OGDEN, Utah – The Big Sky Conference says officials failed to call a penalty near the end of Northern Colorado's 28-27 victory over North Dakota on Saturday.
The Bears had 12 men on defense when they stopped North Dakota on fourth-and-1 from the Northern Colorado 34 with 35 seconds left. Instead of a 5-yard penalty and a first down, Northern Colorado took over and ran out the clock.
Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton called it "a major downgrade for every individual on the crew."
The error, however, doesn't change the game's outcome. Both teams finished 5-6.
Last year, an incorrect penalty wiped out a Bears touchdown in the final seconds of their season finale, costing them a shot at avoiding an 0-11 season.
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