Football Bears Clinch Share of NCC Title With 31-7 Victory Over Augustana :: Junior Adam Matthews goes over 100 yards rushing for the fourth consecutive game. (Oct. 26, 2002)

Junior Adam Matthews goes over 100 yards rushing for the fourth consecutive game. (Oct. 26, 2002)

Oct. 26, 2002

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Northern Colorado football team clinched at least a share of the North Central Conference title by blowing out Augustana, who was leading the NCC in total defense heading into this week, by a 31-7 margin on Saturday.

Augustana (5-3, 3-3 NCC) was allowing only 272.9 yards of total offense to its opponents this season heading into the matchup. But UNC (7-1, 6-0 NCC) rolled up 311 yards of total offense in winning for the sixth consecutive game and ninth in a row in the NCC dating back to last season.

The Bears jumped out of the gate on fire before Augie knew what hit it. UNC scored 21 first quarter points to stun the Vikings crowd and the Bears never looked back.

After Cabel Rohloff intercepted Graham Van Horn's pass, one of five interceptions Van Horn would throw on the day, UNC drove 19-yards and senior quarterback Mark Passard ran the ball in from one-yard out for the afternoon's first score.

On Augie's next posession, Van Horn threw his second interception of the day, into the hands of Mark Teerlinck to once again put UNC in good field position at the Augie 38-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Passard hooked up with tight end Justin White for a 34-yard touchdown that put the Bears up 14-0 after the extra point from Mike Swim.

On its next possession, the Vikings went three-and-out and UNC drove the field in five plays and scored when Passard hit wide receiver Vincent Jackson for a 63-yard strike to increase the Bears' advantage to 21-0.

Neither team scored in the second quarter, and Augie finally got on the board with 6:22 remaining in the third, when Ed Whiting capped a 13-play, 60-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to cut the UNC advantage to 14 points.

Swim added a 22-yard field goal on UNC's next possession to increase the lead to 24-7 at the end of the third quarter.

UNC scored for the last time in the fourth, after Erik Viken intercepted Van Horn and that play eventually set up a Passard to Jared Jackson 13-yard strike at the 3:59 mark of the final quarter.

Passard was 11-22 on the afternoon for 188 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Matthews ran for 106 yards on 26 carries, including a long run of 45-yards.

UNC can clinch the NCC Championship outright with a victory at North Dakota State next weekend in Fargo. That game is scheduled for a Noon mountain time start.