American college football season
The 2023 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Ed Lamb and played their home games at Nottingham Field.
On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Bears were predicted to finish tenth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.[1]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1
|
Montana State
|
120 (10)
|
2
|
UC Davis
|
96 (1)
|
3
|
Sacramento State
|
94 (1)
|
4
|
Weber State
|
91
|
5
|
Idaho
|
89
|
6
|
Montana
|
84
|
7
|
Eastern Washington
|
52
|
8
|
Portland State
|
45
|
9
|
Northern Arizona
|
44
|
10
|
Northern Colorado
|
37
|
11
|
Cal Poly
|
25
|
12
|
Idaho State
|
15
|
Media poll
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1
|
Montana State
|
447 (26)
|
2
|
Idaho
|
410 (8)
|
3
|
Montana
|
359 (2)
|
4
|
Sacramento State
|
334 (3)
|
5
|
UC Davis
|
330
|
6
|
Weber State
|
320
|
7
|
Eastern Washington
|
216
|
8
|
Northern Arizona
|
178
|
9
|
Portland State
|
167
|
10
|
Northern Colorado
|
109
|
11
|
Cal Poly
|
103
|
12
|
Idaho State
|
69
|
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 6:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian* | | ESPN+ | L 11–31 | 6,164 |
September 9 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 10 Incarnate Word* | | ESPN+ | L 7–42 | 3,898 |
September 16 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State* | | P12N | L 21–64 | 23,595 |
September 23 | 4:00 p.m. | at Idaho State | | ESPN+ | L 21–35 | N/A |
September 30 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 13 Weber State | - Nottingham Field
- Greeley, CO
| ESPN+ | L 21–28 | 3,375 |
October 14 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 4 Sacramento State![dagger](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Dagger-14-plain.png) | - Nottingham Field
- Greeley, CO
| ESPN+ | L 13–21 | 4,783 |
October 21 | 7:05 p.m. | at Cal Poly | | ESPN+ | L 17–24 | 9,263 |
October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Montana | | ESPN+ | L 0–40 | 25,463 |
November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 3 Idaho | - Nottingham Field
- Greeley, CO
| ESPN+ | L 13–27 | 3,608 |
November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Arizona | | ESPN+ | L 7–28 | 6,003 |
November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | Portland State | - Nottingham Field
- Greeley, CO
| ESPN+ | L 23–27 | 2,578 |
|
Conference opponents not scheduled this season: Eastern Washington, Montana State, UC Davis
at Abilene Christian
[edit]
vs No. 10 Incarnate Word
[edit]
Game Two – Incarnate Word Cardinals (0–1) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–1)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
No. 10 Cardinals |
7 |
14 |
14 | 7 | 42 |
Bears |
0 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
at Nottingham Field, Greeley, CO
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Wind: NE 9 mph • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 3,898
- Referee: Gregg Wilson
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Alveen (play-by-play) and Nick Hager (analyst)
- Box Score Pregame line: UIW −17.0
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- UIW – 8:34 Marquez Perez 21 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 7–0 Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 0:41
- Second Quarter
- UIW – 14:24 Caleb Chapman 1 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 14–0 Drive: 16 plays, 97 yards, 6:50
- UIW – 1:53 Timothy Carter 16 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 21–0 Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 1:39
- Third Quarter
- UIW – 9:22 Zach Calzada 11 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 28–0 Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 3:18
- UIW – 5:10 Tre Siggers 11 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 35–0 Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:05
- Fourth Quarter
- UIW – 10:04 Caleb Chapman 25 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 42–0 Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:37
- UNC – 6:28 Blake Haggerty 43 yard pass from Hank Gibbs, Hunter Green kick
