The Hawks did what they needed to do to secure a road win 45-31 on Saturday. It was their first road victory of the season and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The offense was rolling the majority of the day but the defense struggled after a solid start vs. the Racers. It wasn’t a three-phase game but was a game where one side of the ball picked up the other side. There is something to be said for that.
The #10 Fighting Hawks (6-3) now head down to the unfriendly confines of the Dakota Dome to take on the #6 South Dakota Coyotes (7-2). A Top-10 battle that is set for 12:00pm.
The Hawks offense was dialed in. Even without Gaven Ziebarth and Red Wilson (left home via coaches decision) the Hawks offense never missed a beat. UND punted once all day and put up 507 yards of offense and 45 points. The flow was good, the timing was good, it was all good.
Since his poor outing in Cedar Falls, QB Tommy Schuster has been on a roll. Schuster went 18-23 for 279 yards and 5 TD’s. He did not turn the ball over. Tommy is getting UND in the correct RPO play consistently and it’s giving defenses fits this year. There is always a pass play attached to the run in UND’s offense but choosing when to run which is not easy for a QB. Tommy is doing quite well at it this season.
Schuster broke the UND all-time passing touchdown record in this game. He now has 61 in his career, passing Kelby Klosterman’s 59 TD’s. What a career!
The UND running game really took hold as the game wore on. Outside zone with some counter blocking help ignite RB Isaiah Smith, who ran like a man that wanted to show he is still the playmaker on this offense. Smith rushed 21 times for 155 yards and 1 TD. The offensive line played much better this week, IMO. Continuity is starting to settle in with that unit as there haven’t been many missed reps in that unit (knock on wood). The fullbacks and tight ends are also a major factor in the Hawks run success this season.
The touchdown pass to Jaden Norby was a beautiful play design. UND doesn’t throw to the tight ends much so leaking him out back across the formation was an easy throw for Schuster, as Norby was all alone in the flat for the 19 yard touchdown.
UND was an impressive 9-11 on third down.
Nick Kupfer was the touchdown-maker in this one with two big ones. Solid perimeter blocking (once again) from his fellow receiver Elijah Klein led to his first touchdown. The UND WR’s are really aggressive downfield blockers.
Defensively, it was another story. UND started out well forcing two punts and a field goal after a long drive. But the end of the first half touchdown with two secs left seemed to zap their energy a bit. That made the score 24-10 and much closer than it should’ve been heading into the locker room.
Speaking of before the half, I am not sure why UND called timeout with nine seconds left and a 4th down & 3 coming up at the 13 yard line. Murray had just completed a pass short of the sticks with around 33 secs left. They seemed disinterested in hurrying up to the line and also seemed confused about what to do. They began to lineup with about 11 secs left in the half and suddenly UND called timeout when Murray only had one timeout left. This then allowed Murray to run a quick play to get a first down and call timeout. Then, they ran another play, a quick slant, for a touchdown.
My issue is Murray didn’t even know what they were going to run. They lined up in a two receiver formation but were looking around – let them either run that disorganized play and have the half possibly run out or call timeout themselves. Just made little sense and killed all momentum UND had, as it turned out.
The defense is beat up. There is no lack of effort, don’t get me wrong. But they looked fatigued and their open field tackling showed it. Multiple times Murray ran a tunnel screen and the first UND defender missed the receiver for a short gain – it then went for a big gain.
Ben McNaboe didn’t play and it showed. UND tried to pressure all game but struggled to get home. When they did they would run right by QB D.J. Williams, who would take off dowfield. Just a bad combo. McNaboe is going to be out for awhile I am afraid, certainly won’t be back this week.
Matching up with 6’6″ tight end Cole Rusk ( three catches for 52 yards and two TD’s) proved to be an issue. He is a good player and UND’s linebackers were no match.
The 4th and 24 pass interference penalty was a killer for the UND defense. It was 31-10 and a stop there forces a field goal or punt. Instead, the Racers scored on the next play. Not sure what the safeties were doing and why. They were at 10 yards and not backing up, almost coming forward to catch the receiver. It’s 4th and 24. I am sure they were playing the call from the staff but what reasoning has us playing that close on 4th and 24 to where the guy can put one move on you and blow by? Plus, the linebackers weren’t trailing the slot WR/TE either. UND only rushed three (one spy) but didn’t seem to have any brackets going on at all. So essentially we were playing a loose man coverage with no underneath help pushing the receiver up-field. Odd to say the least. Even if we give them 23 yards we get the ball back.
Murray State was only 3-11 on third down but had 379 yards of offense and 31 points. Weird game.
It was great to see UND get their star true freshman involved. RB Sawyer Seidl looked electric with 7 carries for 49 yards (long of 22 yards). Fellow freshman Korey Tai ran a fly sweep around the end for 33 yards. DE Braden Mohr got some run in the absence of McNaboe.
C.J. Siegel and Luke Skokna both got dinged in this one and sat out after their injury. Both should be OK moving forward from what I heard after the game.
UND has all their goals right in front of them. Playoffs, a potential seed. Both are right there for the taking and that is all we can ask at this point. USD is a very good, sound, fundamental football team that will challenge UND greatly, especially their defense (physical). This game means a whole lot to both teams as the Yotes are fighting for a seed themselves.
Photos courtesy of Murray State Athletics.