GREELEY, Colo. – Josh Luck picked up a fumbled trick play on a extra-point attempt for a defensive PAT to secure the 25-22 win Saturday at Nottingham Field over Northern Colorado.

The Bears had pulled within 23-22 on a 21-yard pass from Bryan Waggener to Brandon Smith with 1:09 left in the game. Looking for their first win over the season, UNC went for two points out of a trick formation but the pitched ball ended up on the ground where Luck picked it up and ran it back the length of the field. NAU covered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.

“The special teams were huge today,” said Head Coach Jerome Souers. “They were huge for them in the beginning and huge for us in the end. I was so proud of our defense. They played great inspirational football today and made the plays that they had to secure the game.”

True freshman Deonte Williams scored the go-ahead touchdown on a six-yard run in the third quarter, giving NAU a 23-16 advantage. It was the only score of the second half until the final UNC points, setting up the decisive play. Williams finished with 34 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

“He ran the ball well,” said Souers. “We had some seems tonight and that really starts with the offensive line. It was good to have Kevin Meagher back today.”

Senior Lance Kriesien started at quarterback, competing 12-for-21 for 169 yards. He added 55 rushing yards. Junior Corey Slater added 64 yards on 4-of-9 passing. Waggener went 16-for-39 for 261 yards and a touchdown.

The first half featured several big plays starting from the opening kickoff. UNC's Quincy Wofford returned the opening kickoff 100-yards to give the Bears the early lead. After a two-point conversion, UNC led 8-0 after just 12 seconds. But NAU responded with an 11-play, 76-yard drive capped by a 8-yard run by Kriesien. The two-point attempt failed. The Lumberjacks took the lead on a 31-yard field goal by Robbie Dehaze for 9-8 lead with 5:25 left in the second quarter.

The NAU defense kept the Bears off the scoreboard until late in the quarter with help of two interceptions and a fumble recovery on a NAU punt. Senior K.J. Gerard recorded his third on the season and Luck added his first.

UNC tied the game on one-yard run by Brandon Smith setup by a 75-yard completion from Waggener to Cory Fauver when he slipped behind the NAU secondary.

NAU also won last week at Southern Utah with the help of a interception in the end zone.

NAU returns home next week for a Big Sky Conference game against Sacramento State. It marks the first of three home games during the month of October.