Oct. 11, 2008
Final Stats
Greeley, CO --- Idaho State traditionally has played well in Greeley, going 10-2 all-time there, but tradition was not on the ISU sidelines, as numerous mistakes led to safeties, lost fumbles, and short drives for the Bears as Northern Colorado defeated the Bengals 29-9 on a very cold, wet afternoon at Nottingham Field on UNC's Homecoming.
One year after ISU defeated the Bears on their own Homecoming, UNC returned the favor. The game was weird from the start, as the opening score of the game came on a 4th-and-one with ISU punting, as Chris Kirkegaard snapped the ball over the head of punter Jon Vanderwielen and into the end zone, where Vanderwielen kicked it out of the end zone for the first of three safeties in the game, which tied an FCS record for combined safeties in a game, and in a half.
After the safety, UNC went 60 yards in nine plays, with Bryan Waggener threw the first of his two touchdown passes, this to Jason Caprioli. ISU responded to cut it to 9-7 when Clint Knickrehm scored from three yards out after a quick drive, but UNC answered again. Waggener hit Alex Thompson for a touchdown after a bad snap on a shotgun play turned into a lost fumble at the ISU 28.
Those bad snaps and fumbles continued into the second quarter as after a long touchdown run for UNC's Tyrone Wilson made it 27-7, Hill fumbled a ball into his own end zone and was tackled for another safety to make it 29-7.
Amazingly, ISU's Jeremy Gibson blocked a Cameron Kaman punt for a third safety, making it 29-9. ISU had chances in the second half for another patented late comeback, but JD Ponciano's 30-yard touchdown catch was nullified by an illegal formation penalty, and then on the ensuing field goal attempt, the ball was fumbled by holder Kyle Blum, who eventually threw an incomplete pass. The kick was the first shot for Mike Ramos, who replaced Jarrett Huk after he missed from 40 yards out in the second quarter.
The Bengals struggled offensively, as Russel Hilll threw for just 237 yards and had four interceptions, his second four interception game of the season. The 237 yards ended Hill's streak of four straight 300-yard games.
The loss ended UNC's seven-game losing streak, but it extended ISU's to 10 dating back to last season. The Bengals now return to Holt Arena for their own Homecoming game, taking on nationally-ranked Northern Arizona at 6:35 pm at Holt Arena.
NOTES: The teams combined for 22 penalties, 11 apiece ... Northern Colorado scored every way possible except for a defensive two-point PAT return ... Idaho State did not allow a point in the second quarter, after holding opponents scoreless in a quarter just once over the first five games of the season ... Rashaad Richards and Ryan Phipps each had 16 tackles ... ISU rushed for just 25 yards on 22 carries.
