In what was another comeback for the ages, UND rallied from a 21 point deficit in the 3rd quarter to beat Northern Arizona 38-31 and wrap up a share of their first ever Big Sky Championship.  

UND went undefeated (8-0) in conference play.  Also, this secures a spot in the playoffs, a home game and possibly a 1st round bye with a top 8 seed.

UND scored 28 unanswered points in the second half behind a QB who was playing with a damn-near broken throwing shoulder.  Twice, Keaton Studsrud laid down on the turf in pain and then had to be helped off the field on Saturday.

However, to his credit and to demonstrate what a tough SOB he is, Studsrud came back into the game both times.  No question the team noticed and fed off of it.  That kid is something else.

The team as a whole needs these next two weeks off in a bad way.  To sum up their injuries right now (not including guys that are already done for year):

  • QB Keaton Studsrud:  throwing shoulder is hurting bad.  AC joint.
  • LT A.J. Stockwell:  Shoulder (played 2-3 plays on Saturday and left game)
  • LT/RT Michael Coe:  Ankle (didn’t practice all week and gutted it out Saturday)
  • C Patric Rooney:  Ankle
  • RT Dan Bell:  Ankle
  • DE Austin Cieslak:  Shoulder (bad shape and played with one arm, essentially)
  • LB Taj Rich:  Knee (may be back for playoffs)
  • WR Luke Stanley:  Knee (may be back for playoffs)

The UND offense actually dressed two true freshmen OL in Ryan Tobin and Noah Mortel, just in case.  That is how beat up the OL is.  This time off is going to be huge for that unit.

Now onto the game……

  • Northern Arizona was the best team UND played this year.  They were solid up front on both sides of the ball, had outstanding WR’s, smart QB in Blake Kemp, and very active linebackers.  That team would make some noise in the playoffs but is going to come up short of qualifying.
  • Total Offense:  NAU 544  UND 424.
  • UND ran the ball 39 times for 170 yards.  We expected more but a combination of a beat-up UND OL and a solid NAU defensive front held them down a bit.
  • Turnovers:  NAU 4  UND 0.
  • Points off turnovers:  NAU 0   UND 21.  There is your stat of the game.
  • The UND offensive line gutted it out all game and actually got better as game went on, somehow.  When they just went to pass blocking to get back into the game, the offensive line seemed to get more confidence.  Keaton Studsrud had time to pass all 4th quarter and that is big factor in their ability to make the comeback.
  • QB Keaton Studsrud played poorly through three quarters.  Rust had something to do with it since he was coming off an injury.  But, when it was nut-cutting time he stepped up and took over the game.  What a gamer Studsrud is.  The multiple long throws he made to Demun Mercer and Noah Wanzek were damn near perfect.
  • Studsrud hitting Demun Mercer for a first down on 2nd and 30 was a huge play in the game.  Mercer and NAU CB #29 Khalil Dorsey were going at it in the 4th quarter.  Very aggressive hand-fighting by both and actually both of them won a handful of battles.
  • Studsrud ended the game 13-34 for 252 yards and 1 TD.
  • Our game ball goes to special team coordinator Shawn Kostich.
  • We have gotten after the special teams a few times this year but they flat-out won the game for UND on Saturday.  The punt coverage team forced TWO fumbles and both were  big plays in the game, with the second allowing UND to immediately come back out and score a TD to pull UND within seven points.
  • The kickoff coverage team was outstanding all day.  NAU averaged a paltry 17 yds/return.  Huge being able to make a high-powered offense go 80+ yards to score.
  • The UND defense had major issues slowing down NAU in the first 35 minutes of the game.  Once the game reached 31-10, NAU never scored again and UND was able to keep giving the ball back their offense.
  • The coverage early by the UND secondary wasn’t terrible but they kept losing 50/50 balls.  There were a couple post routes that could have been broken up but the NAU WR fought off the defender and came up with it.  Credit to them.
  • CB Deion Harris did it again.  In what was pretty much the exact same play as the USD game, Harris jumped a short hitch route and returned it for a TD, this time to win the game.  Harris now has five INT’s on the year with three of them going for TD.
  • LB Connor O’Brien got into the act with a beautiful, diving INT in the first half.
  • We are noticing more confidence and development by true freshman corner Evan Holm.  He’s beginning to be in the picture more on playing the ball in the air.  Also, on the long screen TD pass in the 1st half, Holm ran down the WR from the backside and attempted to dive at the last second.  He didn’t get him down, but he almost made NAU snap it again.  The speed and effort from the backside was impressive.  Huge teaching moment for Holm and the UND defense there.
  • Just another day at the office for Big Sky officiating crews.  It was terrible and they seemed to lose control for awhile there when the game started to move faster.
  • December 3rd.  Mark it on your calendar.  That is when UND’s next game should be (if they get a Top 8 seed).  See you all at the Alerus Center.

 

Feature Image courtesy of:  Shawna Noel Schill, UND Division of University & Public Affairs