FARGO, N.D.--The Gold defeated the Green 28-21 in the annual North Dakota State University Spring Football game played before a crowd of 1,873 in the Fargodome. It is the largest spring football crowd in over two decades.
Jose Mohler and Brock Jensen each completed three touchdown passes, wide receiver Justin Howard caught six passes for 120 yards and two TDs, tight end Matt Veldman hauled in four passes for 130 yards and two scores, while cornerback Brendin Pierre came up with two interceptions and a pass breakup.
The Gold and Green offenses combined for 524 yards and 49 points, double that of the previous spring games of 10-0 in 2009 and 14-3 in 2008.
Mohler completed 11 of 20 passes for 124 yards. He had a pair of TD passes for the Gold, a 31-yard strike to Howard and a 13-yarder to tight end Austin Vetter. Mohler connected with Veldman on a 14-yard scoring play to open the game to complete a seven-play, 63 yard drive.
Jensen completed 8 of 11 passes for 200 yards. He tossed a 41-yard scoring pass to Howard and the Gold team, and with the Green hooked up with Veldman for a 50-yard scoring play in the third quarter and a 16-yard TD pass to tight end Landon Smith with 5:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jensen directed the Green to the 4-yard line as time expired in the fourth period.
Dante Perez completed 8 of 15 passes for 54 yards with one interception. He connected on a 41-yard pass play to Veldman. Nine different receivers caught a pass during the afternoon.
Redshirt freshman Derrick Lang led all rushers with 78 yards and one TD on 16 carries for the Gold. D.J. McNorton led the Green with 42 yards on six carries.
Defensive end Cole Jirik led the Green defense with five tackles and a pair of sacks, while linebacker Dillon Forbes added five tackles and a sack. Free safety Daniel Eaves topped the Gold defenders with six tackles and added a pass breakup.
