FARGO, N.D.--Matt Voigtlander and Victor Schuring hooked up on a 35-yard scoring play and Kevin Jackson picked off a pass and recovered a fumble as the Green edged the Gold 10-0 in the annual North Dakota State University spring football game played before a crowd of 1,742 in the Fargodome.
The game ended spring drills for the Bison football team. The teams played two 12-minute quarters at normal pace and a pair of 12-minute running time periods.
The Green, which was comprised of the first defense and second offense, struck with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Nick Mertens pitched to Voigtlander, who then found Schuring down the right sideline for the 35-yard TD pass. The scoring play capped a six play, 78-yard drive that covered 3:49.
The Green ran the two-minute offense to score with 10 seconds left in the first half. John Obarski hit a 45-yard field goal to put the finishing touches on a nine play, 49-yard drive that took 1:28 off the clock. Mertens completed passes to Reed Duchscher, Schuring and Teddy Greenprice for 16, 15 and 16 yards to highlight the drive.
Jackson led the Green defense with eight tackles including eight solos. He forced and recovered a fumble to stop one drive and also picked off a pass.
Linebacker Matt Anderson finished with three tackles including one tackle for loss and stopped a Gold scoring drive late in the fourth quarter with an interception. Fellow linebackers, Preston Evans had six tackles including a thundering solo, while Matt Kittelson had five stops including a sack. The Green finished with five tackles for loss and five pass breakups overall.
Mertens, who took all 77 snaps under center, completed 18 of 39 passes for 246 yards and two interceptions. Transfer Sidney Haynes caught four passes for 86 yards including a long reception of 47 yards for the Gold. Schuring also made four receptions for 82 yards.
Voigtlander led all running backs with 39 yards on nine carries and Drew Hushka had 32 yards on six carries for the Green offense. Pat Paschall had 10 rushes for 28 yards.
Along with Obarski's field goal, the special teams received a 64 yard kickoff return from Daniel Flomo and 20 yard punt return from Josh Horner.
