VERMILLION, S.D. – No. 6/8 North Dakota fell to No. 8/6 South Dakota, 26-23, in an overtime thriller Saturday at the DakotaDome. The Fighting Hawks (6-3, 3-2 MVFC) erased a 17-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Coyotes (7-2, 4-1 MVFC) 17-0 in the second half but the home team was able to pull out the victory with a touchdown in the extra session.
The Coyotes opened the scoring with a field goal on the initial possession of the game as Bohdie Ing connected on a 47-yard field goal to give the home team an early 3-0 lead.
North Dakota could not muster more than a first down on its opening possession and the Coyotes would put together an 87-yard touchdown drive the next time they had the ball. That drive was capped by a four-yard rush from the Coyotes' running quarterback Jackson Proctor.
On UND's next possession, the Coyotes forced a fumble as Fighting Hawk signal caller
Jerry Kaminski was scrambling to evade pressure and South Dakota recovered the loose ball on the 20-yard line. Four plays later on third-and goal, Mrodrzewski would find Tysen Boze on a four-yard touchdown strike to push USD's lead to 17-0 late in the opening quarter.
The Fighting Hawks would get on the scoreboard on their next drive, which ended with a career-best, 46-yard field goal from
Kenten Laughman. Sophomore running back
Charles Langama had 36 all-purpose yards on the drive, carrying twice for 12 yards and adding a 24-yard reception to help set up the score.
UND's defense came up with its first three-and-out, forcing a punt deep in USD territory but after the offense crossed midfield, a false start penalty would stall the drive, resulting in another
Luke Silvernale punt.
Ing would drill a 46-yard field with under two minutes to go in the half, extending the Coyotes' lead to 20-3. USD would force its second fumble of the half as Kaminski had first down yardage on a scramble but turned the ball over inside Coyotes' territory.
UND's defense would force a punt, keeping its deficit at 17 going into halftime, as
Braden Mohr added to his MVFC-leading sack total on the drive.
After going 0-for-5 on third-down conversions in the first half, UND went 3-for-4 on its first drive of the second half. The Fighting Hawks churned out a 15-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson capped with a 1-yard carry to trim their deficit to 20-10.
The teams traded punts over the next seven possessions. With less than eight minutes remaining, the Fighting Hawks began a drive at their own 19-yard line. Two pass interference penalties against the Coyotes on third-down plays helped UND advance to the USD 25-yard line. With 4:21 remaining, Kiminski sent a pass down the middle of the field to
Deng Deng, who hauled in the 23-yard reception at the 1-yard line. Lawson punched it into the end zone on the following play.
After Laughman converted the extra point, the Fighting Hawks trailed by just a field goal at 20-17. The Coyotes attempted to run out the clock but were unable to sustain their possession, punting the ball back to UND with just 1:46 remaining in regulation.
Despite the limited time, Kiminski used his legs on the opening play of the drive, rushing up the middle for a 15-yard gain and a first down. After three consecutive incomplete passes, UND converted on fourth down when Kiminski connected with
Sam Strandell for a 32-yard completion.
Following another series of three incomplete passes, Laughman took the field for a 45-yard field goal attempt to tie the game. He connected, evening the score at 20-20.
The Coyotes were unable to make significant progress on their ensuing possession, sending the game into overtime.
UND received the ball first, and on the third play of the drive, Kaminski completed a short pass to Lawson and he would find the end zone, however, a holding penalty would cancel out the score and push the Fighting Hawks back to the 24-yard line. A false start penalty on the next sequence set NoDak back five more yards, leaving them facing third-and-15 from the 29-yard line.
Kiminski attempted to rush for the first down but came up short, forcing Laughman to attempt another field goal. He converted the 38-yard kick, giving South Dakota possession in overtime.
South Dakota capitalized on its opportunity, scoring a touchdown in just two plays to secure the victory.
North Dakota remains on the road for another top-10 test next Saturday at (4/4) Youngstown State. Kickoff against the Penguins is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Fighting Hawks continue to lead the all-time series 64-35-5 despite now losing the last four matchups.
- Junior Deng Deng finished the contest with a career-high eight receptions for 88 yards.
- Senior Sam Strandell.also had a career-high five receptions for a career-high 76 yards.
- Grant Noland's first quarter pass break-up was his 14th of the season, tying UND's single-season record set by Mike Compton in 1977.
- Braden Mohr's second quarter sack gives him 8.5 on the season, which leads the MVFC and is third most in the FCS.
- Senior All-American Lance Rucker was credited with a 0.5 sack and finished with a season-high eight tackles in just his second game back after missing the first seven.
- Senior safety Tyler Erkman finished with a career-high 10 tackles in the contest, while Ethan Boll matched his career-high with a game-high 11 stops.
- UND's touchdown drive to open the second half was the longest of the season in terms of plays (15) and time of possession (7:24).
- Kenten Laughman's 46-yard field goal in the second quarter was a career long and with a 3-for-3 effort in the contest has now made six straight field goal attempts.
How It Happened
First Quarter
10:48 – USD | Bohdie Ing 47-yard field goal. 9 plays, 46 yards, 4:12
4:34 – USD | Jackson Proctor 4-yard rush (Ing kick). 8 plays, 87 yards, 4:24
1:32 – USD | Tyson Boze 4-yard pass from Austyn Modrzewski (Ing kick). 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:37
Second Quarter
12:26 – UND |
Kenten Laughman 46-yard field goal. 9 plays, 46 yards, 4:06
1:44 – USD | Ing 46-yard field goal. 10 plays, 62 yards, 5:40
Third Quarter
7:32 – UND |
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson 1-yard rush (Laughman kick). 15 plays, 78 yards, 7:24
Fourth Quarter
3:57 – UND |
Matt Lawson 1-yard rush (Laughman kick). 10 plays, 87 yards, 3:45
0:46 – UND | Laughman 45-yard field goal. 9 plays, 57 yards, 0:57
Overtime
00:00 – UND | Kenton Laughman 38-yard field goal. 5 plays, 4 yards,
00:00 – USD | Brayden White 14-yard pass from Austyn Modrzewski. 2 plays, 25 yards
For more information on North Dakota Football, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media
@UNDFootball.
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