GREELEY, Colo.—Dylan Orms threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores to lead Northern Colorado to a 35-21 victory over Idaho State on Saturday.
Orms was 18 for 24 for 188 yards. Jhamele Robinson added 89 rushing yards, and Andre Harris had a touchdown run for the Bears (2-1, 1-1 Big Sky).
Tavoy Moore kept the Bengals (1-2, 0-1) close with a stellar special-teams performance.
Moore returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, added an 81-yard punt return for a score and finished with 237 return yards.
The Bengals have lost their last three meetings with Northern Colorado.
The crowd had barely settled into its seats, when Moore ran straight up the middle, escaped a lunge by kicker Dave Eden and ran untouched over the final 35 yards.
Moore’s TD on a punt return came with 9:34 to play and cut Northern Colorado’s lead to 28-21.
Harris scored on a 1-yard dive on a fourth-and-goal play to tie the score at 7-all.
Jahmel Rover’s 2-yard run capped a 61-yard drive on Idaho State’s second possession.
Matt King picked off pass by Kyle Morris at midfield, leading to a 5-yard rushing TD by Orms that tied it at 14-14 with 5:16 left in the second quarter.
The Bears took their first lead, 21-14, with 9:20 left in the third quarter on a 9-yard TD pass from Orms to Patrick Walker after an offsides penalty extended their drive. They were given a first down when Idaho State was called for the penalty on Eden’s missed a field goal attempt.
Max Hewitt recovered a fumble by White as Idaho State was driving late in the third quarter. Orms made the Bengals pay with a 26-yard TD pass to Jace Davis to start the fourth quarter to make it 28-14.
Orms later added a 1-yard TD run.
