VERMILLION, S.D. (UND Athletics)– No. 10/12 North Dakota fell in a defensive slugfest, 14-10, to No. 6 South Dakota inside the DakotaDome on Saturday afternoon. It was a tale of two halves, with UND pitching a 10-0 shutout at the halfway point and then USD scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half.
The Fighting Hawks (6-4, 4-3 MVFC) held a 10-0 advantage midway through the third quarter. Devin Hembry slammed the doors shut on the first Coyote (8-2, 6-1 MVFC) possession after intermission with an interception in the end zone, but on its following possession, South Dakota went 49 yards over the next 2:56 to bring the tally to 10-7 after a two-yard Keondre Jones touchdown run.
It was then a battle of field position until 8:26 left in the game, when Charles Pierre Jr. scored on a 10-yard rush to give USD its first lead of the game. UND had two chances to reclaim the lead after that point, but the Coyote defense stood tall and earned the 14-10 victory.
The game was a defensive battle with North Dakota only recording 211 yards of offense. USD limited UND to just 63 total yards of offense in the final 30 minutes of the contest. The Coyotes put up 416 yards of offense in the game but turned the ball over twice when in scoring position.
Aidan Bouman went 20-for-28 passing for 307 yards, while surrendering one interception. Carter Bell was the top USD receiver with seven catches for 126 yards, while Travis Theis paced the Coyote backfield with 17 touches for 66 yards.
Tommy Schuster went 16-for-24 passing for 116 yards, while giving up one interception. Isaiah Smith paced the receivers with 26 yards on four receptions and was also the leading running back with 58 yards on 10 carries.
Nineteen Fighting Hawks had at least one tackle in the game, highlighted by Malachi McNeal putting down six stops. Wyatt Pedigo had a crucial strip-fumble in the second quarter that saved a score after his recovery in the end zone. Hembry also had a strong stop early in the third quarter when he picked off the Coyotes in the end zone.
UND led 10-0 at the halfway point. Red Wilson returned the opening kickoff 99-yards for the score to put UND on top 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game. The highlight of the half came with just over three minutes to go before intermission, when it looked like Carter Bell was going to even the score up at 7-7 after a 64-yard reception, but Pedigo chased him down at the UND 1 and punched out the football, eventually recovering it in the end zone for the touchback.
After the touchback, North Dakota traveled 55 yards over the next 3:05. The drive was capped by a 42-yard C.J. Elrichs field goal as time expired in the half, which pushed the North Dakota lead to 10-0.
In the opening 30 minutes, South Dakota accumulated 187 yards of offense and 148 yards through the air. North Dakota had 82 yards passing and piled up 140 total yards of offense. Wilson’s 99-yard kick return allowed UND to chew up 17:16 minutes of clock by the halfway point.
North Dakota will host Illinois State next Saturday. Kickoff between the Fighting Hawks and Redbirds is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be televised on Midco Sports and carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network.
Postgame Notes
- With the result, UND still holds the series lead, 64-32-5. NoDak has not won in the DakotaDome since 2008 (W, 34-31, OT).
- UND scored all 10 of its points in the first half, while USD put up its only 14 points of the game in the second half.
- North Dakota has lost only three of its last 10 one-score games.
- Red Wilson ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for the score. He became just the fifth player in program history to run back the opening kickoff for a score.
- It is the first time in history that two different NoDak players have returned opening kickoffs for touchdown in the same year: Wilson (99-yarder at South Dakota) and Luke Skokna (100-yarder vs. North Dakota State).
- C.J. Elrichs drilled a 42-yard field goal before intermission for a new season-long.
- North Dakota finished +1.0 in turnover margin for the seventh time this season.
How It Happened
First Quarter
14:47 – UND | Red Wilson returns the opening kickoff 99 yards for the score. (C.J. Elrichs kick). 0 plays, 99 yards, 0:13.
Second Quarter
0:00 – UND | Elrichs connects on 42-yard field goal. 12 plays, 55 yards, 3:05.
Third Quarter
6:54 – USD | Keondre Jones scores on a two-yard rush. (Will Leyland kick). 5 plays, 49 yards, 2:56.
Fourth Quarter
8:26 – USD | Charles Pierre Jr. scores on a 10-yard rush. (Leyland kick). 12 plays, 81 yards, 6:59.
Game Recap: Football | 11/11/2023 3:46:00 PM | Tyler Wells, FightingHawks.com