Montana
5 things you might've missed in UND's 27-24 win over Montana
GRAND FORKS — UND came back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to stun No. 4 Montana 27-24 on Saturday night at the Alerus Center.
Here are five things you might’ve missed during the game.
1. Montana star doesn’t play
Montana wide receiver/returner Junior Bergen didn’t play against the Fighting Hawks.
The All-American, who didn’t play in Week 1 in a Montana win over Missouri State, dressed and made the trip.
Bergen warmed up on the field before the game but didn’t see any action.
2. UND tries to use Belquist
UND’s passing game struggled to get off the ground against Montana, specifically an effort to involve All-American wide receiver Bo Belquist.
Belquist was targeted 10 times with four catches for 33 yards and a long of 17 yards.
All 33 of Belquist’s yards came in the first half.
Nate DeMontagnac came up with the clutch plays late for UND in the passing game.
UND picked up a third-and-11 on the drive that ended with Elrichs’ game-winning kick when Simon Romfo connected with the Canadian wide receiver on a 14-yard slant pass.
3. UND finishes with six sacks
Early against Montana, Griz quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat was able to escape UND’s defensive pressure.
His ability to elude a cornerback blitz from Antonio Bluiett led to Ah Yat’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Harris to open the scoring in the first quarter.
But UND’s defensive pressure eventually got to Ah Yat and backup quarterback Logan Fife.
Ah Yat was sacked five times.
Craig Orlando, Josh Navratil and Wyatt Pedigo were each credited with two sacks.
4. UND uses the Quincy push
For the first time in his two-game tenure as offensive coordinator, Isaac Fruechte turned to tight end Quincy Vaughn to handle a short-yardage situation.
After not using Vaughn on third-and-1 to start the fourth quarter, a play in which Gaven Ziebarth picked up 3 yards, Fruechte went to Vaughn, a former quarterback, in the next situation.
With the game tied at 24, UND faced a fourth-and-1 from the Griz 44.
Vaughn entered the game and easily picked up the needed yard on a plunge up the middle.
UND’s home crowd made a difference in the second half.
The announced attendance was 11,595 — the most for a home opener since 2017 against Missouri State.
The game was a 6 p.m. kickoff — the first Saturday night kick at UND in 10 years.