Greeley – As Northern Colorado makes its move from Division II to Division I-AA, a youthful talent upgrade was evident Saturday, along with the experience of veteran tailback Andre Wilson and his offensive line, and senior defensive backs Greg Gebhardt and Reed Doughty, who combined for three interceptions and 21 tackles.
In a 35-19 victory over Southeastern Louisiana, Wilson ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns, and the secondary didn’t allow a passing play of more than 24 yards before 6,885 at Nottingham Field.
UNC coach Kay Dalton started a freshman-dominated linebacker corps that produced nine tackles from Jake Duren, three months removed from Mullen High School, and reveled in youthful return men Aaron Henderson and Patrick Ealy.
Henderson, a sophomore from Colorado Springs’ Rampart High, started at cornerback and played on all but one special team, using a variety of quick cutbacks en route to a 75-yard punt return that set up the Bears’ third touchdown.
Ealy, a redshirt freshman from Denver South, covered 45 yards on a fourth-quarter kickoff return that led to UNC’s fourth touchdown.
“I think as you move through this transition period, you’re going to recruit freshmen, we hope, that are better than some of the players we have,” Dalton said. “Probably 60 percent of our players were recruited as Division II players and they’re good players. I’m not saying they’re not. But I’m saying, that’s what will happen (freshmen starting), from time to time.”
Even the offensive line was infiltrated with youth as 330-pound true freshman Jacob Thornbrue made his debut at left tackle.
“What’s amazing is that on every play guys are growing up right in front of our face,” Henderson said.
After UNC (2-1) built a 21-0 halftime lead, the Lions (1-1) drew within 21-13.
“It got scary for a minute, but we kept our composure,” said senior quarterback Nick Hager, who completed 16-of-22 passes for 175 yards and two TDs to Nebraska transfer Andy Birkel.
Birkel made a leaping catch- and-run for a 16-yard score and juked his defender for an open reception on a 19-yard score.
“You can’t compare him to V.J. because V.J. is V.J.,” Hager said of Vincent Jackson, a San Diego Chargers rookie who set the Bears’ all-time TD reception record last season.
“But he’s as close to being a V.J.-type player as there is. And Andre is unbelievable. We have so many weapons … my job is not to do anything stupid.”
While bouncing back from a 28-23 loss to Western Illinois on Sept. 8, the Bears did allow three blocked punts. Although Rafael Mendoza appeared to be slow getting off his punts, Dalton blamed it on poor blocking.
Southeastern Louisiana features 14 players from New Orleans and 55 other in-state players. Many of their families were affected by Hurricane Katrina, prompting UNC to donate $5,000 from parking proceeds to the Red Cross hurricane relief effort.
SE Louisiana 0 0 6 13 – 19
Northern Colorado 7 14 0 14 – 35
First quarter: UNC – Wilson 1 run (Zaitz kick), 10:27. Second quarter: UNC – Birkel 16 pass from Hager (Zaitz kick), 14:06. UNC – Birkel 19 pass from Hager (Zaitz kick), 5:48. Third quarter: SLU – Watson 11 pass from Willie (kick failed), 10:46. Fourth quarter: SLU – Watson 17 run (Hall kick), 9:12. UNC – Wilson 9 run (Zaitz kick), 6:04. SLC – Watson 1 run (pass failed), 2:14. UNC – Wilson 8 run (Zaitz kick), :51. A – 6,885.
SLU UNC
First downs 25 15
Rushes-yards 36-96 43-126
Passing 294 175
Passes 34-54-3 16-22-1
Return yards 11 87
Punts-avg. 4-52 7-22
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 1-5 3-15
Time of possession 28:09 31:51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – SE Louisiana, Watson 13-58, Willie 17-37, Gilbert 1. N. Colorado, Wilson 33-113, Waterman 2-14, Ealy 1-1, Hager 7-(minus 2).
PASSING – SE Louisiana, Willie 33-53-3-286, Babin 0-1-0-8. N. Colorado, Hager 16-22-1-175.
RECEIVING – SE Louisiana, Taylor 11-97, Huggins 7-76, Watson 6-47. Scates 3-22, Gonzalez 2-17, Jackson 2-5, Howard 1-11, Gilbert 1-11, Lanaux 1-8. N. Colorado, Birkel 8-98, Sleeth 4-22, Carlson 2-30, Lundeen 2-25.
