5 things you might've missed in UND's 42-21 loss to North Dakota State
Nov. 20—FARGO — UND closed the regular season with a 42-21 loss to North Dakota State on Saturday.
Here are five things you might've missed during the game.
UND made a last-minute change to its starting lineup this week.
Starting right tackle Seth Anderson, a transfer from North Dakota State, didn't dress against the Bison.
Sam Hagen, who started the season opener at the University of Nebraska, started in Anderson's place.
The reason for Anderson's absence isn't yet know, although a number of UND players missed practice this week due to illness.
During the game, UND didn't appear to suffer many injuries. Linebacker Wyatt Pedigo and safety Kadon Kauppinen received some medical attention during the game but both players returned to the game.
North Dakota native Bo Belquist, whose dad played at North Dakota State, has played well against the Bison in his career.
His 102 yards receiving on Saturday were a season-high.
In the fall of 2021, the New Rockford, N.D., native had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown against NDSU.
In the spring of 2021, Belquist had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown against NDSU.
In 2022, Belquist closes the regular season catching at least three passes in every game. He has 61 catches for 790 yards and six touchdowns.
After NDSU had already taken a 14-0 lead and UND coughed up a turnover, the Bison used a fortunate bounce to balloon the lead to three scores.
From midfield, Bison quarterback Cam Miller lofted a deep ball that was perfectly defended by UND cornerback Edmund Ocansey.
However, the ball bounced off Ocansey's shoulder pads or helmet area and into the arms of the unintended receiver Logan Hofstedt.
The catch was a 29-yard gain and set up NDSU's third score.
"We were pretty lucky," NDSU coach Matt Entz said. "It's an oblong ball and doesn't bounce true ... he only made that catch because he plays hard. He was in a route and playing full-speed. If not playing full speed, he wouldn't have the opportunity to make it."
The Fighting Hawks struggled to keep the Bison within reach much of the game, but the UND special teams provided another opportunity to get back in the game.
Early in the fourth quarter, trailing 41-21, the Bison had the ball in the red zone and looked to settle for a 25-yard field goal.
UND cornerback C.J. Siegel, however, blocked the kick. Siegel also blocked a key extra point last week against South Dakota.
On the block, UND cornerback Edmund Ocansey had an opportunity to scoop the ball and possibly score but he whiffed on the grab and the Bison recovered.
UND went three-and-out offensively in the resulting offensive series.
After a Quincy Vaughn touchdown run in the third quarter to cut the NDSU lead to 35-21, the Fighting Hawks nearly flipped momentum with a defensive play.
Bison quarterback Cam Miller threw a quick pass to the outside, which was jumped by UND corner Devin Hembry, who was able to cause the incompletion but nearly had the interception for an easy pick-six.
"Even as tough as it was, we had an opportunity for a little pick-six," UND coach Bubba Schweigert said. "It was about 10 feet from me. You step in front and take that one in ... you just have to make those plays down the stretch in November football. Proud of our guys, think we fought, but obviously disappointed we didn't perform better today."
