GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Junior quarterback Keaton Studsrud put together a career day in leading No. 22 North Dakota to a 45-23 Homecoming victory over Southern Utah Saturday.
Studsrud went 20-for-27 through the air and posted career-highs in passing touchdowns (4) and passing yards (282) as the Fighting Hawks (5-2, 4-0 BSC) remained perfect in Big Sky play.
The victory over the Thunderbirds (3-3, 2-2 BSC) gave UND its first five-game winning streak during the program's Division I era and first overall since opening the 2007 campaign with six-consecutive victories. That was the team's final season at the Division II level.
"What I like the most about this team right now is we are getting contributions from every position," UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said. "We overcame some adversity early and I thought we played really well in the second half to put the game away."
The Thunderbirds did not make it easy for the home team, especially early on, but the Fighting Hawks closed out the game with 17 straight points, which included a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes by Studsrud.
Studsrud's first in the final quarter went to freshman Travis Toivonen from 27 yards out. The Red Wing, Minn., native finished with five catches and a season-high 99 yards to the lead the UND receiving corps.
Texas State transfer De'mun Mercer then got into the scoring column for the first time as a Fighting Hawk, capping the scoring at the 7:34 mark with a 13-yard touchdown reception.
The Fighting Hawks were not only effective through the air, but on the ground too as Studsrud and company churned out 500-plus yards for the second-straight game. Junior fullback Kyle Norberg led a group of seven different rushers that accounted for 255 ground yards.
UND's offense mustered 28 first downs, held a nearly 2:1 advantage in time of possession (39:36 to 20:24) and finished with 537 total yards.
Norberg finished with six carries for 73 yards, while sophomores Brady Oliveira and John Santiago rushed for 64 and 55 yards, respectively and each added a second-quarter rushing touchdown.
SUU led 14-7 early after answering UND's first touchdown drive with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Brady Measom then turned a third-down swing pass into a 68-yard touchdown to give the T-Birds their only advantage of the game.
UND's defense would settle in, forcing three turnovers and allowing a season-low 51 rushing yards to the T-Birds (116 below season average). Senior Brian Labat accounted for two of those and his second-quarter fumble recovery led to a Noah Wanzek 7-yard touchdown grab in the final minute of t he first half.
That score gave the Fighting Hawks a 28-17 lead at the break, but SUU would come right out as Mike Sharp capped a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 31-yard touchdown reception. Sharp finished with 13 catches fro 148 yards.
Sophomore Austin Cieslak blocked the extra point to the leave UND ahead by five. Those would be the final points for SUU as Labat would pick off his second pass of the season in the third quarter and senior linebacker Jake Hanson would add a fourth-quarter interception to help seal the victory.
UND returns to Big Sky play on Saturday at Idaho State with kickoff from Pocatello set for 3:35 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES: Captains for today's game were Luke Mathewson, Connor O'Brien, Cole Reyes and Keaton Studsrud … UND is now 63-31-4 all-time in Homecoming contests and are 3-0 in Homecoming games this season (also wins at Montana State and Sacramento State) ... Reyes did not dress for the contest, missing his first game of the season ... Studsrud finished with career-highs in passing yards (282) and passing touchdowns (4) and had 300 yards of total offense (18 rush) for the first time in his career ... Studsrud is the first UND quarterback with four passing touchdowns in a game since Ryan Bartels had four as a freshman vs. Northern Arizona (2013; Nov. 2) ... Senior Dylan Bakker made a career-high eight solo tackles in the win ... Sophomore John Santiago had career-highs in receptions (3) and receiving yards (37) and finished with 119 all-purpose yards … UND added two more interceptions in the game and now has 13 on the season (had six total in 2015) ... Senior linebacker and converted quarterback Jake Hanson had the first of his career in the fourth quarter.
-- UND --
