North Dakota mashes Bengals to earn Potato Bowl victory

POCATELLO — Head coach Cody Hawkins said his discourtesy linemen “played their nuts off” successful a season-opening, hard-fought nonaccomplishment to Oregon State. Idaho State University linemen shined again erstwhile nan Bengals hit Western Oregon past week.

On Saturday, nan University of North Dakota defense had its measurement pinch that portion — astatine slightest successful nan first half. The consequence was a 52-28 drubbing astatine nan hands of nan Fighting Hawks (2-1)

Senior backmost Kobe Tracy spent overmuch of his clip connected nan section successful Grand Forks scrambling for his life. He was sacked conscionable doubly but seemed to beryllium connected his backmost aft each walk attempt.

Making matters acold worse for nan Bengals (1-2), Tracy was stripped some times he was brought down, and some fumbles were recovered by nan Fighting Hawks. And aft 1 of nan hits he endured, Tracy suffered an wounded superior capable to nonstop him to nan chair temporarily.

Jackson Sharman came successful for 2 snaps, hading nan first off. His lone walk effort of nan crippled was made crossed nan field, from nan near hash to nan correct sideline. As is often nan case, that walk was picked and returned for UND a protect touchdown.

ISU’s struggles were not contained to nan violative broadside of nan ball. After forcing a three-and-out connected their first effort, nan Bengal defense struggled to moreover slow nan Fighting Hawks, who scored connected 3 consecutive possessions — not including nan pick-six — and jumped retired to a 38-0 lead.

Down huge, Hawkins went to nan much mobile quarterback, Hunter Hays.

Tracy had completed conscionable six of his 18 walk attempts for 72 yards, and Sharman did not spot nan section again. Wide receiver Adam Watts attempted 1 propulsion connected a reverse walk — completing it for 15 yards.

Hays, though, ignited nan discourtesy pinch some his legs and arm.

He completed 18 of 23 attempts for 206 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding 62 rushing yards.

While Tracy struggled nether nan unit of a collapsing pocket, Hays seemed to relish it. Things do look to loosen up connected some sides erstwhile nan people is what it was, however, truthful Hays whitethorn person benefitted from that a spot arsenic well.

Regardless of nan situation, Hays’ expertise to lead nan discourtesy to 4 scores added respectability to nan last score.

Wide receiver Jeff Weimer hauled successful six catches for 92 yards and 2 scores — including a perfectly thrown 30-yarder from Hays that dropped perfectly into Weimer’s hands to hit a declined protect walk interference penalty.

North Dakota was paced by elder wideout Bo Belquist, who group a schoolhouse Division I profession receptions grounds en way to a eight-catch, 165-yard performance. He added a touchdown, nan Fighting Hawks’ past of nan day.

UND improved to 46-12 all-time successful nan Potato Bowl. ISU past won nan rivalry crippled successful 2018.