Spring 2021: UND Preview

The Jacks finally get to face the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks as conference foes.  UND was a D2 powerhouse but like most programs has found the transition to the FCS a little more challenging.  Overall though, they feel like a program on the upswing after spending a year as an independent after transitioning out of the Big Sky and into the MVFC which renews many old rivalries.  UND did upset (and dominate) an SIU club that was ranked in the top 25.  We'll talk more about SIU later this season but I have to imagine that seat under their head coach, Nick Hill, is starting to get pretty hot.

In 2019, UND finished 7-5 and made the FCS playoffs before losing in the first round to Nicholls State.  In that season they scored 26.5 ppg while allowing 28.5.  In that season the UND defense really was pounded on the ground surrendering 192.7 yards per game on the ground and 204.9 through the air.  However, on this past Saturday against SIU, they stuffed the run early and forced into them into passing on 3rd down where they brought a ton of pressure and were able to force a total of 5 turnovers including a sack fumble that was returned for a TD. Their defense returns many players from the the 2019 campaign but has a new coordinator while the offense is less experienced but still has explosive potential.

Offense

Against SIU, the UND offense was gifted a short field multiple times.  It appears UND wants to attack with a spread attack but that doesn't mean they don't run the ball.  They ran for 229 yards (a 5.9 average) and passed for just 118.  They scored 44 points but again that was really a credit to their defense for create chaos.

The offense is led by redshirt freshman #2 Tommy Schuster (6-0, 195) who looked solid in his college debut.  He went 15 for 23 with 3 TD and 0 interceptions in his first game.  It was an efficient start to his college career.  I was able to watch most of the first half and he looked good and he played smart.  He doesn't appear to be much of a threat with his legs and he wasn't sacked against SIU, mainly due to their quick hitting passing game.  He also through a number of passes to the running backs in the flat and let them work in space.  The Hawks also run in true freshman #14 Quincy Vaughn (6-4, 240) to run the offense at times.  At this point in his career he is certainly more of threat on the ground than he is through the air but that will come.  He misfired on his two attempts vs. SIU but rushed for 14 yards including a 13 yard scamper which he nearly scored on.  

UND sure looked like they plan to rely the run in 2020.  They deploy a trio of good backs who are similar in build but do VASTLY different thinks.  #26 Otis Weah (5-9, 195) is an interesting story.  He was a big recruit for UND from Moorhead.  It was an especially big "win" for them as he is obviously right in NDSU's backyard.  His true freshman season he played in the 4 games where he had 28 yards and a TD.  However, he did not play his sophomore season due to academic issues.  He has been very open about the process and did a really nice interview this winter where he talked through how much football means to him and how losing it helped him refocus on his academics.   Good story aside, he is also a really good football player and a very powerful young man.  He has no problem trying to run over a defender.  He had 13 attempts for 91 yards and a TD on Saturday.  Joining him is the diminutive #7 Luke Skokna (5-9, 170) who looked really flashy.  He too played as a true freshman and had 190 rushing yards on 25 carries.  He is also a threat out of the backfield where he caught 13 passes for 72 yards.  On Saturday he also ran the ball 9 times for 70 yards and a TD.  UND ran him in all sorts of motions to move the defenders eyes and it was effective.  The third back in this trifecta is #35 Dalton Gee (6-0, 205).  Gee transferred in before 2019 from Butte Community College (should sound familiar) and had a good 2019 when he rushed for 210 yards on 44 carries.  He also had 12 receptions for 74 yards.  On Saturday he ran for 35 yards on 8 attempts and caught two passes for 12 yards and a TD.   

When Schuster does pass, he has plenty of weapons to hit.  #89 Garett Maag (6-4, 215) may be the Fighting Hawks best player on offense. The junior wide receiver had a solid 2019 when he caught 59 catches for 610 yards and 5 TD.  On Saturday he had 3 receptions for 40 yards with a long of 31.  Opposite him is grad transfer #5 Jake Richter (6-4, 215) from MSU Moorhead.  Richter dominated in the NSIC and had 1,113 yards and 10 TD his junior year and in an injury riddled senior season he still managed to snag 25 passes for 520 yards and 4 TD. #1 Bo Belquist (6-1, 175) is a true freshman and he had 4 receptions for 24 yards and a TD.  #84 Derek Paulson (6-4, 245) is a threat from the tight end position after catching a 17 yard pass on Saturday.  #4 Brock Boltmann (6-1, 205) didn't play in the opener but the Midco announcers made it sound like he was week to week and in the past has been used as a gadget guy in the offense. In 2019 he rushed for 199 yards and 2 TD, caught 31 passes for 243 yards and 2 TD, and was a perfect 6-6 through the air for 39 yards and TD.  If he is back this week, he will certainly be a player worth watching. 

