GREELEY — Jonathan Newsom threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a third to lead Northern Colorado to a 42-34 win over Western State in the season opener for both teams Saturday at Nottingham Field.
Northern Colorado’s Trae Riek added two rushing touchdowns and a 55-yard scoring reception in the second quarter to build a lead the Bears would never surrender. Newsom completed 20-of-31 passes for 279 yards, while Riek finished with 156 yards rushing on 25 carries. Ellis Onic scored on a 10-yard pass from Newsome and Anthony Davis put the game out of reach with a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Western State, a Division II team, was led by Brett Arrivey, who completed 28-of-39 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Ekeler ran for 228 yards on 32 carries, including two touchdowns.
Northern Colorado led Western State 21-20 at halftime. The two teams each accounted for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Bears’ 14 points in the third quarter, compared with the Mountaineers’ seven, gave Northern Colorado enough breathing room to hold on.
