Montez tosses 4 TD passes in Colorado win
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BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Steven Montez threw for a career-high 357 yards and four touchdowns, helping Colorado beat Northern Colorado 41-21 on Saturday in the first meeting between the schools on the football field since 1934.
Montez spread around the wealth by throwing TD strikes to Devin Ross, Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo, and Jay MacIntyre. Colorado (3-0) turned the ball over twice deep in Northern Colorado territory to keep things interesting.
''What I've learned about (Montez), he really doesn't let anything affect him,'' Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. ''He has confidence. But it's not a cocky confidence. He just plays.''
Phillip Lindsay rushed for 151 yards and a score on a day when the defense struggled. The Buffaloes had two starters ejected for targeting - free safety Afolabi Laguda in the second quarter and defensive lineman Chris Mulumba in the fourth quarter.
Jacob Knipp had 202 yards passing and three TDs, including two to Alex Wesley. The Bears (1-1) took advantage of the extra time to prepare after their game last weekend at No. 24 Florida was canceled because of Hurricane Irma.
RELATED: 5 takeaways: CU improves to 3-0
Northern Colorado scored on the opening possession - the first touchdown the Buffaloes have allowed this season. The Bears hung tight until Montez's 14-yard TD pass to Jay MacIntyre made it a 38-21 game with 8:35 remaining.
''We'll take the goods and learn from the bad and carry it over,'' Knipp said.
THE TAKEAWAY
Northern Colorado: Until Saturday, the Bears had bragging rights over Colorado since a 13-7 win on Oct. 12, 1934. Still, the Bears leave with plenty of confidence and a nice pay check. They made $350,000 for playing in Boulder.
Colorado: The Buffaloes' secondary showed plenty of vulnerability against the pass as Knipp picked apart one defensive back after another. That doesn't bode well with Jake Browning and Washington arriving in town next weekend.
TARGETING
Laguda was called for targeting when he hit Bears receiver Hakeem Deggs over the middle after a pass sailed wide. Laguda also was ejected for targeting last season against Washington State, and in 2015 against Massachusetts.
Mulumba was ejected when he hit Knipp just after he released a pass. Knipp left for one play before returning.
''He's one of the toughest dudes I know,'' Bears coach Earnest Collins Jr. said of Knipp. ''If he wasn't playing quarterback for us, he would be playing middle linebacker. That's the mentality he has.''
THIS & THAT
Ross finished with eight catches for 143 yards. .. Lindsay's little brother, Zachary, is a running back for Northern Colorado. He had one carry for five yards. ... Knipp was the starter a season ago, before breaking his clavicle. That opened the door for Kyle Sloter, who shined in training camp with the Denver Broncos before joining the Minnesota Vikings and being elevated to their active roster Saturday.
UP NEXT
Northern Colorado: Opens Big Sky play next Saturday by hosting Idaho State.
Colorado: The Buffaloes kick off the Pac-12 portion of their schedule against No. 6 Washington. The Huskies beat Colorado 41-10 in the conference title game last season.