GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics) – No. 10/9 North Dakota (3-1) outgained San Diego (2-1) by a 197-34 margin in total yardage in the third quarter and won that period 24-3 to power ahead to a 41-24 victory inside the Alerus Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Fighting Hawks trailed 17-10 early in the third quarter before scoring 24 points over the rest of the quarter to head into the final stanza with a 34-17 lead. One play from scrimmage after USD’s score to go up 17-10, NoDak used a 69-yard strike from Simon Romfo to Bo Belquist to knot the game up at 17-17. On its next possession, the Hawks used a 38-yard pass that Nate DeMontagnac caught through pass interference to put the ball at the UND 5. Gaven Ziebarth capped that drive with a one-yard score to give UND the 24-17 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Devin Hembry came up with an interception in UND territory which was exchanged for seven points later in the drive on a 41-yard pass from Romfo to Belquist. A Josh Navratil fumble recovery in the waning moments of the third stanza led to a 31-yard field goal from C.J. Elrichs to bring the tally to 34-17.

Both teams scored one touchdown in the final period to put the score at 41-24. Isaiah Smith scored the final points for NoDak with a two-yard rush with 1:52 remaining in the contest.

In the impressive third quarter, UND picked up 148 yards through the air and 49 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, USD was limited to 36 passing yards and -2 yards rushing. After throwing an interception early in the quarter, Romfo finished the period with three completions on eight attempts, two of them going for touchdowns.

In the game, NoDak had 426 yards of offense with 267 yards passing and 159 yards rushing. Romfo went 5-for-13 for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while also throwing two interceptions. Belquist had three grabs for 116 yards and a pair of scores. Sawyer Seidl paced the Hawks on the ground with 13 carries for 123 yards and a 70-yard touchdown score.

North Dakota trailed 14-10 at intermission. The Fighting Hawks led 3-0 early in the contest after a Tyler Erkman interception led to a 24-yard field goal from C.J. Elrichs. After that, the Toreros scored on a 14-yard pass and later on a 28-yard pass to bring the tally to 14-3 with 11:54 to go until intermission. Less than a minute later, Seidl showed off his speed with a 70-yard rushing touchdown to bring the tally to 14-10 with 11:04 left in the half. Neither team scored until the second half after that touchdown.

In the opening half, UND was outgained in total offensive yardage, 161-148. The Hawks had 137 yards on the ground and just 11 yards through the air. Comparatively, the Toreros picked up 106 yards passing and 55 yards rushing.

North Dakota will host Murray State in MVFC action inside the Alerus Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The game will air on Midco Sports and will be carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

Postgame Notes

• North Dakota is now 1-0 in the series with San Diego.
• UND is now 18-8-1 against PFL teams in its history.
• The Fighting Hawks claimed a lead in the third quarter that they did not relinquish, winning that quarter 24-3. UND also had 197 yards of offense in the third quarter, while USD only picked up 34 yards of offense that quarter.
• Sawyer Seidl had 123 yards rushing, which was good for his first 100-yard game as a Fighting Hawk.
• Bo Belquist picked up 116 yards receiving, bringing him up to eight 100-yard receiving games in his career.
• Belquist’s 357 receiving yards through the first four games are the most by a UND receiver since Greg Hardin’s 416 yards receiving in 2013.
• North Dakota finished with three takeaways. Tyler Erkman had his first career interception, while Devin Hembry also picked off a pass and Josh Navratil recovered a fumble.
• The Hawks edged the Toreros in time of possession, 31:00-29:00.

How It Happened
First Quarter
11:02 – UND | C.J. Elrichs connects on a 24-yard field goal. 5 plays, 22 yards, 2:08.
7:23 – USD | Cole Monach scores on a 14-yard pass from Grant Sergent. (Aydan Lehman kick). 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:39.
Second Quarter
11:54 – USD | Ja’seem Reed scores on a 28-yard pass from Sergent. (Lehman kick). 12 plays, 88 yards, 7:50.
11:04 – UND | Sawyer Seidl scores on a 70-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:50.
Third Quarter
11:58 – USD | Lehman connects on a 54-yard field goal. 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:31.
11:42 – UND | Bo Belquist scores on a 69-yard pass from Romfo. (Elrichs kick). 1 play, 69 yards, 0:10.
9:19 – UND | Gaven Ziebarth scores on a one-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 3 plays, 43 yards, 0:55.
3:06 – UND | Belquist scores on a 41-yard pass from Romfo. (Elrichs kick). 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:38.
0:03 – UND | Elrichs connects on a 31-yard field goal. 4 plays, 3 yards, 0:55.
Fourth Quarter
11:39 – USD | Logan Gingg scores on a one-yard rush. (Lehman kick). 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:24.
1:52 – UND | Isaiah Smith scores on a two-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 16 plays, 75 yards, 9:47.

Game Recap: Football | 9/21/2024 5:55:00 PM | Tyler Wells, FightingHawks.com