Grand Forks, N.D. -- Junior quarterback
Keaton Studsrud threw for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for another score as North Dakota knocked off No. 16 Cal Poly 31-24 in Big Sky play Saturday at the Alerus Center. The Fighting Hawks (3-2, 2-0 BSC) have now won three straight, while the Mustangs (3-2, 1-1 BSC) saw their brief two-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time at the Alerus Center in their last four tries.
“That was a complete team effort,” UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said. “We got contributions from all over the roster and I could not be more proud of the group of men we have in that locker room. We're finding ways to win these tight games and beat a really good Cal Poly football team today.”
Studsrud finished 15-for-21 through the air for a season-high 249 yards and added a 16-yard touchdown run that opened the scoring for the home team. Sophomore Brady Oliveira registered his second-straight 100-yard rushing game and added a 38-yard touchdown in the third quarter to help the offense gain a season-high in yardage at 452.
While the offense was putting together its best game of the season, the UND defense was doing its part to slow down he potent Cal Poly rushing attack. The Mustangs entered the game averaging an FCS-leading 362 yards on the ground, but could only muster a season-low 202 yards against the Fighting Hawks and were held without a rushing touchdown for the first time this season as well.
When Cal Poly did find the end zone, it was through the air as quarterback Dano Graves also completed 15-of-21 passes and had three scoring strikes. The senior signal caller did have two costly interceptions, including the game-clinching one by UND defensive back Torrey Hunt, who picked off Graves to thwart a potential game-tying touchdown drive in the final two minutes.
UND dominated the first half, but was only able to take a 10-7 advantage into halftime because of a pair of red zone fumbles that kept more points off the board.
The Mustangs took advantage of the second one to get their first points as Graves directed a nine-play, 79-yard drive after CP's offense only had 52 yards up until that point.
Graves capped that drive with a 13-yard scoring pass to Kori Garcia, then marched CP down the field to open the second half on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that gave the visitors their first lead of the contest at 14-10.
Studsrud and company had an answer on their next drive though as the junior found freshman Noah Wanzek in the corner of the end zone for his first career touchdown reception from three yards out. He finished with a career-high five receptions and 52 yards.
After Graves was picked off by senior Zach Arnell on CP's next drive, UND's offense only took two plays to find the end zone this time. After Austin Gordon opened the drive with a 14-yard carry, Oliveira scampered in from 38 yards out to put the home team 24-14.
After Cal Poly cut the deficit to seven with a field goal, Studsrud connected with Luke Stanley on a 76-yard catch and run that gave UND's its largest lead of the season at 31-17.
The Mustangs were not done though. Graves pulled his team within a score thanks to a 25-yard scoring pass to Carson McMurtrey with just over four minutes to play. It was the second time the duo had connected on a scoring play in the game.
On the next possession, CP's defense would hold UND to a quick three-and-out and the Mustangs would be on the move again. Graves moved the ball all the way down to the UND two-yard line, but was picked off by Hunt on third-and-goal to seal the victory.
Gordon would net a first down on UND's next series to allow the home team to run out the remainder of the clock. The redshirt freshman finished with nine carries for 62 yards in his first career action on offense.
Cal Poly's Jared Mohamed filled in for starting fullback Joe Protheroe and led the Mustangs with 96 rushing yards on 22 carries. Protheroe had been the nation's leading rusher with 557 yards on the ground through four contests.
UND will return to the road next Saturday where the Fighting Hawks will take on Sacramento State at 8 p.m. CT from California's capital city.
Game Notes: Game captains were Luke Mathewson, Connor O'Brien, Cole Reyes and Keaton Studsrud ... Studsrud is now 32-for-39 for 564 yards and four touchdowns in back-to-back wins over Cal Poly ... Studsrud finished 15-for-21 with a season-high 249 passing yards and two touchdowns ... His 74-yard touchdown pass to Luke Stanley in the fourth quarter was the longest pass of his career and longest reception of Stanley's career ... Freshman Noah Wanzek had a season-high five catches for 52 yards and his first career touchdown ... With the win, UND improved to 4-3 all-time against the Mustangs and snapped a three-game home losing streak to the Mustangs in the Alerus Center ... This was the 100th game in the Alerus Center and UND moved to 78-22 in the building with the victory ... Head coach Bubba Schweigert improved to 4-5 against ranked opponents in his two-plus seasons at UND ... UND is now 6-16 against ranked opponents at the FCS level (since 2008) ... Sophomore Brady Oliveira posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for the first time in his career, backing up a 171-yard performance at Montana State with a 126-yard effort against the Mustangs ... Redshirt freshman Austin Gordon rushed nine times for 62 yards in his first career action on offense ... Gordon was pressed into action after All-American John Santiago left the game following a 23-yard reception during UND's first offensive series ... Senior Zach Arnell and redshirt freshman Torrey Hunt each had an interception for the second-straight game (both are the firsts of their respective careers) ... Reyes led UND with eight tackles, while sophomore nose guard Tank Harris had a career-high seven tackles ... UND now has 10 interceptions on the season after having six in 11 games a season ago ... UND's 10 first-quarter points were the first by the offense this season ... Reyes had the only previous touchdown on a 33-yard interception return vs. South Dakota (Sept. 17).
-- UND --
