By Anne Delaney,Gqlshare

Copyright denverpost

Finally. A road win for the University of Northern Colorado football team Saturday night in Houston, Texas.

Converted tight end Hank Gibbs plowed in from the 1-yard line in overtime, giving the Bears a 26-23 win over Houston Christian at Husky Stadium.

The Bears, mired in a two-game losing streak despite playing well at Colorado State and at South Dakota to the final seconds of each game, improved to 2-2 on the season.

Instead of the tush push, UNC went with a direct snap to Gibbs, a former quarterback, for the Bears bash score.

“Yeah, we exercised a few demons out there,” UNC head coach Ed Lamb said by phone after the game. “That always feels good.”

UNC lost at CSU two weeks ago on an overturned touchdown in the final eight seconds of the game. The Bears lost to nationally ranked South Dakota in overtime last week on the road.

Lamb said the post-game locker room Saturday night in Houston was one of relief because the team saw it didn’t play well against the Huskies and especially on offense.

Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the first half, running back Aliou-Rocco Traore’s fumble late in the fourth quarter set up HCU’s game-tying field goal and UNC picked up six penalties for 40 yards. The Bears had 10 penalties for 55 yards in its first three games. UNC was only 4 of 16 on third down.

“Sometimes winning a little bit ugly can be good for the next week of preparation,” Lamb said. “To win a game, but not get overconfident. And, I just don’t think we’re overconfident. I think we left a lot out there on the field and our players believe that too.”

Houston Christian (1-3) blocked a potential game-winning UNC field goal attempt in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, sending the game to overtime tied 20-20.

First-year Bears kicker Jacob Willig came into the game 5 of 5 on field goal attempts this season. He was 2 for 4 Saturday. Though he hit a season-long 48 yarder early in the game, Willig missed from 46 late in the fourth quarter that would’ve put UNC up 23-17.

Instead, HCU’s Charlie Weinrich connected from 50 yards to tie the game with 2:47 remaining.

The teams exchanged three-and-out series following Weinrich’s game-tying kick. UNC had another chance, getting the ball back with 1:11 to play. The Bears went 68 yards in 11 plays, setting up Willig for a chance to win the game from 36 yards out with four seconds to play. HCU linebacker Sean Dubose Jr. got a piece of the ball and the game went to OT.

Lamb said UNC didn’t hold its protection on the blocked kick. The Bears’ snap, hold and kick operation looked good, the coach said.

“Houston Christian was able to get away with a leap over the line of scrimmage, they got some pretty good push,” Lamb added. “We may have had some low trajectory, but I can’t be sure about that now.”

HCU took a 23-20 lead on its first possession of OT on a 37-yard field goal by Weinrich.

The Huskies won the coin toss at the start of overtime and elected to take the ball first. In college football, teams start OT at the opponents’ 25-yard line.

The Bears’ eight-play drive of OT starting at the HCU 25 was aided by a defensive pass interference call on third down against HCU cornerback Tyran Chappell. Chappell returned Gibson Jr.’s second first-half interception for a touchdown, going 82 yards to cut UNC’s lead to 17-14 just 30 seconds before halftime.

On third and 13 from the 28, Gibson Jr. looked for leading receiver Carver Cheeks. Chappell interfered, moving the spot half the distance to the goal with the automatic first down.

Three plays later, Gibbs sealed the win.

“That was a huge play, yeah,” Lamb said of the interference call. “We can’t count on penalties, but looking from my angle the defensive back wasn’t playing the ball and Carver went up with both hands and played the ball and that’s how the officials are taught to officiate that moment. So, nice nice job by Carver going up and fighting with both hands and completely playing the ball instead of trying to fight off the defender.”

The Bears were well-balanced on offense, but the running game was special, racking up 222 yards of their 437 total yards. Mathias Price led UNC with 126 yards rushing on 27 carries and a touchdown. Cheeks led the receiving corps with eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Lamb credited the offensive line for opening holes for the running backs, who he said fought for extra yards through the game. Six backs carried the ball at least three times, working behind a line that shuffled guys in an out through the night with some injuries.

Starter Levi Johnson went out of the game for a while. Center Jack Ziebell was shaken up. Jack Bacon was injured earlier in the season. Younger players on the line, including Montrey Strickland and true freshman Zion Sauvao, saw time Saturday while contributing to building depth in the room.

Injuries at quarterback last year drew a lot of attention, but Lamb said the Bears dealt with injuries at other positions and also didn’t have the depth to compensate.

Lamb said it was a hot and humid night. The wind died down in the second half, leaving nothing to help guys cool down. Price was out of the game late with cramps. Traore left the game late with an apparent leg injury.

True freshman running back Brandon Lambert Jr. was on the field in key situations late in the game.

Lamb said none of the injuries Saturday will be season ending.

“Everybody’s going to be fine,” he said.

Gibson Jr. rallied after the tough first half, leading the Bears to the game-winning touchdown on the seven-play drive in OT. He also put UNC in position to win in regulation leading to the blocked field goal. Gibson Jr. finished the game 24 of 37 passing for 213 yards with the touchdown pass to Cheeks.

“It can be pretty gun shy, throwing two pick sixes,” Lamb said. “Those are rare. He’ll remember every pick six he’s ever thrown in his whole career. Have two of them in one night. He could’ve really folded if he didn’t have such strong character and belief in himself. And, I thought he had a lot of support of all of his coaches and teammates.”

HCU linebacker Rodney Dansby led all players with 18 tackles (seven solo). Dansby forced Traore’s fumble late in regulation and he returned Gibson Jr.’s first interception for a touchdown.

UNC defensive lineman Ezra Ekuban and linebacker Hudson Voggesser both had eight tackles. Ekuban had 2.5 tackles for loss of yards and a quarterback sack.

The Bears defense held HCU to 1 of 15 on third down — with most of those coming when the Huskies faced long yardage and obvious passing situations, Lamb said. Those plays allowed UNC to go to man-to-man coverage and the Bears defensive backs did a nice job.

“The key to playing great third-down defense is to create third and longs and there were a lot of third and longs,” Lamb said.

The Bears open their eight-game Big Sky Conference schedule next week. UNC hosts Idaho State at 1 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 27) at Nottingham Field on homecoming weekend in Greeley.

Idaho State picked up its first win in four games in its home opener Saturday, beating independent Lincoln University (Oakland, California) 90-0 in Pocatello.