Weber State University Athletics
Friday, August 28
Greeley, CO
7:00 p.m.
Weber State University
1-0 , 1-0
30
at
29
Northern Colorado
0-1 , 0-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber St. | 3 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 30 |
| Northern Colo. | 7 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 29 |
Photo by: Robert Casey
Wildcats win a thriller at Northern Colorado in first game of Kjar era
8/28/2026 10:54:00 PM | Football
Weber State beat the Bears 30-29 on a blocked kick in the final seconds.
GREELEY, Co. - It was a thrilling way to open the 2026 season and the Eric Kjar era.Â
Weber State blocked an extra point with three seconds left that sealed a 30-29 win over Northern Colorado Friday night at Nottingham Field, in what was the first name game in Greely.Â
The Wildcats led by 10 points twice in the second half before Northern Colorado rallied in the fourth quarter.
The Bears scored a touchdown with three seconds remaining to pull within one, but freshman Zach Smith blocked the ensuing extra point to preserve the Weber State victory.
It was the second blocked extra point as Ashden Oberg also blocked an extra point late in the first half.Â
Weber State finished with 370 yards of total offense, with 233 passing yards and 137 rushing yards. The Wildcats had 20 first downs, converted 4 of 11 third downs, and scored on all four of their trips to the red zone. Weber State was also penalized just twice for 10 yards.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Brown completed 10 of 20 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards. Brown left the game in the third quarter with a dislocated finger in his right hand.
Freshman Nate Dahle made his debut with the Wildcats. He finished the day 6 of 8 passing for 54 yards.
Noah Kjar led the Wildcats with six receptions for 114 yards and hauled in two touchdowns. Spencer Ferguson had 74 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Ammon Munyer added three catches for 65 yards.
Weber State took the opening kickoff and drove 59 yards before David Dellenbach connected on a 44-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 13:45 left in the first quarter.
Northern Colorado answered on the final play of the quarter when Mathias Price scored on a 31-yard run to give the Bears a 7-3 lead.
Weber State responded on the opening possession of the second quarter. The Wildcats drove 75 yards in eight plays, with Brown connecting with Kjar on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put Weber State back in front 10-7 with 12:33 remaining.
Northern Colorado regained the lead late in the half after an interception gave the Bears the ball at the Weber State 42. Kenny Lueth finished the five-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:33 remaining. Ashden Oberg blocked the extra point, keeping the Northern Colorado lead at 13-10.
Weber State answered immediately, driving 75 yards in just four plays and 33 seconds. Brown connected with Kjar for a 34-yard touchdown with one minute remaining to give the Wildcats a 17-13 halftime lead.
Dellenbach accounted for all of the scoring in the third quarter. He made a 42-yard field goal with 8:15 remaining, then connected from 39 yards with 2:56 left to extend Weber State's lead to 23-13. Dellenbach finished the game 3 for 3 on field goals and made all three of his extra-point attempts.
Northern Colorado cut the lead to 23-20 when Lueth scored on a 2-yard run with 13:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats answered with a 70-yard touchdown drive. Dahle connected with Munyer for 18 yards to move Weber State to the Northern Colorado 1 before defensive end Mapa Vaenuku came in on offense and scored on a 1-yard run. Dellenbach's extra point gave Weber State a 30-20 lead with 9:04 remaining.
Northern Colorado then drove 70 yards and made a 23-yard field goal with 4:02 remaining to cut the lead to 30-23.
After a Weber State punt, Northern Colorado took over at its own 20 with 2:28 remaining and drove 80 yards in 15 plays. Porter Small recorded a 3-yard sack at the Weber State 12 late in the drive, and Tamal Johnson broke up a pass on the next play. On third-and-12, the Bears threw a 12-yard touchdown with three seconds remaining to make it 30-29.
Smith then blocked UNC's extra-point attempt to keep Weber State ahead by one. It was Weber State's second blocked extra point of the game after Oberg's block late in the second quarter.Â
Raimoana Tinirauarii led the Weber State defense with nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Chevy Robinson and Teni Worthen each recorded six tackles. Tre Turner and Small each had a sack, while Weber State totaled eight tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, and the two blocked kicks.
The Wildcats play the first three games of the season on the road, and will next head to Southern Utah on Saturday, September 5 in Cedar City.Â
Weber State blocked an extra point with three seconds left that sealed a 30-29 win over Northern Colorado Friday night at Nottingham Field, in what was the first name game in Greely.Â
The Wildcats led by 10 points twice in the second half before Northern Colorado rallied in the fourth quarter.
Never a doubt!
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) August 29, 2026
1-0! pic.twitter.com/NzjixK0wFK
The Bears scored a touchdown with three seconds remaining to pull within one, but freshman Zach Smith blocked the ensuing extra point to preserve the Weber State victory.
It was the second blocked extra point as Ashden Oberg also blocked an extra point late in the first half.Â
Weber State finished with 370 yards of total offense, with 233 passing yards and 137 rushing yards. The Wildcats had 20 first downs, converted 4 of 11 third downs, and scored on all four of their trips to the red zone. Weber State was also penalized just twice for 10 yards.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Brown completed 10 of 20 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards. Brown left the game in the third quarter with a dislocated finger in his right hand.
