GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- North Dakota forced five turnovers and rushed for 229 yards to blow past No. 24 Southern Illinois, 44-21, on Saturday afternoon from the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. 

UND (1-0, 1-0 MVFC) opened its Missouri Valley Football Conference history in strong fashion, outscoring the Salukis (1-1, 0-1 MVFC) 28-7 in the second half to turn a 16-14 halftime lead into the 44-21 victory. 

It was a good balance on the offensive side for the Fighting Hawks, amassing 347 yards of total offense. Tommy Schuster was solid in his first-career start at quarterback, throwing for 118 yards and three scores while completing 15 of his 25 passes. On the ground, Otis Weah spearheaded a mutli-faced attack with 91 yards and a score on 13 carries. Luke Skokna also added some punch with 70 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. 

Seven-different Hawks caught a pass, led by true freshman Bo Belquist's four and a touchdown. Junior Garett Maag hauled in three catches for a team-high 40 yards while Dalton Gee and Brett Finke also grabbed scores through the air. 

It was the defense who made the biggest statement, forcing five turnovers that led to 27 of UND's 44 points. Evan Holm and Sammy Fort came down with interceptions in the second half and a trio of fumbles in the first half helped hold the vaunted Saluki rushing attack to just 90 yards on 35 carries. 

Devon Krzanowski, playing in his first Division I game after transferring from St. Cloud State, tallied one tackle for loss, recovered UND's third forced fumble of the first half and took it for a 36-yard score to put the Fighting Hawks in front, 16-7, late in that opening frame. Jordan Canady led all players with eight tackles. 

After SIU took the opening drive 84 yards for a score to take a 7-0 lead, the UND defense started to dig its heels in over the next few possessions. Graham DeVore burst through the line and stripped wildcat QB Javon Williams Jr. and Noah Larson pounced on the ball to put the Hawks in scoring position at the SIU17 with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter. 

Quincy Vaughn, taking his first snap at quarterback as a collegiate athlete, took the snap and powered through the defense for 13 yards before Schuster found Finke on the play-action pass to knot the game at 7. 

On the next possession, the UND defense made another stand. Chandon Pierre stripped and sacked Kare Lyles before Graham DeVore recovered the second fumble of the afternoon to halt the SIU drive at the UND35. The Hawks sucked seven minutes off the clock and Adam Stage connected from 27-yards out to move the hosts in front, 10-7, with just over four minutes left in the first half. 

Just five plays later, C.J. Siegel came untouched on the blitz and forced a fumble that was picked up by Krzanowski and took it 36-yards to the house to put the Hawks in front, 16-7, just moments before the end of the half. SIU ended the frame with some momentum, scoring on an 8-play, 75-yard drive to send the game into the break at 16-14. 

UND came out of the halftime break on fire, scoring on each of its first three possessions to blow the game wide open. Weah took over on the opening drive with five carries, capping the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown scamper to make it 23-14 North Dakota. 

Following a three-and-out, it was the rushing attack who dominated the next possession once again, with the three-headed attack of Gee, Skokna and Weah combining for 40 of the 45 yards and Gee catching a 5-yard pass out of the backfield from Schuster for the score and a 30-14 lead for the Hawks. 

Turnovers started again on the next drive, with Holm picking off new quarterback Nic Baker and returning it 27 yards to the SIU12. Two plays later, Schuster fired his third TD of the game, this time to freshman Bo Belquist, from 9-yards out for his first-collegiate score and 21 straight points by the hosts. 

Fort got in on the turnover party moments later, hauling in his first-career pick to end the third quarter before Skokna got in on th touchdown action with a 1-yard run to push the lead to 44-14 with 12:57 to play. 

Southern Illinois added a late touchdown, but North Dakota came away with its 34 straight win in home openers, 44-21, and fourth straight home victory over ranked foes. 

North Dakota returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 27 at noon against South Dakota State on MidcoSN2.