UIW 42–7 Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 3:36
|
Statistics
|
UIW
|
UNC
|
First downs |
29 |
14
|
Plays–yards |
82–617 |
69–261
|
Rushes–yards |
42–235 |
37–93
|
Passing yards |
382 |
168
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
29–40–1 |
15–32–1
|
Time of possession |
31:03 |
28:57
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Incarnate Word
|
Passing |
Zach Calzada |
23/32, 255 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Timothy Carter |
16 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Caleb Chapman |
5 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD
|
Northern Colorado
|
Passing |
Jacob Sirmon |
13/27, 114 yards, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
David Afari |
14 carries, 43 yards
|
Receiving |
Blake Haggerty |
4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
|
at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State
[edit]
Northern Colorado Bears (0–2) at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State Cougars (2–0) – Game summary
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 21 |
No. 23 (FBS) Cougars |
22 |
21 |
14 | 7 | 64 |
at Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA
- Date: September 16, 2023
- Game time: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: SW 8 mph
- Game attendance: 23,595
- Referee: Gary Reed
- TV: P12N
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (10:28) WSU – Cameron Ward 8-yard run, Billy Riviere pass (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:32; Washington State 8–0)
- (6:08) WSU – Kyle Williams 37-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 3:23; Washington State 15–0)
- (3:41) WSU – Lincoln Victor 28-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:07; Washington State 22–0)
- Second quarter
- (12:27) WSU – Josh Kelly 18-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:33; Washington State 29–0)
- (8:45) WSU – Nakia Watson 6-yard run, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 1:40; Washington State 36–0)
- (3:20) WSU – Lincoln Victor 31-yard pass from Cameron Ward, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:31; Washington State 43–0)
- (0:12) NCU – Jamarii Robinson 18-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Washington State 43–7)
- Third quarter
- (9:43) WSU – Josh Meredith 15-yard pass from John Mateer, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 7 plays, 93 yards, 2:38; Washington State 50–7)
- (5:45) NCU – Hank Gibbs 1-yard run, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:58; Washington State 50–14)
- (5:10) WSU – Tsion Nunnally 72-yard pass from John Mateer, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:30; Washington State 57–14)
- Fourth quarter
- (13:46) WSU – Dylan Paine 1-yard run, Dean Janikowski kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:04; Washington State 64–14)
- (11:36) NCU – Darius Stewart 52-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon, Hunter Green kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:10; Washington State 64–21)
|
Statistics |
NCU |
WSU
|
First downs |
17 |
33
|
Total yards |
366 |
718
|
Rushes/yards |
31–158 |
36–229
|
Passing yards |
208 |
489
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
18–30–0 |
29–38–1
|
Time of possession |
29:11 |
30:49
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Northern Colorado |
Passing |
Jacob Sirmon |
16/24, 171 yards, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
David Afari |
17 carries, 116 yards
|
Receiving |
Blake Haggerty |
6 receptions, 70 yards
|
Washington State |
Passing |
Cameron Ward |
20/26, 327 yards, 4 TD
|
Rushing |
Dylan Paine |
7 carries, 71 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Lincoln Victor |
6 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
|
Idaho State Bengals (0–3) vs. Northern Colorado Bears (0–3) – Game summary
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
7 |
0 |
14 | 0 | 21 |
Bengals |
7 |
14 |
7 | 7 | 35 |
at Holt Arena, Pocatello, Idaho
- Date:
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Indoors
- Game attendance: 8,012
- Referee: Jim C.
