Northern Colorado at Purdue Post-Game Notes (September 6, 2008)

*Senior tight end Ryan Chesla had a career-best 99 reception yards on nine carries (and ironically, wears the number nine).

*Sophomore quarterback James Schrenk got his first action under center for the Bears. He did not attempt any passes, but handed the ball off six times and carried the ball once for a gain of eight.

*Junior transfers Tony Kolone, Alex Thompson, Bryan Waggener and Logan Zabel all played in their first games in a Bears uniform, as did redshirts Lee Barbiasz, Lamont Bryant, Dominique Ceja, Anthony Harrison, Cameron Kaman, Jamathan Lyle, Tim McGraw, Chuks Nweke, Alex Shapiro and true freshmen Andrew Downing, Dominic Gunn, Nick Hernon, VJ Holmes and Patrick Walker. A total of 18 of the 55 (33%) who saw action for the Bears were doing so for the first time.

*Purdue's blocked punt for a touchdown was the first time since 2004 against Idaho State an opponent has blocked one and returned it for a TD in the same play.

*True freshman Nick Hernon recorded a sack in his first game for Northern Colorado. The last time a true freshman recorded a sack was Oct. 7, 2006, when John Eddy notched one against Idaho State.

*Northern Colorado tallied 22 first downs compared to just 17 for Purdue. The Bears also out-rushed the Boilermakers, 122-116. The last time NC had more rushing yards than the opponent came in last season's opener at Hawai'i, 50-37.

*The Bears dominated time of possession, 37:20 to 22:40 in the game and ran 25 more plays than the Boilermakers.