GREELEY — Scott Downing insists the progress of the Northern Colorado football team eventually will turn into tangible results.
If that is the case, games like today’s against Portland State are ones the Bears need to have.
The Vikings had not won a road game since beating UNC in 2007, but they did it again, spoiling the Bears homecoming with a 23-18 triumph at snowy Nottingham Field.
The Bears dropped to 4-36 in the Downing era and (1-5, 0-4 Big Sky) lost their sixth straight to Portland State (2-4, 1-3), coached by former NFL frontman Jerry Glanville.
The Vikings went ahead for good late in the third quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Drew Hubel to Lavonte Kirven. The TD gave the Vikings a 20-15 advantage and occurred one play after UNC receiver Patrick Walker lost a fumble.
Crews somewhat cleared the playing surface before the game by plowing the end zones, yard lines and hash marks, but snow shrouded the remainder of the grass. That didn’t prevent Portland State from eking out the victory despite committing four turnovers of the game’s seven turnovers.
UNC, which lost its 10th consecutive conference game, gave those who braved the elements some early drama. Korey Askew returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and Chris Morris made a one-handed grab of a Brian Waggener pass and darted to a 74-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 15-10 lead in the second.
But the Bears couldn’t generate many sustained possessions and had difficulty stopping Portland State’s dual quarterback attack of Hubel and the run-oriented Connor Kavanaugh.
