You wanted UND to win a road game. You wanted UND to show they can score points vs. a good defense. Well, you got them both on Saturday!
The Hawks went on the road into a hostile environment and came away with a 35-30 win over the Youngstown Penguins. UND is now 4-0 all-time vs YSU.
The win raises the Hawks record to 4-2 on the season and more importantly to 3-1 in the MVFC. Let’s remember – UND has three more home games to go along with a road game at Indiana State. A real chance for four more wins.
UND has a well-timed bye this coming week.
If you haven’t made it out the Alerus Center yet I would advise you to hit the next home game as this team is fun as hell to watch. Oh, and the #2 team in the country is coming to town in the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Yes, please!
I am having a blast watching this team play. The style of offense is wildly entertaining. The defense brings a ton of pressure creating havoc and forcing downfield throws. The return game is strong.
I was bullish on this squad preseason, unlike most everyone else. I predicted 7-4 and playoffs. The reason was is they seem to get along so well. Everything seems to flow – no turnovers, very few penalties, lots of group celebrations and high fives. You can tell when a team is playing for the name on the front of the uniform and the school they represent.
UND gained 387 total yards in the game vs a defense that was giving up 40 yards less than that per game. UND scored 35 points vs. a YSU defense that was only allowing 21 per game.
The UND screen game has really taken hold this season. Our old colleague at UNDFB360, Craig Riendeau, was asking for a RB screen game for 10 years! Well, Craig, you finally got your screen game and it is glorious.
Isaiah Smith is the main man in the screen game and has proven to be a lightning fast, sure-handed open field threat. He took another screen to the house this week from 32 yards out. He ended the game with 90 yards on only three catches. Smith is the perfect compliment to the rugged, inside running of Tyler Hoosman.
Tommy Schuster was solid, once again. That’s six straight games of solid, high-end QB play from Schuster. He ended the day 20-31 for 292 yards and 2 TD. Once again, zero INT’s. He missed two deep throws to Jack Wright and Bo Belquist, yes, but I will take the throws he did make and run with it.
The Hawks offensive line played alright again. Not dominating but better than average. We knew the YSU front was going to be good and they were. The inside running was tough to establish all game but UND simply went to the outside and got their yards. YSU did get two sacks but the second one was Tommy not wanting to make a mistake late in the game so he laid down.
I am in a love/hate process right now with the UND defense – LOL. They look good, fit stuff up, tackle well for a drive. Then the next drive the opposing offense goes right down the field with little resistance. They will give up a few drives like that in a row before suddenly buckling down again.
But, what I am seeing is this defense seems to gel and gain confidence as games go on into the 4th quarter. They came up with a 3-and-out early in the fourth, gave up a long TD drive to make it 35-30, but then got the BIG stop on the final drive of the game to seal it. This tells me they are a work in progress, which we all know to be true. It’s getting there.
The last two plays of the game DC Brett Holinka brought seven guys on an all-out blitz. He basically said we aren’t letting QB Mitch Davidson sit back and find his preferred route. Now, that’s really ballsy at the same time because your secondary is 1-on-1 across the board. Somebody slips, whiffs, whatever and it’s off to the races. Luckily for UND that didn’t happen as CB C.J. Siegel made an impressive open field tackle on YSU’s best WR, Bryce Oliver (8-88 yards and 1 TD), to seal the victory.
The game winner was provided by a guy you all would expect to win a big road game for UND – freshman safety Cole Davis :). Davis blocked a 4th quarter punt and scooped it up and ran it the short distance into the end zone to give UND a 11 point lead. That play was pivotal as YSU marched down the field shortly after to pull within five.
I would’ve loved for UND to take a timeout when they had YSU backed up on their 27 yard line. The Penguins decided to go for it on 4th and 5 with under seven minutes remaining. A stop there and the game is over. But YSU converted and went on to score a TD.
Photo courtesy of Youngstown State Athletics