GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- A trio of key blocked kicks and a stout defensive effort down the stretch allowed North Dakota to secure a 16-13 victory over Robert Morris in the 49th annual Potato Bowl Saturday at the Alerus Center.

It was also the initial win for first-year head coach Bubba Schweigert and the 28th straight home-opening win for UND (1-1) dating back to 1985.   

"I was proud of the effort by our guys tonight," Schweigert said. "We had our back against the wall several times there in the second half and our defense came up big."

The defense did the job down the stretch, but it was a pair of big plays by senior R.J. McGill that put the Green and White ahead for good midway through the third quarter. 

After RMU marched down the field on a 14-play, 78-yard drive to open the second half and retake a 13-9 advantage on a 2-yard run by Rameses Owens, the Phoenix native came up with two of the biggest plays of the night.

He brought the ensuing kickoff back 41 yards, setting up the offense on UND's 46-yard line. McGill then capped a four-play, 54-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown reception where he carried an RMU defender the final four yards for his first touchdown since the 2012 season.

"I was mad after I didn't get in the first time on a similar play earlier in the game, so I was going to do whatever it took to get in," McGill said."

Schweigert's first win of his UND head-coaching tenure came in front of 9,118 fans at the Alerus Center. Those fans saw the defense force three turnovers and freshman kicker Reid Taubenheim connect on three first-half field goals of 20, 35 and 45 yards to help solidify the team's 10th win in the last 11 tries in the annual spud-observing contest.

Defensive end Spencer Cummings blocked both of the Colonials' field goal attempts in the second half, including a 38-yard attempt by Hunter Khaleghi with just over five minutes to play that kept the home team up by three. 

The defense would force a punt on RMU's next possession, but a 3-and-out by the UND offense gave the visitors one more chance.

Facing a 4th-and-15 after a sack by junior Garret Reineke, RMU quarterback Luke Brumbaugh had the shotgun snap go off his shin and freshman defensive end Brandon Dranka was there to pounce on the loose ball. With just over a minute left on the clock, quarterback Joe Mollberg was able to kneel down three times to end the contest.

McGill finished with three catches for 65 yards, while Mollberg went 8-for-21 through the air for 155 yards and the scoring strike to his senior wideout.

Owens finished with 199 rushing yards and 156 of those came in the second half, but three turnovers cost the RMU offense that outgained  UND's 363-268.

Junior Will Ratelle led the UND defense in tackles for the second straight game, collecting a career-high 13 in the victory.

UND will travel to Missouri State next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

GAME NOTES: Seniors Alex Tillman and Dwayne Pecosky along with juniors Brandon Anderson and Will Ratelle served as game captains ... UND picked up its 28th straight win in its home opener dating back to 1985 ... Ratelle registered a career-high 13 tackles ... Juniors William James (10) and Garret Reineke (9) also had career-highs in tackles ... Reineke also finished with his first career sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss ... Senior R.J. McGill scored his first touchdown since getting in the end zone against Portland State on Sept. 8 (2012) ... Junior Dillon Olson made his first career start in place of injured Cole Reyes ... Olson had six tackles ... Sophomore defensive tackle Jordan Hinojosa blocked the first kick of the season for UND, batting away a PAT after RMU's first touchdown ... Cummings now has three blocked kicks in his career after registering two on the evening.

-- UND --