Youngstown State Athletics photo credit
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (UND Athletics)– No. 7 North Dakota (5-3, 2-2 MVFC) suffered a 41-40 decision in overtime at Youngstown State (3-6, 2-3 MVFC) on Saturday night. North Dakota scored a touchdown to bring the tally to 41-40 but opted to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt that landed incomplete. Youngstown State did a good job containing Quincy Vaughn on the try and did not leave any open receivers for him to throw it to.
Prior to the two-point conversion, Simon Romfo found Bo Belquist for the one-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 41-40. UND’s overtime possession was highlighted by a Romfo 24-yard rush on 3rd & 12 from the YSU 27.
In the game, Belquist hauled in a game-high 10 catches for 105 yards. With his 10 grabs, he brought his career receptions total up to 250 and broke the all-time school record for receptions in a career. He broke the record of Weston Dressler (2004-07), who hauled in 243 grabs in his career. Belquist broke the record with a seven-yard grab on 3rd & 2 from the YSU 49 late in the first quarter. With his 105 yards receiving, Belquist recorded his 10th 100-yard receiving game of his career.
Romfo was stellar throughout the game and finished 19-for-24 passing for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 24 yards rushing in the game.
Isaiah Smith was the top Hawk in the backfield with nine carries for 63 yards, while also hauling in a 19-yard touchdown grab. Gaven Ziebarth added a trio of rushing touchdowns and picked up 33 yards on 15 touches.
Malachi McNeal led the UND defensive effort with nine tackles (eight solo), a pair of tackles-for-loss and a sack. Avery Scott had an interception and Tyler Erkman recovered a fumble to help the Hawks finish +2.0 in turnover margin.
In overtime, North Dakota elected to go on defense first. The Penguins made it all the way down to the UND 1 before being held to 4th & goal from the one-yard line. Tyshon King scored the touchdown on the next play to give YSU the 41-34 edge.
In the final quarter of regulation, Ziebarth scored on a two-yard touchdown run to put the Fighting Hawks back on top at 34-31 with 9:13 left in the game. The two teams traded possessions until Andrew Lastovka connected on a 35-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime at the end of regulation. Lastovka’s kick capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive.
After intermission, North Dakota was held to a punt on its first drive that Youngstown State fumbled on the return and was recovered by Tyler Erkman at the YSU 19. Three plays later, Belquist put the Hawks back on top with a six-yard touchdown reception to bring the score to 27-21. The Penguins reclaimed the lead at 31-27 by the end of the third quarter after a two-yard touchdown run from Beau Brungard made the score 28-27 with just under five minutes left in the third stanza and a Lastovka 34-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the quarter made the score 31-27.
Youngstown State held a 21-20 edge on the scoreboard at the break. The Penguins scored on a seven-yard Brungard pass to Cyrus Traugh to lead 7-0 to cap a 75-play drive that consumed the first 6:13 of clock. North Dakota responded on its first drive and evened up the score at 7-7 with 4:47 left in the quarter on a 75-play drive of its own that was ended with a five-yard Ziebarth rushing touchdown.
Just two plays after NoDak’s score, Scott put the Hawks back in business with an interception at the YSU 41. Moments later, Ziebarth scored his second touchdown of the evening, this time from one-yard out to put the Hawks on top at 13-7 early in the second quarter. Brungard gave the lead back to the Penguins at the midway point of the quarter with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. With just over a minute to go in the half, Smith hauled in a 19-yard touchdown reception from Romfo to bring the tally to 20-14 in favor of UND. YSU went 72 yards over the next 1:09 and headed into the break with the 21-20 lead after a 28-yard rushing touchdown from Brungard.
In the opening half, YSU had 167 yards rushing, highlighted by Brungard rushing for 97 yards and two scores. Brungard was also 7-for-11 for 64 yards and a touchdown. UND had 223 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes, led by 159 yards through the air. Romfo was 12-for-13 for 159 yards and a touchdown in the half.
North Dakota will visit Indiana State on Saturday. The Fighting Hawks and Sycamores will square off at Noon (CT). The game will air on ESPN+ and will be carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
Postgame Notes
- North Dakota leads the all-time series, 4-1.
- As MVFC opponents, the Fighting Hawks hold a 2-1 series edge.
- In school history, UND is now 8-4 in overtime games. It was also North Dakota’s first overtime loss in its Division I history.
- North Dakota is now 11-11 under Coach Schweigert in games kicking after 5 p.m. in the central time zone.
- With 10 receptions, Bo Belquist moved his career total up to 250 receptions and now owns the all-time school record for receptions in a career. He broke the record of Weston Dressler (2004-07), who hauled in 243 grabs in his career. Belquist broke the record with a seven-yard grab on 3rd & 2 from the YSU 49 late in the first quarter.
- Belquist’s 105 yards receiving was good for his 10th 100-yard receiving game of his career.
- Through the first three quarters, Simon Romfo was 15-for-16 for 180 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The only incomplete pass was a drop. He finished 19-for-24 passing for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
- Early in the fourth quarter, UND faced 4th & 1 from the YSU 3 and Quincy Vaughn picked up the first down. He is now 8-for-8 rushing in short yardage situations and 6-for-6 on fourth downs.
- Gaven Ziebarth scored three rushing touchdowns. UND’s last player with three rushing touchdowns in a game was Ziebarth in the 49-24 win over North Dakota State on Oct. 14, 2023.
- YSU’s Beau Brungard rushed 18 times for 176 yards and three scores. He was also 8-for-12 passing for 72 yards and a touchdown while surrendering one interception.
- It was Youngstown State’s first win over a top-10 ranked opponent since defeating No. 6 Illinois State at Stambaugh Stadium in 2019.
- In the game, the Penguins had 351 yards rushing and 334 yards passing. Comparatively, the Fighting Hawks accumulated 212 yards through the air and 144 yards on the ground.
How It Happened
First Quarter
8:47 – YSU | Cyrus Traugh scores on a 7-yard pass from Beau Brungard. (Andrew Lastovka kick). 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:13.
4:47 – UND | Gaven Ziebarth scores on a 5-yard rush. (C.J. Elrichs kick). 7 plays, 75 yards, 4:00.
Second Quarter
13:04 – UND | Ziebarth scores on a 1-yard rush. (Elrichs miss). 11 plays, 59 yards, 5:51.
7:03 – YSU | Brungard scores on a 13-yard rush. (Lastovka kick). 10 plays, 86 yards, 5:53.
1:15 – UND | Isaiah Smith scores on a 19-yard pass from Simon Romfo. (Elrichs kick). 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:43.
0:06 – YSU | Brungard scores on a 28-yard rush. (Lastovka kick). 8 plays, 72 yards, 1:09.
Third Quarter
10:06 – UND | Bo Belquist scores on a 6-yard pass from Romfo. (Elrichs kick). 3 plays, 19 yards, 1:22.
4:49 – YSU | Brungard scores on a 2-yard rush. (Lastovka kick). 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:17.
0:13 – YSU | Lastovka connects on a 34-yard field goal. 4 plays, 8 yards, 2:10.
Fourth Quarter
9:13 – UND | Ziebarth scores on a 2-yard rush. (Elrichs kick). 13 plays, 65 yards, 6:00.
0:12 – YSU | Lastovka connects on a 35-yard field goal.
Overtime
YSU Possession | Tyshon King scores on a 1-yard rush. (Lastovka kick). 5 plays, 25 yards.
UND Possession | Belquist scores on a 1-yard pass from Romfo. (Conversion unsuccessful.) 5 plays, 25 yards.
Game Recap: Football | | Tyler Wells, FightingHawks.com
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