GRAND FORKS – The University of North Dakota limited South Dakota State to 3 points and 144 yards in the second half in their 28-17 win on Saturday.
Special teams played a significant role, as the No. 14 Fighting Hawks blocked a field goal, converted a fake punt and blocked a punt inside the Alerus Center.
Trailing 7-0 midway through the first quarter, UND defensive end Graham DeVore blocked a 39-yard field goal attempt from Cole Frahm.
Four plays later, UND punter Cade Peterson completed a 23-yard reception to Garett Maag to keep the drive alive at midfield. The Fighting Hawks capped the 15 play, 75-yard drive with an Otis Weah 1-yard rushing touchdown with a minute to play in the first quarter. The possession chewed up 8 minutes and 26 seconds.
SDSU answered 15 seconds later on their next ensuing play from scrimmage. Mark Gronowski found Jaxon Janke for a 76-yard touchdown reception giving SDSU a 14-7 edge.
The Jackrabbits held a 17-14 advantage late in the third quarter and the special teams unit for UND came up with a game-changing play again.
Ty Shannon blocked a Ben Dickel punt at the Fighting Hawks recovered at the Jackrabbits 18-yard line.
“That play gave UND a ton of momentum and we could never get the momentum back,” said SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier.
Two plays later, Tommy Schuster completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Garett Maag and the Fighting Hawks never trailed for the remainder of the game.
UP NEXT
SDSU hosts Western Illinois on Saturday, March 6 at 6 p.m. from Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
UND hosts South Dakota on Thursday, March 4 at 5 p.m. from the Alerus Center.
NOTES
- First 2-0 start to the season for UND since 2015, when the Fighting Hawks picked off Wyoming and Drake.
- 3,638 in attendance
- First time since October 2, 2010, the SDSU and NDSU lost on the same day.
BOX SCORE
SDSU 14 0 3 0 17
UND 7 0 14 7 28
SCORING SUMMARY
SDSU 7 UND 0 -Mark Gronowski hits Jaxon Janke for an 18-yard touchdown reception with 12:58 left in the first quarter. Cole Frahm with the PAT.
SDSU 7 UND 7 – Otis Weah rushes for a 1-yard touchdown with 1 minute left in the first quarter. Adam Stage with the PAT.
SDSU 14 UND 7 – Gronowski completes a 76-yard touchdown to Jaxon Janke with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Frahm with the PAT.
SDSU 14 UND 14 – Luke Skokna rushes for a 1-yard touchdown with 10:28 left in the third quarter. Stage with the PAT.
SDSU 17 UND 14 – Frahm makes a 39-yard field goal with 6:46 left in the third quarter.
UND 21 SDSU 17 – Tommy Schuster completes a 16-yard touchdown to Garett Maag with 17 seconds left in the third quarter. Stage with the PAT.
UND 28 SDSU 17 – Weah rushes for a 40-yard touchdown with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter. Stage with the PAT.
