Sept. 21, 2002

Final Stats

GREELEY, Colo. - The No. 25 ranked University of Northern Colorado football team built an early 21-0 lead against 16th ranked North Dakota, the defending NCAA Division II champions, and hung on to win 28-12 to snap a three game losing streak to the Fighting Sioux in the North Central Conference opener for both squads.

UNC (2-1, 1-0 NCC) and UND (2-2, 0-1) were locked in a defensive battle much of the first quarter as neither team could muster and offensive threat through the game's first six possessions. On the Bears third possession, sophomore punter Chad Harter hit a perfect punt that settled on the Fighting Sioux's own four-yard line. On their first play, UND's Chris Beatty had the ball stripped and UNC junior linebacker Cabel Rohloff recovered the ball and went one-yard for the game's first touchdown. On the day, Rohloff was credited with six tackles, two for a loss of ten total yards, and a sack for a loss of eight yards besides his fumble recovery.

Including that score, UNC would go on to score on three consecutive possessions to push the lead to 21-0 before UND knew what hit them. After the first score, junior quarterback Steve Cutlip, getting his first start of the season, completed six of seven passes for 70 yards in a 2:25 stretch, including a seven-yarder to junior running back Adam Matthews for a score. Following a UND punt, Cutlip lead another drive down the field that resulted in sophomore running back Ty'Ray Thompson rushing six yards to paydirt to push the Bear advantage to 21-0.

North Dakota finally hit the board with 6:11 remaining before halftime as kicker Jeff Glas nailed a 53-yard field goal attempt.

Following a UNC punt, the Bears got the ball back quickly, as redshirt freshman defensive back Reed Doughty recovered a fumble at the UND 12-yard line. Five plays later, UNC was back in the endzone, thanks to another score from Matthews, this time from one-yard out to extend the Bear advantage to its zenith at 28-3. Overall, the Bears scored on four of five consecutive possessions in the first half.

The Fighting Sioux added its next points on another long field goal from Glas, this time a 46-yarder at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter to trim the UNC advantage to 28-6.

UND would score its only touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter when Thompson fumbled for the Bears and UND's Josh Brandsted recovered and rumbled 74-yards for a touchdown. UND's two-point conversion attempt would fail, however, making the games final score 28-12.

Through two games against NCAA Division II opponents this season, UNC has not allowed an offensive touchdown by their opposition.

In his first start of the season, Cutlip passed for 205 yards on 17-26 passing and a score. Backup Mark Passard came into the game in the second half, completing 7-8 passes for 72 yards.

UNC senior wide receiver George Carroll caught seven balls for 120 yards on the day. The seven catches brought Carroll's career total to 108, moving him past Mark McDaniel and into fourth place on the Bear's career list.

Harter had a good day with his foot, punting eight times for 294 total yards and an average of 36.8 per attempt. Four of those punts pinned UND inside its own 20-yard line.

UND's signal caller, Kelby Klosterman, completing 15-26 passes for 100 yards and was sacked five times by the UNC defense.

Overall, UNC outgained UND 344-199, although the Fighting Sioux outrushed the Bears 176-86.

UNC will be back in action next Saturday when they host Minnesota State, Mankato on Family Weekend. Gametime is set for Noon at Nottingham Field.