MOSCOW, Idaho – Self-inflicted wounds and accidents have been the story once more in Northern Colorado’s loss towards Idaho on Saturday evening.
UNC (2-3, 1-1 Massive Sky) misplaced to the Vandals, 55-35, on the Kibbie Dome in its second convention recreation of the season.
It was down by simply three factors halfway by the third quarter, however two interceptions and defensive struggles created a extra lopsided end result late within the contest.
“It was a extremely loud indoor atmosphere. We performed a really proficient soccer workforce. I believed we traded punches with them for 3 quarters; extraordinarily pleased with our offense and the way we fought again and put factors up on the board,” UNC coach Ed McCaffrey stated. “At one level, we reduce it to 31-28 and have been nonetheless proper within the recreation. Sadly, their offense is absolutely on a roll immediately. We had bother stopping them.”
Northern Colorado gave up a landing on the primary drive, which included 48-yard and 26-yard passes. The Bears responded on the subsequent drive, scoring a 14-yard landing from sophomore operating again David Afari.
Freshman kicker Hunter Inexperienced’s additional level was blocked and put the Bears down by one.
Each groups went backwards and forwards all through the sport, with UNC even taking the lead for some time within the second quarter. There have been instances when Idaho gave up essential first downs that the Bears capitalized on.
“One thing comparable occurred final week. They caught us a few instances, and I figured we’d regroup and possibly create a takeaway, get a few stops,” McCaffrey stated. “Our offense was feeling fairly good, so at that time, I nonetheless felt assured that we might rating factors. These stops simply by no means got here and the takeaways by no means occurred. It become slightly little bit of a shootout and we couldn’t cease them. They acquired a few stops and that was actually the distinction within the recreation.”
The Vandals recorded two turnovers within the second that they transformed into factors. These took the sport from a 17-point recreation to almost 30.
UNC scored once more with lower than a minute left, however the harm had been achieved.
McCaffrey stated there have been a lot of gamers who didn’t play, or performed restricted minutes, as a consequence of accidents. Senior defensive lineman Brooks Talkington, freshman defensive lineman Joe Brown and junior linebacker Elias Rantissi have been a few of the gamers who didn’t begin or got here out of the sport. Plus, the workforce remains to be lacking junior David Hoage.
“Typically once you’re actually skinny in sure spots, by the point the fourth quarter rolls round, your guys are worn out,” McCaffrey stated. “I believe we’ll get some guys again (subsequent week), we’ll have a greater rotation, hold guys brisker, and hopefully make extra performs.”
Penalties have been additionally a problem once more. Regardless of giving up 32 yards, the second-fewest this season, they usually got here at inopportune instances. These, plus the interceptions, affected the momentum considerably.
Graduate operating again Elijah Dotson completed with 49 receiving yards and 77 dashing yards, scoring twice. Graduate quarterback Dylan McCaffrey threw for 264 yards, along with his longest go being 40 yards. He made some good performs early, throwing nice passes beneath strain and outdoors the pocket, however issues acquired away from him and the workforce total.
Dotson stated he didn’t suppose Idaho essentially exploited any weaknesses. The workforce gave away good alternatives, as an alternative.
“We have now a workforce that is aware of how you can struggle,” Dotson stated. “We have now a workforce that doesn’t know how you can stop, so we’re all the time gonna hold taking part in soccer. That’s simply instilled in us. We’ve simply acquired to ensure that we’re executing. It’s exhausting to the touch on the whole lot, however you’ve acquired to execute.”
UNC will play at Sacramento State subsequent week. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.