North Dakota State
2-7 , 1-6
Nebraska-Omaha
5-5 , 4-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 42 |
| Nebraska Omaha | 10 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 49 |
Nebraska-Omaha Outlasts North Dakota State In Shootout 49-42
11/9/2002 6:00:00 AM | Football
OMAHA, Neb.--Saturday's 49-42 North Central Conference victory by the University of Nebraska-Omaha over North Dakota State University was a tale of two halves.
UNO (5-5 NCC, 4-3) rolled up 426 yards in total offense and stormed into halftime with a 34-7 lead. The Bison (2-7 NCC, 1-6) had 408 yards the second half and pulled to within 40-35 before Nick Pearson returned an interception 22 yards for a score and Troy Severson added a 39-yard field goal with 2:08 left to give the Mavs some breathing room.
For the game, NDSU had 578 yards in total offense as quarterback Graig Gorder completed 27 of 42 passes for 416 yards and four scores. Marques Johnson had five catches for 180 yards and a touchdown.
UNO had 558 yards of offense, with quarterback Brian Masek passing 16-for-22 for 283 yards and two touchdowns. James E. Johnson also rushed for 162 yards on 28 carries. Ryan Krause caught 8 passes for 117 yards and Chris Denney three for 112.
Despite the huge Bison offensive output the second half, it was two defensive plays by the Mavericks which spelled the difference. Linebacker Taiwo Onatolu picked off a tipped pass by Gorder and returned it 37 yards for a score midway through the third quarter and a 40-14 lead.
After the Bison scored three times in just over 11 minutes to pull within 40-35, Pearson plucked a bobbled pass out of the air and returned it 22 yards for a score with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter and a 46-35 lead. Severson's field goal, his third of the game, came with 2:08 left and give UNO a 49-35 edge.
The Bison had one more gasp left, and Gorder connected with Johnson on a 68-yard scoring play with 19 seconds remaining. The Mavs' Krause recovered NDSU's onside kickoff to seal the win.
Eight of the 12 touchdowns scored in the game came from 20 yards or more.
North Dakota State is scheduled to close out the 2002 season at home against St. Cloud State University (5-2 NCC, 8-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Fargodome. The Huskies defeated the University of New Haven 51-7 on Saturday.
Team Stats
NDSU 0, OMAHA 3
OMAHA - Troy Severson 24 yd field goal 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:56
NDSU 0, OMAHA 10
OMAHA - Ryan Krause 38 yd pass from Brian Masek (Troy Severson kick) 8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 3:11
NDSU 0, OMAHA 17
OMAHA - Brian Masek 24 yd run (Troy Severson kick), 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:32
NDSU 0, OMAHA 20
OMAHA - Troy Severson 52 yd field goal 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:41
NDSU 0, OMAHA 27
OMAHA - James E Johnson 6 yd run (Troy Severson kick), 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:28
NDSU 7, OMAHA 27
NDSU - Graig Gorder 1 yd run (Cory Vartanian kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:04
NDSU 7, OMAHA 34
OMAHA - Chris Denney 45 yd pass from Brian Masek (Troy Severson kick) 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:20
NDSU 14, OMAHA 34
NDSU - E. Belquist 9 yd pass from Graig Gorder (Cory Vartanian kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:52
NDSU 14, OMAHA 40
OMAHA - Taiwo Onatolu 37 yd interception (Troy Severson kickfailed)
NDSU 21, OMAHA 40
NDSU - Charles Wiest 20 yd pass from Graig Gorder (Cory Vartanian kick) 6 plays, 95 yards, TOP 2:45
NDSU 28, OMAHA 40
NDSU - E. Belquist 21 yd pass from Graig Gorder (Cory Vartanian kick) 6 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:15
NDSU 35, OMAHA 40
NDSU - Darrin O'Leary 3 yd run (Cory Vartanian kick), 2 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:18
NDSU 35, OMAHA 46
OMAHA - Nick Pearson 22 yd interception (Brian Masek passfailed)
NDSU 35, OMAHA 49
OMAHA - Troy Severson 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 26 yards, TOP 3:31
NDSU 42, OMAHA 49
NDSU - Marques Johnson 68 yd pass from Graig Gorder (Cory Vartanian kick) 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:49
