Nov. 2, 2002

Final Stats

FARGO, N.D. - With a 29-7 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday, the University of Northern Colorado Bears football team claimed their fifth overall and third outright North Central Conference Championship, and first title since the 1999 season.

UNC (8-1 overall, 7-0 NCC) shared the conference championship in the 1998 and 1999 seasons and last claimed the outright title in 1997, the same season the Bears won their last Division II National Championship. UNC was also an outright NCC champion in 1980, the first season they participated in the NCC.

The win was the 10th in a row over NCC opponents dating back to last season. The Bears have not lost a NCC contest since dropping a decision to South Dakota on October 13, 2001. Overall, it was the 12th straight victory against Division II teams for UNC also dating back to last season.

Redshirt freshman kicker Mike Swim was one of the many heroes on the day, tying the school record for field goals in a game, by connecting on five during the contest from distances of 19, 26, 36, 21 and 26 yards. He now shares the record with Kevin Jelden (1981 vs. SDSU) and Ryan Anderson (1995 vs. Western State). Swim has now connected of 14 field goals this season.

"I had that planned," Swim joked after the contest about making the five field goals. "Any individual achievement that I obtain is overshadowed by team goals and accomplishments. It will be great to be at home next week in front of all the UNC fans."

Junior running back Adam Matthews continued his torrid pace in the last five games, gaining 119 yards on 28 carries for UNC. His performance earned him Harvest Bowl MVP honors for the game.

"We knew coming in this was going to be a tough game and we prepared well for them all week," said Matthews who ran for 100-plus yards for the fifth consecutive game. "We don't have to share it (the NCC title), it is all ours and it feels great."

UNC could not put the ball in the endzone in the first half but thanks to Swim were able to hold a 9-0 lead entering halftime. Swim connected on a 19-yard field goal at the 9:58 mark of the first quarter to put the first points on the board for the Bears. Later in that quarter Swim added a 26-yarder to double that advantage and added his third field goal of the day at the 8:19 mark of the second quarter to extend that advantage at the break.

Swim added his fourth field goal early in the third quarter before North Dakota State (2-6, 1-5) hit the board. The Bison drove down the field and senior quarterback Graig Gorder connected with split end Marques Johnson for a 34-yard touchdown to pull NDSU to within five points at 12-7.

But UNC wasted no time getting those points back when on the first play of its next possession, Bears senior quarterback Mark Passard hit junior transfer Brad Pyatt on a post pattern play for a 74-yard touchdown to stun the Bison crowd and put the game out of reach.

UNC would add another touchdown on its next possession, following a fake punt conversation on fourth down, junior fullback Ron Scott dove in from one-yard out to increase the advantage to 26-7 late in the final quarter.

Swim added a 26-yard field goal at the 3:21 mark of the game to cap the scoring.

"Overall the defense played pretty well, we got some big plays off our special teams and we ran and threw the ball well today," Head Coach Kay Dalton said after the game. "I give the kids all the credit, they wanted to win the NCC title and they did it."

The win was only the second ever for the Bears in Fargo in 14 attempts. UNC also bested the Bison 29-19 during the 1998 season. UNC now owns seven victories in 27 total games against the Bison including four of the last five contests between the two schools.

The loss was the sixth in the last seven games for North Dakota State, and it also guarantees the Bison their first losing season since 1975. UNC also looks to move up to number two in next weeks NCC Midwest Region poll, as current No. 1 Northwest Missouri State defeated current No. 2 Central Missouri State 10-7 today. With a number one or two seed in the region, the Bears would host a home playoff game.

UNC will attempt to complete its first ever perfect NCC season in its last season of Division II football when it hosts South Dakota State in the NCC finale next weekend at Nottingham Field. Kickoff is set for Noon on Senior Day.