GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Grant Harper threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-31 passing, Samuel Gbatu Jr. caught five passes for 108 yards and a score and UC Davis defeated Northern Colorado 27-16 on Saturday.
The Aggies (6-1, 4-0 Big Sky), ranked No. 9 in the FCS Coaches Poll, scored 21 points in the second quarter to secure the victory as Harper threw all three of his touchdowns in the frame. Gbatu had a 34-yard catch, Jordan Fisher added a 24-yard catch and Laviel Pickett had 18 yards to give UC Davis the win.
Carter Vargas added 94 yards rushing on 15 carries for UC Davis. Nate Rutchena led the way with 11 tackles.
Brayden Munroe caught a 51-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter for Northern Colorado, but the Bears were unable to carry that momentum into the second half. Eric Gibson was 30 of 42 passing for 272 yards and one touchdown.
UC Davis has won five straight games following a 60-point rout of FBS Washington, while the Bears (3-5, 1-3) have lost three of their last four games.
___ Get poll alerts and AP Top 25 updates throughout the season. Register here and here (AP News mobile app). AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.
