Bison defender Hunter Luepke ran for three touchdowns to fuel a 34-13 victory against University of North Dakota runner-up in the Missouri Valley Football Conference game.
Bison (5-1, 4-1 MVFC) extended their winning streak at home to 32 games, handing UND (4-1, 4-1) their first loss this season. NDSU has a 3-0 record against the Fighting Hawks during the NCAA Division I FCS era. The teams were playing as opponents of the conference for the first time since 2003, when both programs were in Division II.
“We are not where we need to be, but we are moving forward,” said coach Matt Entz of Bison.
Bison ran for more than 316 yards in 54 attempts against MVFC’s top run defense. UND was allowing 85.2 yards per game on Saturday. Luepke ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns in 28 attempts, playing in his first game this spring. The 1.80 meter, 100 kilogram Luepke had lost the previous four games due to a shoulder injury.
“It all starts with our guys at the front,” said Entz. “If we can’t win the scrimmage line, it doesn’t matter how good your back is.”
Bison’s senior quarterback, Zeb Noland, started a decision that was not known until moments after the start of the game. Earlier in the week, Entz did not name a definitive starting QB. The true freshman Cam Miller also played against the Fighting Hawks. Noland completed 5 of 13 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Luepke pushed Bison’s lead to two touchdowns at the end of the third quarter. He fired into the end zone in a 5-yard TD race that gave NDSU a 28-13 lead with 4 minutes and 38 seconds to play in the third. He had eight runs on that 14-game, 75-yard course that he completed with his third consecutive game score.
“I love playing great games, so I was ready to go,” said Luepke.
Griffin Crosa added a 41-yard field goal that gave Bison a 31-13 lead with 14:05 to play in the fourth period.
UND started the second half with a scoring boost, which started on his own 45-yard line after Luke Skokna’s 41-yard initial comeback. Fighting Hawks used six moves to cover the 55 yards and took advantage of an NDSU offside penalty in a fourth move to 1. Bo Belquist crowned the campaign with a 21-yard TD welcome from quarterback Tommy Schuster to reduce the advantage of the Bison for 21-13 with 12:01 to play in the third quarter.
Luepke gave the attack Bison an early shake-up, scoring in a 55-yard touchdown run on his first run attempt during the spring season. This gave NDSU a 7-0 lead with 14:10 to play in the first quarter. This explosion of score culminated in a 75-yard, 4-stroke touchdown attempt to open the game.
Otis Weah later responded in the first quarter with a 74-yard touchdown run that reduced Bison’s lead to 7-6 with 4:47 to play in the first. UND kicker Adam Stage missed the extra point. Weah’s long TD run came after an interception by Hayden Galvin.
Luepke was the workhorse in the NDSU’s second scoring campaign. He crowned that march with an 8-yard TD run that gave Bison a 14-6 with 11:11 to play in the second quarter. This completed a course of 16 moves and 82 yards. Luepke carried the ball seven times in that onslaught and ended the semester with 100 running yards and two scores on 11 loads.
Bison ended his strong offensive with a long pass. Noland nailed the wide receiver Christian Watson for a 63-yard touchdown that gave NDSU a 21-6 lead with 1:06 to play until the break. Bison had 293 yards in 38 plays in the first two quarters. O had 12 first casualties in the range.