College Football

Northern Colorado holds off Northern Arizona in 21-18 win

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) Kyle Sloter threw for a touchdown, ran in another score and Northern Colorado held on to win its Big Sky Conference opener 21-18 over Northern Arizona on Saturday.

Tied at a touchdown apiece in the first quarter, Brandon Cartagena ran in the go-ahead TD from the 12 and Sloter padded the lead with a 3-yard scoring run with 1:27 left in the half to take a 21-10 advantage into the break. Trae Riek had 107 yards on 21 carries and another 43 yards receiving, including a 27-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter for the Bears (3-1).

Northern Arizona (1-4, 0-2) shaved the gap in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Blake Kemp to Elijah Marks. Kemp then connected with Kendyl Taylor for the two-point conversion to pull within a field goal, 21-18, with 2:34 left.

Kemp finished 35 of 46 for 273 yards.