THE University of Northern Colorado (UNC) football team travels to Pocatello, ID to take on the Idaho State Bengals.

Northern Colorado

Coach: Ed Lamb

Record: 0-3 (UNC) 45-47 (SUU)

Championships: 2 Conference Titles (SUU in Big Sky 2015, Great West 2010)

History: Head Coach Lamb produced two eight-win seasons, two conference titles, and two playoff appearances in eight years with Southern Utah. Bears fans hope the vast experiences Lamb has from Southern Utah to San Diego with Jim Harbaugh to BYU can cultivate a winning culture here too.

Offensive Impact Players

Quarterback, Jacob Sirmon, Senior – 6’5″ 230 lbs.

Tight End, Alec Pell, Redshirt Junior – 6’4″ 260 lbs.

Wide Receiver, Jamarii Robinson, Sophomore– 6’1” 187 lbs.

The Bengals plan to showcase a one dimensional offense, but the Bears have playmakers at each position. The Bears parity on offense may be the reason they win by exhausting and outlasting the defense. Jacob Sirmon is firmly the starter as Hank Gibbs provides an adequate back up with contrasting talents.

Defensive Impact Players

Defensive Back, Tizell Lewis, Senior – 6’0″ 170 lbs.

Linebacker, Vincent King, Redshirt Junior – 6’0″ 237 lbs.

Defensive Back, Tywonne Harris, Senior – 5’9″ 176 lbs.

The Bears will be relying on a strong performance from the secondary and other contributors to the pass coverage. Idaho State plans to be a committed passing team that runs when they have to. UNC needs to perform well against the pass so they can limit the Bengals production.

Idaho State

Coach: Cody Hawkins

Record: 0-3 ISU (1st Year as HC)

History: Cody Hawkins is son of Dan Hawkins who has coached at UC Davis, Boise State, Colorado, Montreal Alouettes, and 2015 United States National Team (Gold Medal). Cody Hawkins doesn’t have as many accolades as Dad, but he hopes that his time playing QB at Colorado, coaching the offense at UC Davis, and his 2011 National Team Gold Medal show he knows a thing or two about football.

Offensive Impact Players

Quarterback, Jordan Cooke, Freshman – 6’4” 192 lbs.

Wide Receiver, Christian Fredricksen, Junior – 6’4” 206 lbs.

Wide Receiver, Chedon James, Sophomore – 5’8” 173 lbs.

The Bengal passing attack is consistent if anything. Cody Hawkins committed the team in the preseason to being a heavy passing team and have lived up to it. The rushing game is almost nonexistent and the six running backs are collecting dust as runners.

Defensive Impact Players

Cornerback, Josh Alford, Junior – 5’10” 180 lbs.

Safety, Calvin Pitcher, Junior – 6’1” 207 lbs.

Defensive Line, Cortland Horton, Junior – 6’3” 244 lbs.

Defensively the Bengals have a similar productive value to the Bears. The turnover and sack tallies are almost identical. While the Bengals have been blowout in the last two games they did keep San Diego State (FBS) to an eight point game.

Prediction

This 0-3 showdown will be great for one team as one of the two first year head coaches will pick up their first win with the program. Hawkins looks to show improvement on Homecoming to Bengal Nation that this program is progressing and won’t have the same flavor of previous seasons. The one dimensional ISU offense will be a variable of contention as it could either work for them or the Bears one strength could shut it down. From both of their records this looks to be a competitive game with both teams best strengths going head to head.

Ben: UNC 31, ISU 27

Chris: UNC 35, ISU 31