Following back-to-back losses as a double-digit favorite, the UND football team suffered its worst home loss under its current regime, losing to the SDSU Jackrabbits at home with a score of 38-7.
UND has now lost its third consecutive game, and the program’s once high playoff hopes appear DOA.
The Fighting Hawks got the ball to start the game and showed strong signs to open up on Saturday. UND moved the ball down the field with quick-hitting passes paired with a few solid runs. After stalling out inside the redzone, kicker C.J. Elrichs (So.) missed a 35-yard field goal.
UND’s defense came out juiced, forcing a three-and-out against the two-time defending FCS champions, giving fans the sense that a competitive game was en route. That would not be the case.
However, on the first play of the ensuing Hawks’ drive, running back Isaiah Smith (Sr.) busted a 62-yard touchdown run. Smith fought through contact at the first level, giving UND a 7-0 lead early on in Saturday’s bout.
Smith’s run would be the first and only scoring play for the Hawks.
SDSU was able to get down the field on the following drive, but the green and white prevented the Jackrabbits from scoring a touchdown on the second consecutive possession. SDSU kicked a field goal to make it a 7-3 ball game.
SDSU’s field goal would be the last time that a Jackrabbits drive would not end with a touchdown until the final legitimate drive of the half.
The Hawks went three-and-out on the next drive, and SDSU took over.
The Jackrabbits scored touchdowns on their next four drives, with UND either punting, turning the ball over, or missing field goals on all of theirs.
SDSU went into the break with a firm 31-7 lead.
The second half consisted of six punts and only one scoring drive, which came at the hands of a 47-yard touchdown pass by SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski (Sr.).
The once over 9,000-person Alerus Center crowd had dissipated to mere fractions of that over the course of the second half, with UND fans seeing enough.
UND lost to SDSU with a score of 38-7 this past Saturday, falling to 5-5 on the season and a disappointing 2-4 in MVFC play.
Before Saturday, UND’s bright spot on the season was its previously undefeated record at home. The Hawks are undefeated in the Alerus Center no longer.
Simon Romfo (Jr.) completed 16 of his 23 passes for 124 yards, throwing one interception. Romfo also lost a fumble near the end of the first half. The fumble did not result in any points for the Jackrabbits.
Isaiah Smith led UND’s backfield in touches and production on Saturday, taking nine carries and turning in 87 yards and a touchdown. 62 of Smith’s 87 rushing yards came on his long touchdown run early in the first.
Bo Belquist (5th) and Quincy Vaughn (5th) both caught four passes, totaling 77 yards between the two of them.
The Fighting Hawks will remain in Grand Forks this week, looking to snap their three-game losing streak against the South Dakota Coyotes (7-2, 5-1). USD defeated UND in South Dakota last season with a score of 14-10.
UND’s final home game will take place on Saturday, November 16, in the Alerus Center at 12 p.m.
Garrett Webber is a Dakota Student Section Editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
