North Dakota State
2-1 , 0-0
Arizona
2-1 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Arizona | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Arizona Holds Off North Dakota State, 31-28
9/18/2022 3:00:00 AM | Football
North Dakota State fullback Hunter Luepke rushed 18 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns and added three receptions for 65 yards and one score. The Bison (2-1) rushed for 283 yards - their third most against an FBS opponent - and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
Trailing 17-14 at halftime, NDSU's running game took over in the second half. The Bison went 76 yards in six plays on their second possession of the third quarter with TaMerik Williams breaking a 34-yard run followed by Dominic Gonnella's 19-yard carry to set up Luepke's 6-yard score to give NDSU its first lead of the night.
Arizona (2-1) appeared to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but a facemask penalty on the Bison extended the drive and the Wildcats scored six plays later on Jonah Coleman's 2-yard run to go ahead 24-21.
NDSU came back with a seven-play, 75-yard march with Luepke breaking out of a pile of tacklers for a 38-yard touchdown to put the Bison ahead 28-24 with 2:07 left in the third quarter.
Arizona missed a 43-yard field goal attempt on its next drive, but the Bison couldn't convert a fourth-and-2 at the Arizona 23. The Wildcats went 78 yards in 10 plays for the eventual winning score.
NDSU was 0-for-2 on fourth down and lost a fumble in the red zone, and Arizona answered all three of those possessions with touchdowns.
The Bison outgained Arizona 407-394 in total yards and had a slight edge in time of possession 31:18 to 28:42. NDSU had six penalties for 60 yards compared to one for 15 yards against Arizona.
NDSU quarterback Cam Miller went 10-for-12 passing for 124 yards with a 31-yard touchdown to Luepke in the first quarter. Tight end Noah Gindorff made three catches for 30 yards.
Bison linebacker James Kaczor made a game-high nine tackles while linebacker Nick Kubitz and cornerbacks Courtney Eubanks and Destin Talbert made five tackles each.
The loss snapped NDSU's six-game winning streak against FBS opponents dating back to 2010. North Dakota State is 9-4 against FBS competition.
North Dakota State is scheduled to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play against South Dakota at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D. The Coyotes are 1-2 after beating Cal Poly 38-21.
Team Stats
NDS 0, ARI 7
ARI - Wiley,Michael 6 yd run (Loop,Tyler kick), 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:45
NDS 7, ARI 7
NDS - Luepke,Hunter 31 yd pass from Miller,Cam (Crosa,Griffin kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:12
NDS 7, ARI 14
ARI - de Laura,Jayden 7 yd run (Loop,Tyler kick), 10 plays, 83 yards, TOP 04:44
NDS 14, ARI 14
NDS - Miller,Cam 2 yd run (Crosa,Griffin kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:55
NDS 14, ARI 17
ARI - Loop,Tyler 36 yd field goal 4 plays, 56 yards, TOP 00:50
NDS 21, ARI 17
NDS - Luepke,Hunter 6 yd run (Crosa,Griffin kick), 6 plays, 76 yards, TOP 02:45
NDS 21, ARI 24
ARI - Coleman,Jonah 2 yd run (Loop,Tyler kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:59
NDS 28, ARI 24
NDS - Luepke,Hunter 38 yd run (Crosa,Griffin kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:34
NDS 28, ARI 31
ARI - Cowing,Jacob 22 yd pass from de Laura,Jayden (Loop,Tyler kick) 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:06
