BOZEMAN, Mont. – No. 13 Montana State used a big second quarter to hold off North Dakota 29-18 in the Big Sky opener for both teams Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 BSC) scored 23 points in that second quarter that saw them extend what was a 3-0 lead entering the stanza into a 26-7 margin by halftime. 

That would be enough scoring for the Bobcats, who came into the contest as the second-highest scoring unit in the Big Sky at more than 40 points per game and put up 118 points combined against UND over the past two seasons.

“This one got away from us in the second quarter. That is what got us,” UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said. “I thought we came out in the second half and played much better, especially in the fourth quarter. We just have to play smarter and avoid some of those costly mistakes. Those really hurt us today.”

UND's offense sputtered in the first half with the team's lone score coming on a 21-yard fumble return by Will Ratelle, but showed signs of life after the break to make things interesting down the stretch.

Senior R.J. McGill equaled his career-high seven catches and 63 yards and his 8-yard touchdown reception with just over five minutes to play put UND (2-3, 0-1 BSC) within 11 points. Junior Miguel Cerriteno added four grabs for 26 yards in what was his first extensive action of his UND career.

After holding the Bobcats to a punt, sophomore quarterback Joe Mollberg drove his team back into MSU territory with under a minute to play, but a 52-yard field goal attempt by Reid Taubenheim was blocked to keep the lead at two scores.

The Bobcats, who had put up 51 points in a loss to No. 2 Eastern Washington a week ago, would run out the clock and escape with a victory over a team they have won three straight against. 

UND came into the contest ranked second in the Big Sky in total defense and proved that was no fluke. Montana State managed just 329 yards of total offense for the game after entering the contest averaging nearly 500 yards per contest. 

Meanwhile, UND's offense finished with a season-high 293 yards of total offense. Redshirt freshman Kyle Norberg finished with 19 carries for 73 yards. He had 57 of those coming after halftime when the offense finally got on track. Mollberg completed 22-of-37 passes for a season-high 222 yards. 

Ratelle would lead a UND defensive effort with nine tackles as that unit held Montana State all-everything running back Shawn Johnson to 120 all-purpose yards after he set a school-record with 374 yards against the Eagles last week.

After the Bobcats' offense managed just a 34-yard field goal by Luke Daly in the opening quarter, it was the MSU defense that got the home team into the end zone on a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by Khari Garcia. 

That put Montana State in front 10-0 and after forcing a three-and-out, Johnson capped a four-play, 49-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run that quickly made the score 16-0. The Bobcats went for two, but that attempt failed.

On UND's next drive, Mollberg connected with Dev Ferguson on a big pass play for the second straight game, but MSU safety Eryon Barnett knocked the ball away from the true freshman four yards away from the end zone. 

The Bobcats would run the fumble back to their 46-yard line, but MSU quarterback Dakota Prukup would give the ball right back after a sack by Javen Butler jarred the ball loose and Ratelle scooped up the loose pigskin and put UND on the scoreboard with a 21-yard return.

Prukup would lead his team to 10 more points, however, in the closing three minutes of the first half to make it 26-7 contest at the break. He finished 17-of-24 for 269 yards and touchdown.

Montana State would only get a 32-yard field goal from Daly after halftime, while Taubenheim connected on a 33-yard field goal for UND and McGill found the end zone for the second time this season.

UND returns home next Saturday to play another ranked foe from the Treasure State as No. 7 Montana comes to town for a Big Sky clash. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. CT.

GAME NOTES: Captains for the game were seniors Dewayne Pecosky and Alex Tillman along with juniors Brandon Anderson and Will Ratelle … Ratelle would score a defensive touchdown on a 21-yard fumble  return, marking the second straight week the unit scored … Senior R.J. McGill's seven catches equaled a career-high and were the most by a UND receiver this season … Sophomore Joe Mollberg put up season-highs of 222 yards passing and 22 completions … His 22 completions were more than his previous three games combined (20) ... Junior Miguel Cerriteno had the first four catches of his UND career after being shutout of that department in his first three career games.

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