CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – No. 4/7 North Dakota fell 24-17 at the UNI-Dome on Saturday evening, suffering its first conference loss of the season.
UND entered the contest undefeated in Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) play at 2-0, facing a UNI squad that upset Illinois State at home just two weeks ago. Despite totaling 367 yards of offense, the Fighting Hawks were unable to overcome the Panthers' defense, which held one of the top offenses in the FCS to 17 points.
The Panthers' opening drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal to give the home team to an early 3-0 lead.
After starting its opening drive with nine-consecutive passes, UND covered the final 16 on back-to-back runs by
Jerry Kaminski and
Charles Langama, who found the end zone on his to give the Fighting Hawks a 7-3 lead. Kaminski had a pair of long third-down completions to help keep it going.
After the teams traded three-and-outs, UNI's Andrew Price blocked a punt attempt by
Luke Silvernale and scooped up the loose ball, returning it 33 yards for a touchdown.
Braden McShane would come up with an interception for the Panthers on UND's next drive to set his team up at the UND 21-yard line. Jaxon Dailey capped a quick scoring drive with an 18-yard scoring toss to Brady McCullough that pushed UNI's advantage to 17-7.
On the first play of Hawks' next drive, a handoff miscue from Kaminski to Langama allowed McShane to fall the ball to give the Panthers possession at the Fighting Hawks' 20-yard line. Five plays later, Michael Bormann scored on a two-yard rush to pad UNI's lead to 24-7 early in the second quarter.
UND moved the ball into UNI territory on its next possession. The drive would then stall as Kaminski was sacked on a fourth-down attempt, giving the ball back to the Panthers' at their 44-yard line. On UNI's first play, UND's defense came up with a turnover as
Ethan Boll forced a fumble that was recovered by
Tyler Erkman.
The UND offense could not net a first down, however, as the Panthers once again came up with a fourth-down stop. After trading punts, UND's
Grant Tylutki recovered a loose ball after it hit a Panthers' defender on a Silvernale boot, giving the Fighting Hawks possession at UNI's 33-yard line.
UND would convert this Panthers' miscue into points on a 28-yard field by
Kenten Laughman that trimmed the deficit to 24-10.
The final two minutes had plenty of drama but neither team would add to its point total after UNI forced its third turnover of the opening 30 minutes.
Kaden Vig blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt as the clock expired to leave the Panthers ahead 24-10 going into the break.
Fighting Hawk wide receiver
Korey Tai fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. The Panthers recovered the football, giving starting field position inside the UND 25-yard line for the third time. UND forced a field goal attempt this time that sailed wide left to keep the score at 24-10.
After
Matt Lawson ripped off a season-best, 33-yard rush, the Panthers once again came up with a turnover. This time picking off Kaminski for the second time on a deflected pass. The UND defense once again came up with a stop after
Braden Mohr registered back-to-back sacks to push UNI out of field goal range and force a punt.
After another three-and-out forced by the UND defense, the offense responded with a scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from backup quarterback
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson. He entered the game after Kaminski was injured on a three-yard rush on the previous play.
Following another exchange of three-and-outs, UNI attempted to move the ball downfield, but two penalties forced the Panthers to punt from the UND 43-yard line. Starting at its own 9-yard line, UND looked to gain ground as Tupou'ata-Johnson attempted a pair of deep passes, but neither was successful, forcing the Fighting Hawks to punt.
The Panthers went three-and-out once again, giving the Fighting Hawks one final opportunity to tie the game. However, the home team's defense held strong, forcing another quick three-and-out to seal the victory.
North Dakota returns home next Saturday for a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup against No. 1/1 South Dakota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Midco Sports and will be streamed on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+.
POSTGAME NOTES
- UND continues to trail UNI 16-27 in the all-time series.
- UND's five turnovers were a season high and the first time with five turnovers since a 35-30 victory over Youngstown State in 2021 (Nov. 13).
- UND held a 367-137 advantage in total offense.
- Matt Lawson's 33-yard rush in the third quarter was a season-long – he finished with a season-high 91 all-purpose yards (57 rushing; 34 receiving).
- Braden Mohr registered two sacks and has at least one in the last three games -- he pushed his MVFC-leading total to 7.5 in that category.
How It Happened
First Quarter
10:30 – UNI | Max Bartachek 39-yard field goal. 8 plays, 44 yards, 4:30
5:41 – UND |
Charles Langama 8-yard rush (
Kenten Laughman kick). 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:51
3:59 – UNI | Andrew Price 33-yard blocked punt return (Bartachek kick).
00:29 – UNI | Brady McCullough 18-yard pass from Jaxon Dailey (Bartachek kick). 3 plays, 21 yards, 1:16
Second Quarter
13:06 – UNI | Michael Bormann 2-yard rush (Bartachek kick). 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:18
4:48 – UND | Laughman 28-yard field goal. 8 plays, 23 yards, 3:07
Fourth Quarter
14:16 – UND |
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson 1-yard rush (Laughman kick). 9 plays, 52 yards, 2:35
For more information on North Dakota Football, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media
@UNDFootball.