The offensive line for UND is probably the strength of the offense in 2020. They return four of five starters from 2019 but all five have starting experience and looked really good against SIU.  From left to right they go #76 Matt Waletzko (6-7, 295), #62 Ryan Tobin (6-3, 295), #66 Nathan Nguon (6-3, 295), #61 Kyle Hergel (6-2, 295), and #74 Donny Ventrelli (6-4, 295).  Obviously this group looks different than the huge offensive line that UNI trotted onto the field.  However, they looked really good on Saturday, although I'm not sure about SIU's front seven.  

Defense

UND plays an attacking 3-4 defense.  The knocked out the first and second string quarterback for SIU and just never allowed their offense to look comfortable. They forced 5 turnovers (2 INT, 3 fumbles) and had 4 sacks.  SIU did rush the ball for 90 yards on limited opportunities again this group and also passed for 233 as they fought to catch up.  This was a close game at halftime with UND up 16-14 but UND ran away with it in the 3rd quarter with 21 unanswered points. 

Up front UND is anchored by #97 Jalen Morrison (6-3, 275) in the middle who is flanked by #48 Graham DeVore (6-4, 260) and #99 Jaelen Johnson (6-2, 245).  This group doesn't show a ton of production but each of these men played in 2019 and had 20-30 tackles.  #51 Quintin Seguin (6-3, 250) had a nice game and finished with 5 tackles and .5 sack. As typical of a 3-4 defense, your linemen are not the ones getting the pressure on the QB, that comes from your OLBs.  It'll be interesting to see how the beef of the #605Hogs does against this group, the 3-4 defense at times has given them fits.

The linebackers for UND are really the ones to watch on this defense.  #15 Jackson Turner (6-2, 225) is a player to watch off the edge.  In 2019 he had 4.5 sacks and 44 tackles. He had 4 tackles on Saturday.  On the inside is #40 Noah Larson (6-2,240) who is now a three year starter.  He had 64 tackles during his true freshman campaign and 82 as a sophomore. On Saturday he had 2 stops and fumble recovery. He did get nicked up near the end of the game and didn't return to the field, although given the score this is not surprising.  The other backer is #46 Ted Mullin who is seeing his first significant action this season and he made 2 tackles and a sack.  Opposite him is #44 Devon Krzanowski (6-2, 235) who is a transfer from St. Cloud State which ended their program after the 2019 season.  He had 6 stops and a forced fumble and had a fumble recovery which resulted in a TD in the opener.  For this effort he was named MVFC defensive player of the week.   #34 Josh Navratil played well in a reserve role with 7 total tackles and half a sack.  

The UND secondary is paced by safety #35 Jordan Canady (6-2, 210). He is a three year starter and  and has had 87, 47, and 38 total tackles in his previous seasons.  He also has four career interceptions and 18 total pass breakups over his career.  On Saturday he led the team with 8 total tackles.  Next to him is #17 Hayden Galvin (6-1, 205) who had 63 tackles in 2019 and an INT. He had two tackles on Saturday.  #3 C.J. Siegel (6-0, 180) and #6 Evan Holm (5-11, 190) are players with starting experience.  Siegel had 4 tackles, a sack, and an INT.  Holm had a tackle, an interception and 2 breakups.  #11 Jayson Coley (5-11, 180) and #8 Sammy Fort (6-0, 195) are two reserve corners who had nice games in the opener.  Coley finished with 5 tackles and Fort had 4 tackles and an INT.  

Special Teams

The UND special teams appeared solid on Saturday.  #45 Adam Stage handled both the kickoff and field goal duties.  He made his only field goal attempt from 27 yards and made 5 of 6 of his extra points attempts. He also had a 49 yard average on 7 kickoffs with no touchbacks.  He is also a transfer from St. Cloud State where he made the NSIC All-Conference team both years as a Huskie.  He also had at least a 55 yard kickoff average in all three seasons so it appears UND is choosing to kick the ball short of the end zone in order to trap their opponents within the 25 yard line or force them to fair catch the ball and start at the 25.  The punting responsibilities belong to #87 Cade Peterson who had a 33.5 average with a long of 38 on 4 attempts.  He had 1 touchback but landed 2 inside the 20.  In his career he has held a 35.23 and 38.83 the prior two seasons. 

The kick return duties are handled by Luke Skokna who is dangerous.  He had a 44 yard return against SIU. In 2019 he had 5 attempts for a 25.4 yard average with a long of 45.  The punt return responsibilities are manned by #13 Mikey Griebel.  He also held the job in 2019 when he had 9 returns for 82 yards.  

Prediction

Jacks 30- Fighting Hawks 17

Viewing Options

MidcoSN 2 or ESPN+

Go Jacks!  

Matt