UNC Bears football beats Division II Northeastern State 23-17 in overtime at Nottingham Field, tell me about this news in (https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/20/unc-bears-football-beats-division-ii-northeastern-state-nottingham-field/)
21-09-2026
The Northern Colorado (UNC) Bears football team secured their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion on Saturday, September 19, 2026, defeating Division II powerhouse No. 13 Northeastern State 23-17 in overtime at Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado.
Game Summary and Key HighlightsThe Comeback: Northern Colorado trailed 17-7 late into the fourth quarter and appeared on the verge of a home defeat against an upset-minded RiverHawks squad.
Late Fourth-Quarter Heroics: With 1:00 remaining in regulation, backup quarterback Brayten Silbor (who entered after starter Kenny Lueth was injured) connected with wide receiver Marcus Mozer on a 10-yard touchdown pass to pull the Bears within three points at 17-14.
Onside Kick and Equalizer: UNC successfully recovered an onside kick, quickly moving into scoring territory. Kicker Landon Richardson then nailed a 48-yard field goal with just 14 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 17-17 and force overtime.
Overtime Finish:
Northeastern State had the first possession in overtime, but UNC defensive back Cadence Turner intercepted quarterback Donnie Smith to deny the RiverHawks any points.
On UNC’s subsequent drive, Silbor scrambled for 20 yards to set up running back Justin Guin, who powered into the end zone on a 13-yard touchdown run to win the game.
Marcus Mozer (WR): Delivered a breakout performance with eight receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard touchdown pass from Lueth in the second quarter.
Brayten Silbor (QB): Came off the bench to complete 18 of 33 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, orchestrating the final scoring drive in regulation and setting up the overtime winner.
Defense: Dominic Butts recorded six tackles, a sack, and four tackles for loss, while Hudson Voggesser and KJ Smedley led the team with 11 tackles apiece.
The victory improved UNC to 1-3 on the season and snapped Northeastern State’s 10-game winning streak.