Greeley – One of the few bright spots in Northern Colorado’s final nonconference game Saturday was the unexpected return of punter Rafael Mendoza.
Mendoza, who was allegedly attacked and stabbed in his kicking leg by backup punter Mitch Cozad on Sept. 11, was utilized throughout the Bears’ 42-28 loss to Western Illinois at Nottingham Field.
“I figured out a couple days ago that I was able to punt,” said Mendoza, who revealed that his deep cut between his hamstring and gluteus didn’t require stitches. “The injury didn’t affect my leg strength at all. So that didn’t play any part of it. (Because) of my adrenaline, I couldn’t even feel it.”
Mendoza averaged 39.8 yards on four punts in UNC’s third loss in four games. His availability was surprising because on Thursday, Bears coach Scott Downing said Mendoza would not be available until at least this Thursday’s game at Weber State.
“I’m very happy for Rafael,” said Downing, whose team scored the game’s final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. “He came back late in the week and started rehabbing and it started coming along very well. Today, he punted the ball fairly well into a stiff wind. I’m pleased he was able to come back. I think it provided a little lift for our team.”
It wasn’t enough.
Western Illinois (3-1), which lost 34-10 to Wisconsin in its previous game, scored two touchdowns off UNC turnovers and returned Mendoza’s best punt of 58 yards for a touchdown.
After each team scored a touchdown on its first possession, the Bears’ offense stalled repeatedly and the Leathernecks took leads of 21-7 at halftime and 42-14 midway through the fourth quarter. Both teams passed for 189 yards and UNC outgained the visitors 398-392 overall, but the Bears accumulated 143 of their yards in their final two drives after the Leathernecks went ahead 42-14.
“Western Illinois (is) a very good football team,” Downing said. “But that was not a team we should have lost to in that manner. By virtue of our turnovers, by virtue of a couple missed plays, by virtue of some missed alignments and things like that, we gave them some plays.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Western Illinois, because they’re a very, very good football team. But that’s not a team we should lose to 42-28. We should have an opportunity to win that game.”
The Bears, who scored a combined 24 points in their first three games, resume Big Sky Conference play Thursday against Weber State. UNC quarterback Dominic Breazeale, who completed 16-of-25 passes for 209 yards, said the Bears’ offense is showing progress.
“I know we can drive the ball. That’s one good thing,” the junior said. “But as an offense, we need to go down and finish. Every time we drive the ball 60 yards, they need to (result in) touchdowns.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
