GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota opened the 2011 football season in fine fashion, riding a swarming defensive effort to a 16-0 victory at the Alerus Center. It was the 40th shutout in a season opener in program history as a crowd of 8,484 saw the Fighting Sioux blank the Bulldogs in the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools.
The UND defense sacked Drake quarterback Mike Piatkowski four times, forced a pair turnovers, and held the Bulldogs to just 244 yards of total offense. Junior defensive end Ross Brenneman (Omaha, Neb.), with two sacks, and senior linebacker Dan Hendrickson (Minot, N.D.), with a game-high nine tackles and two quarterback hurries, keyed the defensive effort.
"Our defense found ways to make key plays throughout the game and we grinded out a nice win in the opener," fourth-year head coach Chris Mussman said. “When we needed a big stop, a different guy stepped up and made the play, but give Drake credit. They came in here, battled hard for four quarters and would not quit.”
On the other side of the ball, junior running back Mitch Sutton (Plover, Wis.) turned in a workmanlike effort with 105 bruising yards on 24 carries. Jake Miller added 45 yards on six carries, including UND's first touchdown of the season on a 11-yard score.
Miller's scoring jaunt made it a 10-0 lead for UND after sophomore Zeb Miller (Marion, Iowa) put the Sioux on the scoreboard with a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Sioux placekicker equaled his career high with three made field goals in the contest, connecting on kicks of 32 and 22 yards as well.
On Drake's ensuing drive, UND's career leader in field goal blocks struck early this season as Broc Bellmore (Fargo, N.D.) swatted away a 39-yard attempt by the Bulldogs. For Bellmore, the block was the seventh of his career.
UND carried that momentum into the endzone as Jake Miller capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive with the fourth rushing touchdown of his young career.
The Sioux orchestrated their longest drive of the game at the end of the first half, but the DU defense forced another field goal attempt as Miller's 32-yarder with two ticks remaining made it a 13-0 advantage at the break.
Drake put together its best scoring chance right out of the locker room in the third quarter, driving 75 yards on 15 plays, but that final play resulted in the first turnover of the game as Piatowski mishandled the snap. Sophomore Damon Andrews (West Concord, Minn.) pounced on the loose ball for his first career fumble recovery.
UND managed just three second-half points as 12 penalties ended up plaguing the Sioux throughout the contest. Miller found the endzone from nine yards out in the third quarter, but that effort was called back by a holding call.
Redshirt freshman Daryl Brown (Plymouth, Minn.) preserved the shutout with a fourth-quarter interception, which was the first of his career. Brown raced the miscue back 38 yards to set up the lone score of the second half for UND.
Game Notes
• The shutout was the 40th in a season opener for the Fighting Sioux, who are now 86-29-1 all-time in season openers.
• The attendance for the night was 8,484.
• Senior Broc Bellmore registered the seventh field goal block of his career in the opening quarter.
• Junior Ross Brenneman posted the first multiple-sack game of his career with two quarterback takedowns in the contest.
• Eight Fighting Sioux players made their first career starts in the contest: Damon Andrews (LB), Justin Belotti (SS), Joey Bradley (QB), Daryl Brown (CB), Darren Deneui (LT), Cordero Finley (LB), Brandon Quesenberry (RT) and Kenny Watkins (CB).
• Senior Dominique Hawkins made his first career start at free safety after starting his first three seasons at cornerback.
• Junior Mitch Sutton carried 24 times for 109 yards and in doing so eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career. He now has 1,086 rushing yards in two-plus seasons for the Sioux. Sutton's 100-yard effort was the third of his career and first since the 2009 season.
• Sophomore Jake Miller scored the first touchdown of the season for the Sioux on an 11-yard rush in the second quarter. It was Miller's fourth career rushing touchdown.
• Sophomore R.J. McGill equaled his career high with three receptions for a team-high 48 yards. McGill also had his first career carry for 16 yards.
• A fumbled snap by Drake quarterback Mike Piatowski on its most sustained drive of the game led to the first career fumble recovery for Damon Andrews. The Bulldogs had taken the opening kickoff the second half all the down to UND's eight-yard line on 15 plays before the miscue. The Sioux defense only had one fumble recovery during the 2010.
• Daryl Brown corralled his first career interception in the fourth quarter to preserve the shutout. Brown returned the interception 39 yards down to the Bulldogs' nine-yard line – resulting in the third field goal (22 yards) of the night for Zeb Miller.
• Zeb Miller's three field goals equaled his career high set against UC Davis last season (11/06/10). His first field of goal of 41 yards was his longest of the night. He also connected on kicks of 22 yards and 32 yards.
