On the road as a 9.5-point favorite, the UND football team was upset by the Youngstown State Penguins this past Saturday, losing 41-40 in overtime.
The Fighting Hawks, who were yet to win away from home so far this season, allowed the Penguins to go on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open Saturday’s game.
UND was able to respond with an elongated drive of its own, tying the game with a five-yard Gaven Ziebarth (So.) touchdown run on the ensuing drive.
The Fighting Hawk defense was able to produce a turnover on the following Penguins drive when Avery Scott (Jr.) intercepted Youngstown quarterback Beau Brungard’s pass.
Thanks to Scott’s interception, UND was set up near midfield with a chance to take the lead. Quarterback Simon Romfo (Jr.) was able to get the Hawks into the red zone with a 31-yard completion to standout receiver Bo Belquist (5th).
A few plays later, Ziebarth ran in his second touchdown of the game to put the Hawks ahead 14-7.
The Penguins were able to respond on the next possession, going on another methodical touchdown drive to tie the game at 14.
After Youngstown tied it up, the two sides traded touchdowns before the end of the half, but due to a missed C.J. Elrichs (So.) extra point, UND trailed 21-20 at the break.
In the fourth quarter, trailing 31-27, the Hawks needed a scoring drive to take control back. Ziebarth was able to come up big for UND yet again, rushing in his third touchdown of the game to give the Hawks a 34-31 lead.
With less than three minutes to play, Youngstown State had the ball trailing by three. After a timeout, Penguins quarterback Brungard scrambled for 46 yards to set Youngstown up just outside the redzone with a chance to win the game.
Thanks to a Malachi McNeal (Jr.) sack, the UND defense was able to force a field goal attempt. Kicker Andrew Lastovka buried the 35-yard kick for the Penguins, and the game would go to overtime.
Youngstown got the ball to start the overtime session, and they made the most of it. On the first play, Brungard ran for 15 yards and got YSU into a goal-to-goal situation. After being denied for three plays, the Penguins were able to convert on 4th and goal at the one-yard line to take the lead, 41-34.
Needing a touchdown to keep the game going, UND faced a 3rd and 12 on the Penguins’ 27. Romfo was able to momentarily save the day for the Hawks, running all the way to Youngstown’s three-yard line.
Two plays later, Belquist caught his second touchdown of the night to make the score 41-40.
A successful extra-point conversion would have reset the overtime period, giving the ball back to UND, and the two sides would play on.
As many teams do on the road, UND’s coaching staff elected to go for the win, drawing up a run-pass option to Quincy Vaughn (5th). The play was unsuccessful, and UND fell to Youngstown State with a score of 41-40.
With the loss, UND fell to 5-3 on the season and 2-2 in MVFC play. UND is undefeated at home this season but is yet to win on the road.
Romfo completed 19 of his 24 passes for 212 yards, throwing for three touchdowns. Romfo added 29 yards on the ground.
Belquist caught ten of Romfo’s 19 completions, producing 105 yards for the Fighting Hawks, along with two touchdowns.
Isaiah Smith (Sr.) was the most productive back for the Hawks on Saturday, turning nine carries into 63 yards. Smith also caught a pass for 19 yards.
Ziebarth was given 15 carries against the Penguins, rushing for 33 yards and three touchdowns.
Next week, UND will travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to face off against the Indiana State Sycamores (3-5) in another MVFC matchup.
The Fighting Hawks will return to the Alerus Center on November 11 against the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits at 1:00 p.m.
Garrett Webber is a Dakota Student Section Editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