Freshman Nate Dahle made his debut with the Wildcats. He finished the day 6 of 8 passing for 54 yards.
Noah Kjar led the Wildcats with six receptions for 114 yards and hauled in two touchdowns. Spencer Ferguson had 74 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Ammon Munyer added three catches for 65 yards.
Weber State took the opening kickoff and drove 59 yards before David Dellenbach connected on a 44-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 13:45 left in the first quarter.
Northern Colorado answered on the final play of the quarter when Mathias Price scored on a 31-yard run to give the Bears a 7-3 lead.
Weber State responded on the opening possession of the second quarter. The Wildcats drove 75 yards in eight plays, with Brown connecting with Kjar on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put Weber State back in front 10-7 with 12:33 remaining.
Northern Colorado regained the lead late in the half after an interception gave the Bears the ball at the Weber State 42. Kenny Lueth finished the five-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:33 remaining. Ashden Oberg blocked the extra point, keeping the Northern Colorado lead at 13-10.
Weber State answered immediately, driving 75 yards in just four plays and 33 seconds. Brown connected with Kjar for a 34-yard touchdown with one minute remaining to give the Wildcats a 17-13 halftime lead.
Dellenbach accounted for all of the scoring in the third quarter. He made a 42-yard field goal with 8:15 remaining, then connected from 39 yards with 2:56 left to extend Weber State's lead to 23-13. Dellenbach finished the game 3 for 3 on field goals and made all three of his extra-point attempts.
Northern Colorado cut the lead to 23-20 when Lueth scored on a 2-yard run with 13:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats answered with a 70-yard touchdown drive. Dahle connected with Munyer for 18 yards to move Weber State to the Northern Colorado 1 before defensive end Mapa Vaenuku came in on offense and scored on a 1-yard run. Dellenbach's extra point gave Weber State a 30-20 lead with 9:04 remaining.
Northern Colorado then drove 70 yards and made a 23-yard field goal with 4:02 remaining to cut the lead to 30-23.
After a Weber State punt, Northern Colorado took over at its own 20 with 2:28 remaining and drove 80 yards in 15 plays. Porter Small recorded a 3-yard sack at the Weber State 12 late in the drive, and Tamal Johnson broke up a pass on the next play. On third-and-12, the Bears threw a 12-yard touchdown with three seconds remaining to make it 30-29.
Smith then blocked UNC's extra-point attempt to keep Weber State ahead by one. It was Weber State's second blocked extra point of the game after Oberg's block late in the second quarter.Â
Raimoana Tinirauarii led the Weber State defense with nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Chevy Robinson and Teni Worthen each recorded six tackles. Tre Turner and Small each had a sack, while Weber State totaled eight tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, and the two blocked kicks.
The Wildcats play the first three games of the season on the road, and will next head to Southern Utah on Saturday, September 5 in Cedar City.Â
ÂCoach Kjar after the wild win! pic.twitter.com/xsZeFniMHo
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) August 29, 2026
Players Mentioned
QB
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QB
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K
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RB
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S
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WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
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LB
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CB
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DE
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LB
/ FootballTeam Stats
WSU
UNC
Total Yards
370
485
Pass Yards
233
226
Rushing Yards
137
259
Penalty Yards
10
35
1st Downs
20
29
3rd Downs
4
8
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
21:57
38:03
1st Quarter
WSU 3, UNC 0
WSU - Dellenbach,David 44 yd field goal 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 01:10
WSU 3, UNC 7
UNC - Price,Mathias 31 yd run (Richardson,Landon kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:08
2nd Quarter
WSU 10, UNC 7
WSU - Kjar,Noah 15 yd pass from Brown,Devin (Dellenbach,David kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:27
WSU 10, UNC 13
UNC - Lueth,Kenny 2 yd run (), 5 plays, 42 yards, TOP 01:58
WSU 17, UNC 13
WSU - Kjar,Noah 34 yd pass from Brown,Devin (Dellenbach,David kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:33
3rd Quarter
WSU 20, UNC 13
WSU - Dellenbach,David 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 48 yards, TOP 03:22
WSU 23, UNC 13
WSU - Dellenbach,David 39 yd field goal 8 plays, 33 yards, TOP 03:52
4th Quarter
WSU 23, UNC 20
UNC - Lueth,Kenny 2 yd run (Ashley,Benson kick), 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:28
WSU 30, UNC 20
WSU - Vaenuku,Mapa 1 yd run (Dellenbach,David kick), 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 04:17
WSU 30, UNC 23
UNC - Ashley,Benson 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 05:02
WSU 30, UNC 29
UNC - Olsen,Trey 12 yd pass from Lueth,Kenny () 15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:25
Game Leaders
CMP
10
TD
2
YDS
179
INT
1
CMP
6
TD
0
YDS
54
INT
0
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