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(STATS) -- For the first time in its 11-year history as a member of the Big Sky, Northern Colorado won it conference opener. It beat the team pegged by both the media and the coaches to win the conference crown despite again struggling mightily to defend the pass.Its not going to get any easier for the Bears on Saturday, as they now visit fourth-ranked Eastern Washington, the FCS top passing team.Northern Colorado (3-1, 1-0) opened this season with a feeling of optimism after returning 17 starters from last years six-win team -- the programs most since it was Division I-AA school in 2003. It set a program FCS-record 687 yards in a 55-52 win at Abilene Christian on Sept. 10 before falling 47-21 to Colorado State of the FBS in its final nonconference tuneup.The Bears caught a bit of a break in last weekends Big Sky opener with Case Cookus, the 2015 STATS FCS Freshman of the Year, out with a shoulder injury for Northern Arizona. They pulled out a 21-18 victory, but it was hardly a thing of beauty.Northern Colorado was outgained 493-263 in total yards while picking up just 40 after halftime. The defense was on its heels most of the second half before coming up with a pair of huge takeaways, recovering two NAU inside its own 5-yard-line in the fourth quarter to escape.Theyre just playing together, Bears coach Earnest Collins said. Its leadership. We got some young leaders and some old leaders. Its the continuity and togetherness and the camaraderie of our team is a lot better than its been in the past.Collins likes the direction his team is heading but realizes it has plenty to clean up, especially on defense.Northern Colorado is 12th in the 13-team Big Sky in total defense, allowing 507.8 yards per game, and has routinely been shredded through the air. It ranks 119th out of 125 FCS schools in pass defense at 324.5 yards per game and is one of only seven teams without an interception.None of that bodes well for trying to contain Gage Gubrud, Cooper Kupp and the high-flying Eagles (4-1, 2-0).Gubrud joined Kupp on the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List on Tuesday after passing for a career-high 486 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions in last Saturdays 63-30 win over UC Davis -- Eastern Washingtons highest-scoring game since 2001. The sophomore quarterback leads the FCS with 1,916 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and 2,191 total yards -- 673 more than the next-closest individual.With a nine-yard pass to Kupp in the second quarter, Kupp set the Division I record for career receiving yards. The senior, who wound up catching 12 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, enters with 5,417 receiving yards. The 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year also has a Division I-record 63 touchdown catches and his 352 career receptions are second all-time in the FCS to Elons Terrell Hudgins 395.The Bears are no stranger to Kupps exploits.Kupp set a school record with 20 receptions for a career-best 275 yards and three TDs in last Octobers 43-41 victory as EWU improved to 8-0 in the series since the Bears joined the Big Sky.The Eagles Jordan Dascalo hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired after Northern Colorados Michael McCauley had a pair of touchdown catches in a 49-second span to put the Bears ahead with 1:23 to play.It was a battle last year, it was a grinding tough battle here in 2014 and it was a battle down there in our national title year in 2010. It seems like we play competitive battles with them every time, EWU coach Beau Baldwin said. I think coach Collins has a spirit, attitude and a real toughness about him in a great way. I really respect him, and his team emulates him -- there is a toughness, a grit and no fear. Hes done a great job with that program.The ground game has been a big part of the Bears early success, averaging 192 yards to rank third in the Big Sky.Sophomore Trae Riek has amassed 350 yards in the last three games while averaging 5.1 per attempt. He carried the ball 12 times for 62 yards in last seasons matchup and could be primed for a fourth straight 100-yard game going up against an EWU defense that is allowing an average of 218.8 run yards in its last four contests.The thing that we learned from last year is that our kids are starting to believe and understand that we can play with people in this conference, Collins said. We just have to do what were supposed to do and do our job.Fake NBA Jerseys Online .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Fake NBA Jerseys 2019 . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. http://www.fakenbajerseys.com/ . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Fake NBA Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Discount Fake NBA Jerseys . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend.BOSTON -- David Ortiz was upset how he was swinging a night earlier. It didnt take long to fix his swing.Ortiz reached 20 homers for the 15th consecutive season on his first at-bat and drove in three runs, Steven Wright pitched efficiently into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the sloppy Texas Rangers 11-6 on Wednesday night.After his last at-bat in Tuesdays loss, Ortiz cracked his bat in half over his knee after a broken-bat single. He felt a lot more focused his first time up Wednesday.I went deep today, he said, with a wink and a smile.Ortiz made it 2-0 in the first with his 523rd homer, a drive over the bullpens in right. Hes hit over 20 homers in each of his 14 seasons with Boston after exactly 20 his final year with Minnesota in 2002. The 40-year-old slugger has said hes retiring after this season.Last night I feel like I was using my bottom hand too much, Ortiz said. I like to make adjustments real fast. You have to, the pitching is too good right now and you have to be on top of your game.Bryce Brentz drove in three runs with two singles and Ryan Hanigan had a two-run single for the Red Sox, who took two of three from the AL West-leading Rangers.Early two-run homer, clean first inning by Steven, Boston manager John Farrell said. Thats proved to be a successful combo.Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer for Texas, which has lost six of eight and finished a 10-game, three-city trip at 4-6.Obviously not how we wanted to finish the road trip, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. It will be nice to get back home, get to Arlington (Texas) and sleep in our own beds, show up tomorrow and hopefully put together four quality baseball games before the break.Wright (10-5) gave up six runs -- five earned -- and was pulled after Ian Desmonds two-run triple with no outs in the seventh. The 31-year-old knuckleballer was voted an All-Star for the first time in his career.Texas starter Martin Perez (7-5) was tagged for 11 runs -- seven earned -- in four innings.The Red Sox opened ann 11-1 lead by scoring five runs in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth.ddddddddddddIn the second, they scored all the runs on two hits, capitalizing on three errors for four unearned runs. Hanigan had a bases-loaded, two-run single, Mookie Betts an RBI double and Ortiz a sacrifice fly.In the third, Brentz had an RBI single and he added a two-run single the next inning.BOBBLESThe Rangers infield committed all three errors in the second -- one each by second baseman Rougned Odor, shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Adrian Beltre.LIKE FATHER LIKE SONFielder tied his father -- Cecil -- with his 319th homer. The elder Fielder played 13 seasons in the big leagues, 1985-98.Thats pretty cool, man, Prince said, when learning of the feat.CHANGING RANGERSTexas recalled OF Jared Hoying from Triple-A Round Rock before the game and placed C Bryan Holaday on the 15-day DL with a bruised left thumb. Banister said he did it in the bullpen the last time he caught.Also, LHP Michael Roth cleared waivers and was assigned to Round Rock.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: 1B Mitch Moreland missed his fourth straight game (tight right calf). ... Banister said OF Shin-Soo Choo told him he was ready to play after leaving Tuesdays game with a tight lower back, but was cautious with him because we have missed some time with him.Red Sox: LF Brock Holt got the night off to rest. ... 3B Travis Shaw left with a bruised left foot and was scheduled for what the team called precautionary X-Rays Thursday.UP NEXTRangers: RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-1, 9.53 ERA) is slated to start Thursday when they return home to open a four-game series against the Twins and RHP Tyler Duffey (4-6, 5.62). Its their only series at home in a four-week stretch.Red Sox: They are off Thursday before RHP Sean OSullivan (2-0, 6.61) is in line to start against Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (4-11, 4.50) on Friday. ' ' '