Overall, the University of Northern Colorado football team has one of the best defenses in the Big Sky Conference.
UNC (3-5, 1-3 Big Sky) will need a strong defensive effort when the Bears host nationally ranked No. 4 Montana State this weekend at Nottingham Field in Greeley. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Saturday. The game will also be available on Pirate Radio 93.5 FM locally, on the web at pirateradio935.com, and streaming on ESPN+.
UNC will need a strong effort all over the field when the team meets the Bobcats (6-2 overall, 4-0 Big Sky). UNC head coach Ed Lamb talked about Montana State as a team without a weakness in his weekly media session. While the Bears are a work in progress, Montana State is a well-established and complete program and team. The Bobcats are the defending Big Sky Conference champions and Football Championship Subdivision national runner-up.
“They are strong in every area of the game,” Lamb said.
Montana State beat UNC 55-17 last year in Bozeman, extending the Bears’ series-long nine game losing streak dating to 2009. UNC last defeated the Bobcats in 2007, 16-13 in Greeley. Bobcats coach Brent Vigen in his game-week remarks spoke of needed respect for UNC, an improving program in a third season under Lamb.
“They’re a team to this point that has been very competitive,” Vigen said. “You don’t want to allow them to build confidence. We have to make it about us, but certainly a lot of respect for what this opponent is capable of doing.”
UNC comes into the game with a top five defense, despite struggling against the run compared to its pass defense. The Bears currently have the best defense against the pass (180.3 yards/game) and rank 11th of 12 teams against the run (216.6 yards/game). Defensive coordinator Preston Hadley said the difference there means reinforcing fundamentals.
“Football is just about beating blocks and making tackles,” Hadley said. “That’s what defensive football is about. And so those are the things that we emphasize to improve in both those areas.”
University of Northern Colorado football defenders swarm together to make a tackle on a Chadron State player during the teams' game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 at Nottingham Field in Greeley. UNC defeated the Eagles 17-3 for its first home win under head coach Ed Lamb and the first for the Bears in a season opener since 2017. (Courtesy/Dean Popejoy, UNC Athletics).The Bears are the third-best scoring defense, meaning they’re allowing the third-fewest points in eight games (24.6) — behind Montana State (17.5) and Montana (24.1). Idaho is also averaging 24.6 points per game on defense, but the Vandals have allowed one more touchdown than the Bears (22 to 21) and two fewer field goals (16 to 14).
UNC is fourth in total defense, measuring average yards allowed per game. The Bears average 396.9, behind Montana State (302.9), Idaho (358.4) and Sacramento State (380.6).
Hadley said the stat that means most to him and the defense overall is points allowed.
“We’re moving in the right direction compared to where we were a year ago, two years ago,” Hadley said. “So we’re just going to continue to see how good we can be, and going to continue to compare ourselves to our old self.”
Hadley said a reason for the improved defense comes from improved players. Guys are older and have more experience. Hadley said the defense has also focused on its play in the red zone — inside the opponents’ 20-yard line — and forcing field goals or no points rather than giving up touchdowns.
It’s what’s known as a 4-point play, Hadley said. The difference between a field goal (3 points) and a touchdown and point-after kick (7 points) is four points. UNC opponents have scored touchdowns on 11 of 25 trips in the red zone.
In scoring defense, UNC has given up the second-fewest number of touchdowns (21) — only bettered by, yes … Montana State (18). University of Northern Colorado football cornerback Mekhi Toms at Nottingham Field during the Bears' season-opening game against Chadron State on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 in Greeley. (Courtesy/Dean Popejoy, UNC Athletics)
One of the key players who is older and more experienced is safety Cam Chapa. Vigen called Chapa one of the better safeties in the conference. Chapa, who played high school ball at Eaglecrest High in Aurora, was a Big Sky honorable mention selection last year and named to the conference preseason team in July.
He’s tied for the team lead this year in tackles (63) and first in interceptions (3). He’s working in the secondary with Darrell Bryant Jr., Derrick Jones and Mekhi Toms.
Chapa said the defense as a group is more interested in looking at its film through the year and less at where it ranks in statistical categories.
“I knew we had a gritty defense, a tough defense, that’s for sure,” Chapa said of his preseason thoughts on the defensive unit.
He said he likes the defensive match-up against Montana State on Saturday. The Bobcats have multiple players on offense who can impact a game: wide receiver and all-around threat Taco Dowler, quarterback Justin Lamson, backs Julius Davis and Adam Jones, and receiver Jabez Woods to name a few.
“So it’ll be a good one, but it really just boils down to doing our fundamentals and doing the little things right on defense,” Chapa said. “Making tackles, block destruction (getting off a block and making a tackle).”
Hence then, the article about bears defense contributes to progress and improvement with unc football was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Bears’ defense contributes to progress and improvement with UNC football )
Also on site :