UND closes out its regular season next Saturday with Big Sky preseason favorite Northern Arizona (5-4, 4-2 BSC).

Sophomore John Santiago rushed for a season-high 204 yards and the UND defense was stout once again, yielding only six yards on 21 rushes to the Bears. The Fighting Hawks also added two timely interceptions to bring their FCS-leading total in that category up to 18. 

“It's never easy to win on the road, but our guys found a way once again to get the job done,” UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said. “We moved one step closer to our goal of winning a Big Sky Championship and I'm really proud of those young men and the way they continue to compete.”  

The teams started the game by exchanging 75-yard touchdown drives on their opening possessions. The Bears capped an 11-play drive with a four-yard touchdown reception by Theron Verna, while sophomore Brady Oliveira cemented UND's 12-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. He now has at least one rushing touchdown in all seven league games this season.

Later in the period, the Fighting Hawks blocked their first punt of the season, but the offense could not capitalize on the field position after Reid Taubenheim missed a 39-yard field goal.

Taubenheim would connect on both of his second-quarter tries and UND would take a 13-7 lead into halftime thanks a big play by true freshman Torrey Hunt. The Madison, Ala., native stalled a potential go-ahead touchdown drive by the Bears when he picked off Kyle Sloter on the goal line with less than a minute to play in the half.

On the previous play, Hunt nearly came down with a pick, but UNC wideout Stephen Miller won the jump ball and gave the Bears' prime field position at the 13-yard line. Santiago would run 

After a three-and-out by the Bears on their opening possession of the second half, UND senior captain Luke Mathewson hauled in his first career touchdown reception to stretch visitor's lead to 20-7 midway through the third quarter. 

Senior Ryan Bartels, who was making his first start of the season at quarterback for the injured Keaton Studsrud, found his classmate on a nicely thrown wheel route.

After an interception by Deion Harris, Taubenheim connected on his third field goal of the game from 34 yards out to make it a 23-7 contest late in the third quarter. 

After UND forced yet another three-and-out, the Bears would get a fumble recovery just across midfield and move the ball inside the Fighting Hawks five-yard line, but once again the defense would come up with a big play.