South Dakota
Arizona football scores late to beat North Dakota State at home
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jayden de Laura threw for 229 yards and a landing, ran for an additional rating, and Arizona rallied to beat North Dakota State 31-28 on Saturday night time.
The Wildcats snapped North Dakota State’s FBS win streak at six video games, courting to 2010. The Bison have gained 9 out of the previous 11 nationwide championships on the FCS degree and boast a number of NFL alumni — together with quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Trey Lance and Easton Stick.
Arizona was trailing 28-24 halfway by way of the fourth quarter however bought an important cease on fourth-and-2 at its personal 23 to flip momentum. The Wildcats then drove the sphere and took a 31-28 lead on de Laura’s completely positioned 22-yard landing go to Jacob Cowing within the nook of the tip zone.
Arizona’s protection did the remaining, holding NDSU’s beforehand prolific operating recreation in examine. De Laura completed 20-of-29 passing.
North Dakota State’s Hunter Luepke scored three touchdowns — two on the bottom and one by way of the air. He ran for 115 yards, main the Bison’s 283-yard speeding assault.
NDSU got here into Saturday’s recreation with six straight wins over FBS packages, knocking off Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State, Iowa State and No. 11 Iowa.
Luepke regarded like he was going to be the hero on Saturday, plowing by way of the road of scrimmage for a 38-yard landing to offer the Bison a 28-24 lead late within the third quarter. The 236-pound fullback was so excited in the course of the celebration that he even shocked teammate Jake Lippe in the course of the celebration earlier than serving to him up.
However Arizona had another rally left within the back-and-forth contest.
The Wildcats led 17-14 on Tyler Loop’s 36-yard area aim on the halftime buzzer.
Arizona jumped forward 7-0 within the first quarter on Michael Wiley’s 6-yard landing run. North Dakota State tied it at 7-all later within the first when Cam Miller discovered Luepke on their own for a 31-yard landing go.
The Bison regarded like they had been about to seize the lead within the second quarter, however Hunter Echols strip-sacked Miller on the Arizona 17 and the Wildcats had been capable of get well the fumble. It was one in all many examples of an opportunistic Arizona protection that gave up 407 yards however got here up massive at essential moments.
Arizona took benefit of the turnover, driving the sphere and grabbing a 14-7 lead on de Laura’s 7-yard landing run. As soon as once more, the Bison responded with Miller’s 2-yard run with 50 seconds earlier than halftime tied it at 14.
THE TAKEAWAY
North Dakota St: The Bison are excellent at what they do, utilizing a bruising operating recreation and occasional passing to maneuver the ball. However their FBS profitable streak is now over as a result of the protection couldn’t get sufficient strain on de Laura.
Arizona: It’s an under-the-radar nice win for the Wildcats, who appear like they’ll be aggressive within the Pac-12 only one season after ending with a 1-11 report.
UP NEXT
North Dakota St: Journey to face South Dakota subsequent Saturday.
Arizona: Journey to face California subsequent Saturday.