UND senior wide receiver Tyrhe Ivery carries the ball during the Potato Bowl on Saturday against Robert Morris at the Alerus Center. Photo by Nick Nelson/The Dakota Student.

One of the reasons last year’s football team had an abysmal season was because it could not play what is arguably the most essential part of the game -— defense.

On Saturday, that problem was alleviated, at least for the night.

On the night of the Potato Bowl, one of the biggest games of the year for the Green and White, the defense came out flying to secure a 16-13 victory at the Alerus Center.

“Well, I’m proud of our guys’ effort tonight,” UND coach “Bubba” Schweigert said. “I thought we had our backs against the wall several times in the second half, and our defense came up big.”

It was evident from the first series that UND’s defenders meant business.

The Green and White were rushing to the ball and controlling the line of scrimmage, making it difficult for Robert Morris’ offense to find a consistent tempo.

“With the exception of about three or four plays, I thought we tackled pretty well tonight,” Schweigert said. “You know, that screen pass early in the first half (Robert Morris’ only TD) hurt us, and a couple other big run plays in the second half.”

Tackling, though, would not be a problem for UND captain Alex Tillman.

Just mere plays after getting burned on a long pass by Robert Morris, Tillman showed why he plays a significant role on the team.

On what became a game changing third down, Robert Morris tried to throw a screen to its wide receiver. Before the wide-out could even turn around, Tillman had sniffed out the play and laid down a hit that shook the Alerus Center.

“I saw the receiver step out,” Tillman said. “And when I saw the receiver step out, I knew the screen was coming, so I just went, and I had to make the play.”

Making plays was the theme of the game for the defense.

Whether it was the defensive backs not allowing wide receivers to get to the ball, or the defense line and linebackers making huge sacks to get Robert Morris out of field goal range, the defense did its job — and was essential on a night where nothing was going right on the other side of the ball.

The offense struggled to find its rhythm for most of the game, whether it was the inconsistent offensive line play, or stalling in the red zone.

There was one bright spot, though.

Senior wide receiver R. J. McGill scored his first touchdown in over a year in a half on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Joe Mollberg.

“It’s been a long time, it’s been a long journey and it was exciting,” McGill said. “The first one, I was mad I didn’t get in there when I got tackled on the three (yard line), because I don’t like leaving it up to goal line situations. And the second one, I was really determined to get it in there, so I can’t say it didn’t feel good after all the rehab and work I had to put in, in the last year and a half.”

The combination of the touchdown with the three other field goals was enough to get the job done.

UND 16, RMU 13.

UND continued its tradition of winning Potato Bowl games as the Green and White are 11-1 over the last 12 Bowls.

While there are still improvements to be made, UND is implementing the defensive mindset of its coach and, for at least one night, it has paid off.

“I like winning,” Schweigert said. “It’s more fun than losing, but I think it’s just one of those things that you gotta be able to handle. I’m just really looking at what we have to do to get our team better and better each and every day.”

Alex Stadnik is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].