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OGDEN, Utah (Sep. 1, 2016) – Through three quarters against the Stony Brook Seawolves, it appeared that North Dakota was playing Fighting Hawks football, using a physical defense and strong run game to push forward.
However, one special teams miscue cost the Fighting Hawks, as a blocked punt led to a Stony Brook touchdown, and a
13-9 loss for North Dakota at Stony Brook.
With 8:52 left in the game, Stony Brook’s Kye Morgan returned a blocked Austin Dussold punt seven yards for the score, changing the momentum in a game that was a see-saw contest from the beginning.
The game was tied at 0-0 until the 14:22 mark of the second quarter, when North Dakota’s John Santiago scored on a 16-yard run, giving the Fighting Hawks a 7-0 lead. Stony Brook would counter, as Cal Daniels returned a UND fumble on the goal line for a score to tie the game.
North Dakota’s Cole Reyes recorded a safety early in the third quarter, giving the Fighting Hawks a 9-7 advantage that would stand until Stony Brook’s fourth quarter score.
The game was light on offense, as North Dakota had 177 total yards of offense. Santiago finished with 51 rushing yards, and a score.
Idaho 20, Montana State 17 – One of the Big Sky’s most maligned defensive units in 2015 showed its 2016 version could change the conversation about Montana State football.
The Bobcats shutout the Idaho Vandals in the second half of their season opener, giving MSU a chance to upset a former-and-future league foe, while earning a win over an FBS opponent. However, a lack of offensive production cost the Bobcats a win, as they fell 20-17 to the Vandals in Moscow.
After an early Idaho field goal, the Bobcats took the lead on a 12-yard pass from Tyler Bruggman to Justin Paige, giving Montana State a 7-3 lead with 8:17 left in the first quarter. However, Idaho responded, scoring just 39 seconds later to reclaim the lead.
Montana State hit a field goal late in the second quarter, trailing 20-10 at halftime. Then, with 9:22 left in the game, Chad Newell scored on a three-yard rush, cutting the deficit to three. Unfortunately, the Bobcats could never sustain the momentum, with Idaho running out the clock late.
Montana State controlled time of possession (35:53), and forced two Vandals turnovers. The Bobcats finished with 305 yards of offense, compared to Idaho’s 353 yards of offense.
Utah 24, Southern Utah 0 – On a windy night in Salt Lake City, the defending #BigSkyFB champs did more than hold their own against a team that is a dark-horse candidate to win the Pac-12 Conference.
However, a lack of offensive production kept Southern Utah from making a serious charge against the University of Utah, as the Utes bested the Thunderbirds, 24-0.
The Thunderbirds limited the Utes to 138 rushing yards, but gave up 298 passing yards in the game. Conversely, Southern Utah struggled to mount an offensive charge, with quarterback McCoy Hill missing portions of the game after getting roughed up in the first half.
Southern Utah’s most promising drive of the game came in the first quarter, after the Thunderbirds held Utah to a field goal after the Utes had first-and-goal from the six-yard line. The Thunderbirds’ Ty Rutledge broke free at midfield, before having the ball stripped from behind.
Utah’s Tim Patrick finished with two touchdowns, on five catches. Southern Utah’s Malik Brown rushed for 49 yards.
Utah State 45, Weber State 6 - The Weber State Wildcats trailed early in their season opener against FBS Utah State, and never recovered, as the Aggies rolled to a home win over their in-state foe.
The Aggies led 21-6 at halftime, and scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. Weber’s lone score came on a Treshawn Garrett one-yard touchdown run at the end of the second quarter.
The Wildcats’ defense allowed 528 yards of offense, while gaining just 245 yards. Garrett rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.