the regional meet to advance to nationals. His personal-best time of 45.91 seconds, earning second-team All-American honors.
That speed shows up on the football field.
“No. 81 is, probably on the clock, an NFL type of guy,” Choate said. “He can really blow the top off a defense. He got a little more production last year.”
Last season, Wesley had 55 catches for 1,010 yards and six touchdowns to earn second-team Alll-Big Sky honors. This season, Wesley is one of two wide receivers in the league — Idaho State junior Mitch Gueller is the other — with more than 1,000 yards. Wesley has 55 catches for 1,035 yards and four scores.
Milo Hall, running back, 5-8, 190, junior — Elevated opportunity has meant elevated production for the powerful junior. Hall rushed for 78 and 76 yards respectively on 18 carries each against Sacramento State and Weber State, scoring a touchdown in each game. He had 51 yards against Davis and 50 against Portland State, earning 16 carries and scoring a touchdown in each game.
Against NAU, Hall carried the ball a season-high 23 carries for a season-best 121 yards. The following week against Southern Utah, Hall piled up 131 yards on 21 carries, setting a career high with three touchdowns.
This season, he has 645 yards and seven touchdowns, both Top 10 totals in the Big Sky. UNC is averaging 103.3 rushing yards per game, last in the league by 33 yards.
THE DEFENSE – Players to watch
Keifer Morris, defensive end, 6-4, 270, senior — The local product from Parker, Colorado has been producing at a high level since he was a redshirt freshman. He had eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks his first year as a starter.
As a junior, Morris notched 13.5 tackles for loss and had nine sacks, the second-highest total in the league. He earned third-team All-Big Sky honors.
This season, he has 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss among his 34 total stops.
“They play hard on defense,’ Choate sad. “They play really hard. They make you earn everything you get. I like their front seven. I think their personnel is good. No. 59 (Morris) has some twitch on the edge.”
Luke Nelson, linebacker, 6-0, 230, junior — The product of Colorado prep powerhouse Highlands Ranch became a starter for the firs time last season, finishing with 79 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. He had a career-high 20 tackles against Montana while adding 17 against Idaho State and 14 against Cal Poly.
This season, the aggressive junior leads the Bears with 80 tackles, including five tackles for loss. He has two forced fumbles and an interception. His tackle total is third in the Big Sky but eighth in tackles per game since he has played an additional game to the rest of the field.
Only Southern Utah senior middle linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu (51), Sacramento State senior safety Caelan Barnes (50), Cal Poly junior inside linebacker Nik Navarro (49) and Montana linebacker Dante Olson (49) have more solo tackles than Nelson’s 46.
Henry Stelzner, linebacker, 6-1, 222, junior — The 2016 California Community College Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year had 83 tackles, the most of any UNC linebacker last season, after transferring from Santa Rosa CC.
This year, the hard-hitting junior has 56 tackles, including 39 solos and a team-best 10.5 for loss, the fourth-most in the Big Sky despite missing a game.
“I like their linebackers, 29 (Nelson) and 44 Stelzner,” Choate said. “They probably play into the line of scrimmage more than most of the guys we’ve played the last three or four weeks. I wouldn’t say they are as good as the Weber State guys but they are in that category. They play downhill.”
“I think their front seven is one of the best we’ve played against. Maybe not quite on par with Weber but in that category.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez, Rob Trubia of UNC athletics and attributed. All Rights Reserved.