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Dylan Carder (play-by-play), Kody Graves (analyst)
- Spread: Idaho State –6.5 • Odds to win: Northern Colorado 51.7% • [1]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- 7:04 UNC – Darius Stewart 16-yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Northern Colorado 7–0, Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards, 4:37
- 0:07 ISU – Alfred Jordan Jr. 32-yard pass from Jordan Cooke (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Tied 7–7, Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:37
- Second quarter
- 5:31 ISU – Jordan Cooke 1-yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 14–7, Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 4:25
- 0:20 ISU – Chedon James 1-yard pass from Hunter Hays (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 21–7, Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 1:14
- Third quarter
- 10:32 UNC – Jacob Sirmon 1–yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Idaho State 21–14, Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:22
- 5:09 UNC – David Afari 18–yard run (Hunter Green kick) – Tied 21–21, Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 4:00
- 2:45 ISU – Aiden Taylor 8–yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 28–21, Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:24
- Fourth quarter
- 5:05 ISU – Hunter Hays 2–yard run (Thomas Kopcho kick) – Idaho State 35–21, Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:56
|
Statistics |
Northern Colorado |
Idaho State
|
First downs |
25 |
26
|
Plays–yards |
72–365 |
72–429
|
Rushes–yards |
40–242 |
30–103
|
Passing yards |
123 |
326
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
22–32–2 |
26–42–1
|
Turnovers |
3 |
1
|
Time of possession |
31:13 |
28:47
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Northern Colorado
|
Passing
|
Jacob Sirmon
|
22/32, 123 yards, 2 INT
|
Rushing
|
Darius Stewart
|
14 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving
|
Ty Arrington
|
5 receptions, 42 yards
|
Idaho State
|
Passing
|
Jordan Cooke
|
14/23, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing
|
Hunter Hays
|
13 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving
|
Christian Fredericksen
|
7 receptions, 108 yards
|
vs No. 13 Weber State
[edit]
vs No. 4 Sacramento State
[edit]
No. 4 Sacramento State Hornets (4–1) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–5) – Game summary
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
No. 4 Hornets |
14 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 21 |
Bears |
3 |
7 |
0 | 3 | 13 |
at Nottingham Field, Greeley, CO
- Date: October 14, 2023
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 4,783
- Referee: Jim Crowley
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Play-by-Play: Jason Alvine • Analysis: Mik Hager
- Sources:[2][3]
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (12:19) UNC – Hunter Green 39-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:50; Northern Colorado 3–0)
- (8:44) SAC – Devin Gandy 15-yard pass from Kaiden Bennett (Zach Schreiner kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:35; Sacramento State 7–3)
- (0:34) SAC – Ezra Moleni 8-yard pass from Kaiden Bennett (Zach Schreiner kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards, 3:56; Sacramento State 14–3)
- Second Quarter
- (7:47) UNC – Brayden Munroe 41-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon (Hunter Green kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 92 yards, 2:29; Sacramento State 14–10)
- Third Quarter
- (0:00) SAC – Carlos Hill 20-yard pass from Kaiden Bennett (Zach Schreiner kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:41; Sacramento State 21–10)
- Fourth Quarter
- (8:31) UNC – Hunter Green 19-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 73 yards, 3:50; Sacramento State 21–13)
|
- Line
- Over/Under
|
|
Statistics |
SAC |
UNC
|
First downs |
23 |
17
|
Total yards |
334 |
332
|
Rushing yards |
151 |
75
|
Passing yards |
183 |
257
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
25–31–0 |
20–39–0
|
Time of possession |
30:57 |
29:03
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Sacramento State |
Passing |
Kaiden Bennett |
25/31, 183 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Ezra Moleni |
16 carries, 93 yards
|
Receiving |
Marshel Martin |
7 receptions, 52 yards
|
Northern Colorado |
Passing |
Jacob Sirmon |
20/39, 257 yards, TD
|
Rushing |
David Afari |
10 carries, 36 yards
|
Receiving |
Brayden Munroe |
3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bears
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
No. 7 Grizzles
|
0
|
14
|
12
|
14 |
40 |
No. 3 Idaho Vandals (6–2) at Northern Colorado Bears (0–8) – Game summary
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
No. 3 Vandals |
3 |
7 |
7 | 10 | 27 |
Bears |
0 |
7 |
0 | 6 | 13 |
at Nottingham Field • Greeley, CO
- Date: November 4, 2023
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. MDT
- Game attendance: 3,608
- TV: ESPN+
at Northern Arizona
[edit]
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |