GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? Fighting Sioux running back Josh Murray (So., Pepin, Wis.) ran for a career-high 219 yards and two touchdowns as the University of North Dakota defeated Western Washington, 42-32, in front of a Homecoming crowd of 12,164. Saturday's crowd marked the sixth largest UND football attendance since the Sioux moved to the Alerus Center in 2001.
The first half was a scoring battle as the lead changed two times and twice the teams were knotted. UND started the scoring following a shaky start by both sides.
Opening drives for both sides were a bit rough as Western Washington's four and out ended with an off kilter punt. With the ball deep in its own territory, WWU snapped long causing the ball to fly over punter Josh Linder's head. Linder recovered in the end zone and got the kick off while running sideways.
A personal foul penalty on the Vikings following the fair catch put the ball in UND's hands on the WWU 35 yard line, but the possession was short-lived as a Sioux fumble gave the ball back to the Vikings. Unable to score, WWU was forced to punt.
Two minutes and twenty-four seconds into UND's second possession of the game, the Sioux found the end zone as Murray ran in from 24 yards out. With the extra point by junior Brandon Hellevang (Fargo, N.D), the green and white took a 7-0 lead.
A little over six minutes later, the Vikings took a 14-7 lead as quarterback Adam Perry and wide receiver Pat McCann connected for a pair of touchdowns.
North Dakota turned the seven-point lead into its own with another set of TDs. Midway through the second quarter, senior quarterback Danny Freund (Kenosha, Wis.) found senior running back Alex Nicholas (Franklin, Wis.) for a 31-yard toss into the end zone. Roughly five minutes later, Murray walked in from six yards out for his second touchdown of the game and ninth of the season.
After going into the locker room with the 21-14 advantage, the Fighting Sioux never relinquished the lead.
A little over six minutes into the second half, Freund and Nicholas made the connection once again, this time on a 33-yard TD pass. That was the second time this season that Nicholas has brought down two end zone catches.
With 4:50 left in the third quarter, WWU chopped the lead down by seven as Perry found Zach Hekker on a two-yard pass.
Less than two minutes and three plays later, UND provided its own two-yard scoring pass as Freund found his second TD receiver of the day, senior wide receiver Brady Trenbeath (Cavalier, N.D.).
With less than a minute left in the third quarter, the Sioux forced the Vikings to a fourth and sixteen field goal. Josh Linder split the uprights to bring the score to UND 35, WWU 24.
Not satisfied with the 11-point lead, North Dakota took its first possession across the goal line just four and a half minutes into the fourth. A pair of passes by Freund and rushes by Murray, freshman running back Catlin Solum (Fargo, N.D.), and freshman Ismael Bamba (Montreal, Quebec) brought the Sioux to the Western Washington two yard line. On third and goal, Solum got the ball from Freund and marched across for his first career touchdown.
Hellevang went six-for-six on extra points help the Sioux to victory.
The Vikings would score once more on a one-yard pass, but it was too little, too late as North Dakota would go on to take the 42-32 victory and remain undefeated against Western Washington. UND has now outscored WWU 108-77 over the four-year series.
Freund finished with 181 yards on 14 completions with three touchdowns. This is the third game in a row that he has found three receivers in the end zone.
For the third game in a row, Murray has upped his totals in both carries and rushing yards. He finished with 219 yards on 26 carries, two touchdowns and a 23-yard kick return.
Bamba entertained the crowd with a career-high 75-yard kick return in the third quarter. His run put the Sioux in position for their game winning lead. He finished with a total of three return for 147 yards and an eight-yard carry.
On the receiving end, Nicholas led UND with four catches for 81 yards including a 33-yard rush.
The North Dakota defense was led by the trio of sophomore defensive back Joel Schwenzfeier (Hallock, Minn.), senior Rory Manke (DB, Detroit Lakes, Minn.), and hometown linebacker Ryan Kasowski who tallied seven, six, and five tackles, respectively, and five solo tackles apiece. Kasowski accounted for 14 yards lost on two sacks and Manke pulled the Vikings back 11 yards on sack in the second play of the game.
North Dakota is back on the road next weekend as it travels to California to take on UC Davis. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
? Go Sioux ?
GAME NOTES: Ross Cochran first career interception... Ismael Bamba career-high 70-yard kick return... Catlin Solum first career touchdown...
