HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Christian University fought back from a 10-point first-half deficit before eventually falling in overtime, dropping a hard-fought 26-23 decision to Northern Colorado University on Saturday night at Husky Stadium in the final non-conference game of the regular season.
The Huskies didn't wait long to open up the scoring, capitalizing on a turnover on UNC's second possession of the game.
Rodney Dansby picked off Eric Gibson's pass, stepping front of wide receiver Dawson Menegatti and racing 37 yards to the pylon to give HCU a 7-0 lead with 10:43 to go in the first quarter.
Northern Colorado responded on their next possession, going 75 yards in 12 plays. A big fourth-down conversion kept the drive alive, as Gibson and Menegatti hooked up for 37 yards, putting ball on the HCU seven-yard line. Three plays later Gibson would hit Carver Cheek in the end zone to knot the score at 7-7 with just under five minutes remaining in the opening frame.
The Bears continued that momentum into the second quarter, and put up 10 quick points in a three-minute span. A 48-yard field goal by Jacob Willig put the visitors in front at the 10:36 mark, and the visitors found themselves with the ball once again just moments later after a muffed punt.
Taking over at the HCU 14-yard line, UNC needed just two plays before Mathias Price plunged into the end zone from six yards to make the score 17-7 with just over seven to go in the half.
With 4:30 remaining in the half UNC had the ball back looking for more, driving 64 yards and into the red zone with under a minute to play. That is where the tables turned however, as
Tyran Chappell made a good read for an interception and sprinted all the way to the end zone for HCU's second pick-six of the night with 29 seconds to go. The score, which was the second-longest turnover return for a touchdown in school history, would take the two teams to the intermission with UNC leading just 17-14.
The second half began with a three-and-out by HCU. The Bears then took over and drove 59 yards in 12 plays, taking up nearly half the quarter before ending in a 27-yard field goal by Willig that extended the lead to 20-14 with 6:16 on the clock. The Huskies would quickly get that three back, as they took the kickoff and drove 47 yards before
Charlie Weinrich connected from 46 yards out to make the score 20-17 with 4:21 remaining in the third.
The two teams then traded possessions, with the Huskies flipping field position after holding the Bears to a three-and-out at their own 15. Starting on its own 34-yard line, HCU proceeded to move quickly down the field, with
Deuce McMillan picking up two catches for 35 yards to get the Huskies near the red zone. The drive would stall at the 20-yard line and Weinrich's try from 39 yards out was no good, leaving the HCU deficit at three with 11:11 to play.
Northern Colorado then took over and marched down the field. A 35-yard completion from Gibson to Cheeks moved the ball into HCU territory but the Huskies held, forcing a long field goal attempt. Willig missed his attempt of the season when his try from 47 yards went off the left upright.
After a quick three plays and punt by HCU, UNC took over at their 20. On the fourth play of that drive, it would be Dansby again with a big play, this time forcing a fumble that was recovered by Sean Dubose at the Northern Colorado 38-yard line with 3:32 left. Three plays netted just six yards, putting it on the leg of Weinrich, who nailed a career-long 50-yarder to tie things up at 20 with 2:47 to play.
Each team then forced a punt from the other and the Bears took over one last time at their own 11 with 1:11 remaining. The Bears would advance all the way to the HCU 20, the final chunk coming on yet another hookup from Gibson to Cheek for 19 yards. That brought on Willig once again, but his attempt from 36 yards out was blocked by
Ravonte Blowe, sending the game into overtime.
HCU knocked down a field goal on their first possession of the extra period, a 37-yarder from Weinrich. UNC then got down to the one yard line on their possession, with Hank Gibbs punching it in to give the Bears a 26-23 victory.
Jake Weir was 17-35 for 160 yards for HCU, with
Keith Wheeler leading the Huskies with five receptions and 31 yards.
Ja'Ryan Wallace caught three for 44 and
Deuce McMillan had three grabs as well for 38 yards.
Xai'Shaun Edwards rushed nine times for 28 yards to lead the ground game, while Weinrich knocked down a trio of field goals (46, 50, 37).
Rodney Dansby led the defensive charge for the Huskies, registering a game-high 18 tackles, one shy of his career-best which included seven solo, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and the pick-six interception.
Trent Zappe had a career-high 17 tackles, while
Tyran Chappell led a quartet of players with seven stops to go with his interception return for a touchdown.
Ravonte Blowe had seven tackles and the blocked field goal.
Eric Gibson was 24-37 through the air for 215 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bears and connected with Carver Cheeks went for a game-high eight grabs totaling 101 yards and a score. Mathias Price rushed 27 times for a game-high 126 yards and a touchdown while the defensive effort was led by Ezra Ekuban and Hudson Voggesser, each with eight tackles for Northern Colorado, now 2-2 on the season.
HCU falls to 1-3 on the season, and will be off next week with a bye. The Huskies will hit the field again on October 4 when it opens the Southland Conference slate with a trip to the Valley to take on UTRGV in Edinburg.
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