GRAND FORKS, N.D. – No. 11/15 North Dakota used a stout defensive effort to claim victory over No. 1/1 South Dakota State, 21-10, Saturday afternoon at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.
For the first time as a member of Division I, the Fighting Hawks (6-2) dropped the No. 1 team according to the AFCA Coaches Poll and the Stats Perform Poll, doing so in convincing fashion. The Hawks held the Jackrabbits (5-2) to season lows in points and total offense as they improved to 3-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, while dealing SDSU its first overall and conference loss of the campaign.
The Fighting Hawks churned out 175 rushing yards, while holding SDSU to just 157, which is nearly half of what the top-ranked run game in the FCS came in averaging (291.8). Junior
Matt Lawson racked up a career-high 99 of those rushing yards for UND and picked up a key first down late in the contest to seal the victory. SDSU starter Chase Mason returned to action but was limited to just a 14-for-33 effort through the air. Sophomore cornerback
Grant Noland finished with a career-high six pass break-ups to help keep the Jacks' passing attack at bay.
Senior quarterback
Jerry Kaminski was a game-time decision after leaving last week's contest at Northern Iowa in the second half, but did make his 22nd consecutive start for UND. He threw first-half touchdown passes to
Cameron Weir and
Deng Deng as the Fighting Hawks jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Kaminski finished 10-for-16 through the air for 116 yards, while back-up quarterback
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson contributed 34 key rushing yards in his most extensive action of the season.
After both teams came up scoreless on their first two possessions, UND put together a touchdown drive late in the first quarter to grab a 7-0 advantage. Kaminski converted a third down with an 11-yard pass to Deng, then threw a 35-yard scoring strike to
Cameron Weir.
The UND defense forced another three-and-out on SDSU's next drive and the Fighting Hawks would extend their lead to 14-0 on a 49-yard scamper by Chuck Langama on the next series. Weir helped set up the scoring drive with a 31-yard punt return that gave UND possession on its own 38.
The Jackrabbits would come up empty on another fourth-down conversion attempt, and the Fighting Hawks would capitalize again. After
Haydn Stay made a leaping 16-yard grab to put UND on SDSU's 12-yard line, Kaminski found
Deng Deng on the next play to make it a 21-0 contest.
The Jackrabbits had their best chance to score after forcing the game's first turnover when Langama fumbled following a hit by Chase Van Tol. SDSU recovered at the UND 34-yard line and would move the ball down to the 13-yard line but would settle for a field goal, trimming its deficit to 21-3 going into halftime.
SDSU's offense opened the second half with a jolt when James Basinger scored the Jacks' first touchdown of the game on a 63-yard rush. Basinger's carry amassed more rushing yards than the 58 SDSU had on 20 attempts in the first half.
UND's opening drive of the second half stalled after crossing midfield. SDSU would move the ball into UND territory but a chop block would back the Jackrabbits out of field goal range and the Hawks' defense would force a punt.
The game's momentum slowed for both sides as defensive efforts stunted the offenses. This went until SDSU's final offensive drive started with three and a half minutes remaining. The Jackrabbits marched 55 yards down the field to the Fighting Hawks' 28-yard line, setting up for a 46-yard field goal attempt to spark a comeback. However, the kick went wide right and the Fighting Hawks took control for the remainder of the game. Kaminski kneeled twice, signifying UND's victory with the final score settling at 21-10 in North Dakota's favor.
North Dakota will be on the road next Saturday at (9/9) South Dakota. Kickoff against the Coyotes is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Midco Sports and will be streamed on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Fighting Hawks increased its lead in the all-time series to 48-39-5, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Jackrabbits, which started in 2021.
- UND has now won its first game against a No. 1 ranked team at the FCS Division I level, winning for the first time in six tries, including two against SDSU. The last time UND defeated the top-ranked team at any level was during the program's Division II era when the Fighting Sioux ousted No. 1 NDSU in Fargo, 23-7, during the 1971 season.
- The Fighting Hawks' sellout crowd of 12,922 was the largest in the Alerus Center since the opening season in 2001 when 13,500 were in attendance for the North Dakota State game.
- Senior All-American Lance Rucker made his season debut after missing the first seven contests with a foot injury. Rucker finished the game with three quarterback hurries and one tackle.
- SDSU was held to 326 yards of total offense and only 10 points, both serving as season lows for the Jackrabbits.
- Mike Devereaux's second-quarter sack was his first of the season -- he finished with 2.0 tackles for loss and four total stops.
- Charles Langama's 49-yard touchdown run in the second quarter matched the longest rush of his career.
- Running back Matt Lawson had a career-high 99 rushing yards on a 24 attempts.
- Quarterback Jerry Kaminski had two passing touchdowns for the day, his sixth time this season with multiple scoring tosses in a game.
How It Happened
First Quarter
1:16 – UND |
Cameron Weir 35-yard pass from
Jerry Kaminski (
Kenten Laughman kick). 7 plays, 64 yards, 2:44
Second Quarter
11:27 – UND |
Charles Langama 49-yard rush (Laughman kick). 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:51
3:54 – UND |
Deng Deng 12-yard pass from Kaminski (Laughman kick). 8 plays, 61 yards, 4:03
00:22 – SDSU | Tristan Alvano 30-yard field goal. 8 plays, 22 yards, 1:53
Third Quarter
13:35 – UND | James Basinger 63-yard rush (Alvano kick). 3 plays, 74 yards, 1:18
For more information on North Dakota Football, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media
@UNDFootball.
-- UND --
