On Nov. 12, 2022, The University of Northern Colorado Bears defeated the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks 21–20. The Bears did not win another football game for the next 700 days and 17 games. That all ended on Oct. 12, 2024.
One week after their upset over the No. 8-ranked University of Montana, the Weber State University football team came into homecoming week confident. In the 12 times the teams have met, Northern Colorado beat the Wildcats only once on Nov. 10, 2012.
The game started off well for the Wildcats, with the defense forcing a three-and-out on the Bears’ first drive of the game. The Wildcats got the ball and drove down the field to the UNC 8-yard line. However, on the next play, sophomore quarterback Richie Muñoz, coming off a six-touchdown game last week, fumbled the ball at the goal line, which the Bears recovered.
Weber State’s defense responded by forcing another punt from the Bears. On their next drive, the Wildcats drove down the field again and came away with 7 points after a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Muñoz and an extra point from senior kicker Kyle Thompson.
On the next UNC drive, Weber’s defense forced a turnover on downs, giving the Wildcats the ball back. The Weber offense then drove down the field to the UNC 3-yard line. On third down, Muñoz ran the ball up the middle but fumbled it again at the goal line, giving the Bears the ball.
After the teams exchanged punts, the Bears’ final drive of the half culminated in a 21-yard rushing touchdown from their senior quarterback Kia’i Keone to tie the game up. Weber responded with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Muñoz to senior wide receiver Jacob Sharp to give the Wildcats a 14–7 lead going into the half.
The Wildcats received the ball after halftime and drove down to the Bears’ 15-yard line, but after a stuffed run and two incomplete passes, Thompson kicked a 32-yard field goal, bringing the score to 17–7.
After another UNC punt, the Wildcats got the ball at their 20-yard line. However, on first down, Muñoz ran the ball up the middle, but the ball was stripped by UNC sophomore linebacker KJ Smedley and recovered by the Bears.
The Bears capitalized on the opportunity with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from senior running back Caden Meis to make it a 17–14 game.
After back-and-forth punts by both teams to end the third quarter, the Bears had a long drive culminating in a 15-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Darius Stewart to give the Bears a 21–17 lead with six minutes remaining.
On the Wildcats’ next drive, there was a miscommunication between Muñoz and junior offensive line Terrance Caldwell, causing Caldwell to missnap the ball to be recovered by the Bears.
The Wildcats stopped the Bears on three straight plays, forcing them to kick a field goal. Senior defensive lineman Steven Bryant blocked the goal to keep the score at 21–17.
Weber was stopped on three straight plays when the decision was made to punt the ball back to the Bears with three minutes remaining. The Wildcat defense forced a punt from the Bears, giving the offense the ball back with a minute remaining.
On the game’s final drive, Muñoz found Sharp for 7 yards and then rushed for 3 for a first down. The next play was an incomplete pass by Muñoz, trying to find Sharp again. On the next play of the game, Muñoz’s pass was intercepted by UNC freshman safety Cam Chapa to seal the game 21–17 for the Bears, giving their head coach Ed Lamb his first win as coach of the Bears.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back on Oct. 19 as they travel to Sacramento to face the California State University, Sacramento, Hornets.
