GRAND FORKS, N.D. – No. 13/12 North Dakota (4-2, 2-0 MVFC) defeated RV/No. 20 Youngstown State (3-3, 0-2 MVFC), 35-17, inside the Alerus Center on Saturday afternoon. The win gives the Fighting Hawks their first 2-0 start in conference play since the 2020-21 season.

After leading 28-17 heading into the fourth quarter, the Fighting Hawks used a methodical drive which consumed 7:57 of clock and was capped by a one-yard Gaven Ziebarth touchdown run to push the lead to 35-17 late. UND picked up 53 yards rushing on the 16-play, 72-yard drive.

Earlier, NoDak originally extended the lead to 31-17 with a field goal on 4th & 1 at the YSU 13, but the Penguins jumped offsides and helped the Hawks continue their march to the end-zone. The Ziebarth score was a morale deflater for Youngstown State, who scored 10-straight points after intermission to trim the deficit to 28-17 by the end of the third period.

Fourth downs played a large role in the win, with the Fighting Hawks containing YSU quarterback Beau Brungard all game and only allowing him to pick up 71 yards rushing on 19 tries. The Penguins went for it five times on fourth down and only got the needed yardage twice. Comparatively, NoDak went 2-for-2 on fourth down conversions, with Jerry Kaminski finding Haydn Stay on 4th & 3 from the YSU 21 for the 21-yard score to bring the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter. Kaminski also converted with an eight-yard rush on 4th & 2 from the YSU 28 during the final UND scoring drive of the contest.

Kaminski was 17-for-27 passing for 146 yards and a trio of touchdown passes in the victory. He also picked up 27 yards rushing on nine attempts and was only sacked once. B.J. Fleming was the top UND receiver with five grabs for 84 yards and a pair of scores, while Stay also added a touchdown reception.

Sawyer Seidl paced the rushing attack and had 114 yards on 20 carries. It marked his second 100-yard rushing game of his career and first this season. Sixty-eight of his yards came in the fourth quarter. Ziebarth was also in the mix and had nine touches for 71 yards, including a 51-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter.

Malachi McNeal led the defensive unit with 10 tackles (nine solo), one sack and a pass breakup. Logyn Eckheart and Kaden Vig combined for the only other UND sack of the game. Jonnie Wiltshire and Zach Lewis shared the team-lead in pass breakups with two pass deflections apiece. Eight different Hawks recorded a quarterback hurry.

North Dakota led 28-7 at intermission and found the end-zone on its first four possessions. Fleming scored the first points of the game on a nine-yard reception from Kaminski to bring the score to 7-0 early in the opening stanza. Stay then extended the lead to 14-0 with his first trip to the end-zone of his career on the 4th & 3 conversion. YSU cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter, but Ziebarth responded two plays later with his 51-yard touchdown run. Fleming scored the final points of the half with a diving 14-yard catch.

The Fighting Hawks did a good job limiting Brungard in the first 30 minutes, who had 14 carries for 60 yards and was shut down twice on fourth down. He was also 9-for-14 passing for 69 yards and a touchdown in the opening half.

North Dakota will visit No. 8/9 Southern Illinois on Saturday. Kickoff between the Hawks and Salukis is slated for 2 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

Postgame Notes

• North Dakota now leads the all-time series 5-1 and holds a 3-1 edge as MVFC opponents.
• This was the first game played this century between the two squads that was decided by more than a touchdown.
• It is the first 2-0 start in MVFC play for the Fighting Hawks since starting 2-0 in the 2020-21 season.
• UND has now won 33 of its last 38 games inside the Alerus Center and is 20-4 against MVFC teams at home since 2016.
• North Dakota piled up 371 yards of offense in the win, led by 225 yards rushing. Youngstown State logged 377 yards of offense, highlighted by 269 yards through the air.
• UND was 2-for-2 on fourth downs, while YSU went 2-for-5 on fourth down tries.
• Haydn Stay caught his first career touchdown.
• Sawyer Seidl racked up 114 yards rushing for the second 100-yard rushing game of his career. The last time he rushed for over 100 yards was when he put up 123 yards in the 41-24 win over San Diego last season.
• Jerry Kaminski threw completions to eight Hawks, which is a season-low. He had previously thrown completions to nine-or-more receivers each game. Still, Kaminski threw for a trio of touchdowns in the win.
• Gaven Ziebarth rushed for a pair of scores. It was the most touchdowns for Ziebarth since finding the end-zone three times at Youngstown State last season.
• Neither team turned the ball over.

How It Happened
First Quarter
8:18 – UND | B.J. Fleming scores on a 9-yard pass from Jerry Kaminski. (C.J. Elrichs kick). 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:27.
2:44 – UND | Hayden Stay scores on a 21-yard pass from Kaminski. (Elrichs kick). 9 plays, 59 yards, 4:03.
Second Quarter
13:27 – YSU | Mike Solomon scores on the 20-yard pass from Beau Brungard. (Andrew Lastovka kick). 8 plays, 42 yards, 4:08.
12:48 – UND | Gaven Ziebarth scores on a 51-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 2 plays, 58 yards, 0:32.
8:08 – UND | Fleming scores on a 14-yard pass from Kaminski. (Elrichs kick). 5 plays, 48 yards, 2:17.
Third Quarter
7:44 – YSU | Lastovka connects on a 34-yard field goal. 5 plays, 45 yards, 1:29.
4:22 – YSU | Ky Wilson scores on a 37-yard pass from Brungard. (Lastovka kick). 4 plays, 86 yards, 1:25.
Fourth Quarter
6:40 – UND | Ziebarth scores on a one-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 16 plays, 72 yards, 7:57.

For more information on North Dakota football, follow on social media @UNDfootball or visit FightingHawks.com.