5 things you might've missed in UND's 52-28 win over Idaho State

GRAND FORKS — UND routed Idaho State 52-28 on Saturday in the Potato Bowl at the Alerus Center to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Here are five things you might’ve missed during the game.

UND’s starting outside linebacker, Josh Navratil, is off to a hot start in 2024.

The senior had three tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries against Idaho State.

On the season, Navratil has 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and four quarterback hurries.

In the last seven games of 2023, Navratil had 1.0 sack and 1.0 tackles for loss. His only quarterback hurry during 2023 was in Week 1 in a blowout win over Drake.

“Very dynamic and great pass-rush moves,” UND coach Bubba Schweigert said of his outside linebackers. “We played a smaller lineup because of what we were going to see. It was a really good job by our defensive staff to scheme that up.”

UND employed a look of two defensive linemen and five defensive backs for much of the game.

Idaho State played four quarterbacks in its season opener against Oregon State, settling on Kobe Tracy, a transfer from Utah Tech, as the starter moving forward.

However, the quarterback competition may be reconsidered after Week 3 against UND.

Tracy was 6-for-18 for 72 yards.

Hunter Hays entered with the game already in hand, finishing 18-for-23 for 206 yards and four touchdowns. He was also the Bengals’ best rushing attack, by far. He had 66 of the team’s 92 rushing yards.

When Tracy appeared to be slow to shake off a hit in the first quarter, the Bengals curiously brought on redshirt freshman quarterback Jackson Sharman, who was picked off by Devin Hembry, who returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.

Nobody on UND’s roster does more with late-game playing time than running back Donovan Hunt.

The junior transfer from Jackson State ran three times for 48 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown run, against Idaho State.

A year ago against Drake, Hunt played late in the blowout. He had a 7-yard touchdown run and a 58-yard touchdown run against the Bulldogs.

For the first time all season, UND safety Cole Davis was able to play.

The junior from Marengo, Ill., was active against the Bengals. He finished with seven tackles.

Davis didn’t practice all of fall camp but was expected to be a starter in the secondary. UND has played with starters Tyler Erkman and Jett Sutton.

Backup safety Jonnie Wiltshire also has played increasingly the past two games. He finished with six tackles and a forced fumble against Idaho State.

UND played a cleaner game than Idaho State, as penalties were 13 to 1 in favor of the Fighting Hawks.

UND’s lone penalty was a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Wyatt Pedigo in the first quarter.

Idaho State was flagged for 85 yards of penalties including a number of motion penalties, due to the Alerus Center crowd and the fact Idaho State was playing with a backup center after the starter was injured on the first play of the game last week.