COMPLETE STATISTICS | POST-GAME NOTES

GREELEY, Colo. - It was the best of halves and the worst of halves for the Northern Colorado football team on Saturday against Sacramento State. The Hornets posted 31 straight points in the first half, but making use of a no-huddle offense, the Northern Colorado football team scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half and five after the halftime break but fell just short on Senior Day as the Bears dropped a 38-35 decision.

The Bears (3-7, 1-6 Big Sky) scored all five touchdowns on drives of more than 70 yards in less than three minutes as they marched up and down the field, but it was not quite enough as Sacramento State (4-5, 4-3 Big Sky) started the afternoon with 31 points in the first half.

Northern Colorado tied its season high with 477 total offensive yards, with a season-best 359 yards passing and 118 rushing yards.

"I told the team I was not very happy," said Head Coach Scott Downing. "I don't like losing 38-35, but I was very proud of them, proud of the way we came back and played in the second half. It's not often you can spot a team a 31-point lead and come back and make a game of it, have an opportunity to recover an onside kick and have a chance to go down and tie it or win the game in regulation.

Senior quarterback Bryan Waggener, playing in his final game at Nottingham Field alongside 17 others, completed 35-of-58 passes for 325 yards and rushed for another 53 to lead the Bears. He did not throw for a touchdown, but tied his career-high by rushing for two, threw two interceptions and was sacked for the first time in five games for a loss of seven yards.

The sack by Sacramento State was the lone negative yardage play for the Bears on the afternoon.

Waggener hit his favorite target of the year, senior receiver Alex Thompson 11 times for 110 yards, while freshman Chris Morris also surpassed the century mark with seven catches for 102 yards. Waggener was the team's leading rusher, while junior running back Andre Harris carried the ball nine times for 46 yards.

It marked the first time since Sept. 25, 2004 the Bears had two players with 100 or more receiving yards in the same game. The last time came at #7 Montana when Vincent Jackson had 227 and Jamar Farbes had 110 yards.

The defense also stepped up big in the second half, holding the Hornets to 146 yards and seven points. Junior linebacker John Eddy led the way with 15 tackles, two for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry while senior safety Stephen Michon also notched double figures in stops with 10. Sophomore defensive end VJ Holmes also notched a sack in the contest as the Bears racked up seven tackles for loss.

Junior cornerback Korey Askew tallied his third interception of the season on Sacramento State's first drive of the second half, helping set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

 "I have no answer for anybody who asks me how we come out and give up 31 points in the first half," said Downing. "We didn't have the ball very much but we came out in the second half and got a turnover and the offense started doing what we do and defensively we started doing what we do. There was nothing that Sacramento State did that we hadn't seen. They hit a big play on us on a reverse pass and my hat's off to them but other than that, I'm proud of our kids for the way they hung in."

Sacramento State scored 10 points in the first quarter as Chris Diniz hit a 34-yard field goal with 3:10 on the clock and Brandyn Reed hit Ron Richardson on a 48-yard pass for a touchdown at 1:20. In the second quarter the Hornets posted three straight touchdowns for the 31-0 advantage.

After the Askew interception, the Bears drove 83 yards in five plays and Waggener scored his first of two touchdowns on the afternoon. Sacramento State answered for the 38-7 score before the Bears scored four straight touchdowns, two off rushes by Harris and one each by Waggener and freshman John Burnley.

Northern Colorado closes the 2009 campaign with a noon kickoff on Saturday at second-ranked Montana.