For the fifth time in the Bubba Schweigert era the UND Fighting Hawks are playoff bound.
It certainly wasn’t a masterpiece but once again, UND found a way to beat Illinois State 22-21. Nobody remembers how you won, just that you won. See Indiana State – did the committee hold it against them that it took overtime to win? Nope.
The Fighting Hawks now return to the extremely friendly Alerus Center to take on the 7-4 Sacramento State Hornets in the opening round of the FCS playoffs. Game time is set for 12:00 on Saturday.
Let’s review Illinois State – it sure as hell wasn’t sexy but it was effective. The Hawks defense played a bend but don’t break style. The offense was a bit disjointed at times but got some running game going and hit some intermediate shots, as well.
Tommy played alright in this one. He started out very slowly but came alive once the running game took hold on the inside. He went 14-22 for 169 yards and 1 TD. The interception was a hail mary at end of the half. My amateur eye told me Tommy missed a few RPO reads in this one. Bo was motioning back across the formation on one play and Tommy gave it to Isaiah Smith instead of pulling it and flipping it to Bo for easy yards. Little things like that need to be converted vs top defenses.
But, I will say that last drive by the Hawks offense was a masterpiece. 11 plays – 76 yards – 4:28. UND left only 25 seconds on the clock for ISU to attempt to move the ball into field goal range. Tommy did a nice job of converting intermediate passes along with scrambling several times for a total of 18 yards. His last run of 11 setup the Gaven Ziebarth touchdown.
Ziebarth was running like he did earlier in the season. Then Skokna came in and did the same. The entire building gets amped up when the inside running game gets on track. UND needs a further commitment to it, especially this weekend.
Illinois State was 10-18 on third down. The 10 conversion is not the best if you’re a UND fan but to get them to third down 18 times is alright. Now the Hawks defense needs to somehow, someway learn how to get off the field on third and long. It bit them again this week as ISU converted on 3rd and long multiple times, including a 4th and 12. That play UND brought the same look they ended the game with vs YSU last year – man-to-man with max pressure. Rittenhouse scrambled right and just flung it downfield trying to make anything happen – unfortunately two UND DB’s missed it as it came down. Those plays CANNOT happen, but they do keep happening and it must be driving Joel Schwenzfeier and staff crazy.
Redbirds QB Tommy Rittenhouse was a pain in the you-know-what all day. That kid is a player – fast, elusive and kept plays alive all game. He never got sacked but was hurried 10 times.
The extra point block by Josh Navratil obviously proved to be quite important! UND would’ve kicked their’s later on anyway but it allowed UND to have the lead at 22-21 and then attempt a two-point conversion.
Bo Belquist had a nice day with 8 catches for 72 yards. UND needs to emphasize the downfield passing game to Bo and Wes Eliodor. It seems to be there but does take some time and pass blocking hasn’t been UND’s strength this season. Run blocking definitely has.
Great to see Max Gunderson get a touchdown. Gunderson is typically a blocking tight end but the way ISU defended that play left him open in the end zone and he made a tough catch in traffic, plus getting hit.
I am hoping to see better run support out of the secondary this weekend. The two touchdown runs by ISU were both the result of UND not keeping leverage from the corner position. They were right there, unblocked, but didn’t even get a hand on the ball carrier.
That fourth down stop UND got in the third quarter was big. ISU was at the UND 23 and went to their bell cow Mason Blakemore on 4th and 2. UND walled it well, as they did most of the game on the inside, and stopped them short. The Hawks scored on the next series.
I wasn’t real excited about going for two once we went up 16-9 on that series. This game was a rock fight. Points are at a premium but our defense isn’t lights out or anything. So going up by two scores (18-9 vs 17-9) doesn’t damn near guarantee victory or anything. I would’ve preferred they kick the XP and make it an 8 point game, putting the onus on ISU to go for two.
Moving on! The Hornets will be coming to the Alerus Center in a battle of 7-4’s. Sac State has slowed down as the season progressed but is still very talented. They beat Stanford earlier this year and also beat Southland champ Nicholls State.
Sac State averages 30 per game and gives up 26. My initial tape reviews show a susceptibility to be run on, especially inside. Great news for the home team. Their secondary is solid, led by former UND corner Caleb Nelson.
Photos courtesy of Russell Hons and UND Athletics