The Jackrabbits (2-0) again start their MVFC season taking on the #14 University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (2-1). UND and SDSU almost always have good games and this year, they share a non-conference opponent in Drake. UND won 55-7 in that one and the statistics are somewhat similar to the Jacks win over Drake. UND also beat Big Sky representative Northern Arizona but dropped to Boise State. Bubba Schweigert is still the headman at UND and he has a 56-45 record over his ten seasons there. He is a good coach and his players love him. Like SDSU, we probably don’t know who UND is yet given their non-conference schedule.
Offense
The UND offense has been efficient so far this season. They have scored 55, 37, and 18 points in their 3 games. They rush for 159.7 yards per game (4.6 per carry) and pass for 268 per game. They have converted on 48.5% of their 3rd down opportunities and have a propensity for 4th down conversions going 6 for 7 already this season. They have not tossed an interception but do have 3 lost fumbles already this season. In the redzone they have converted touchdowns on 11 of their 13 opportunities. Again, efficient.
The offense is led by one of my favorite opponents in the MVFC. #2 Tommy Schuster (6-0, 195) will never blow anyone away physically but the guy just makes plays. He is at his best as a quick hitting rhythm passer but he is also very good extending plays and being slippery when the pocket breaks down. He has completed 70.5% of his passes this season for 663 yards and 5 TDs. Again, efficient. His longest pass is just 45 yards. He hasn’t rushed the ball much this season and has just 43 gross yards.
The running back position has been a bit by committee this season but there is certainly talent in this group! #28 Gaven Ziebarth is a really physically runner and he has 223 yards (6.8 ypc avg) and 2 TDs. Ziebarth is a player that didn’t have many offers coming out of high school, even though he was VERY productive in Minnesota. #39 Isaiah Smith (6-0, 200) missed the game against Boise State and his status is unknown as I write this. He is a good all-purpose back and has 79 yards (4.9 ypc avg). He also has 4 receptions for 47 yards. #7 Luke Skokna (5-9, 180) missed all of the 2022 season due to injury but he is a really fun player to watch when healthy. He has 80 yards (5.0 ypc avg) and 1 TD rushing while also adding 3 receptions for 42 yards. He was a gadget/skat back type a few years ago and was really electric. Here’s hoping that Luke can regain his health and contribute this season for UND! Another player I am intrigued by is #14 Donovan Hunt (5-11, 190). Hunt has just 4 carries on the season and did not play against NAU. However, against Drake he rushed for 65 yards and 2 TDs. Hunt spent two seasons at Jackson State before transferring to UND. As a prep player out of Wisconsin, he was certainly on my radar as a recruit.
The wide receiver group for UND is maybe deeper than it has been in recent years. #1 Bo Belquist (6-1, 185) is maybe one of the best route runners in the MVFC and him and Schuster have an incredible connection. He is off to a really hot start and has 23 receptions for 296 yards and 2 TD. He is flanked by #12 Red Wilson (5-9, 185), #9 Wesley Eliodor (6-0, 210), #13 Jack Wright (6-0, 190) and #84 Nate DeMontagnac (6-2, 190). Wilson is second on the team with 11 receptions for 116 yards and operates mainly out of the slot. Wilson started a game at running back for UND last year and has two rushing attempts already this season. Eliodor, a trasfer from USD, is a familiar face and was the Coyotes top receiver a season ago. He is fitting in nicely and has 7 receptions for 98 yards and 2 TDs already. Wright is building off of a nice 2022 and has 5 receptions for 72 yards thus far. DeMontagnac is listed as the starter and has appeared in all 3 games but has yet to record any statistics. #43 Jaden Norby (6-3, 245) is back for his second season in the lineup and he has 2 receptions for 18 yards. #4 Quincy Vaughn (6-4, 250) has finally made the switch from quarterback to tight end. What took so long to get him to this poistion, I do not know. He has 4 receptions for 25 yards and 1 TD. He stilly plays goal line and short yardage QB and has 6 rushing attempts for 7 yards and 3 TD. He has not passed the ball yet this season. He is a terrific athlete so I’m interested to see how UND utilizes him in conference play.
The offensive line has some good players returning and some new faces. From left to right they go #77 Easton Kilty (6-5, 305), #74 Donny Ventrelli (6-4, 300), #69 Cade Borud (6-2, 315), #75 Sam Hagen (6-6, 320), and #71 Seth Anderson (6-4, 305). This group struggled against Boise State and allowed 6 sacks after allowing just 2 in their first two games! It sounds like there were also snap issues with Borud. I’m sure that has been a point of emphasis for this group during the bye week. Ventrelli is one of the best in the MVFC while Kilty and Anderson are experienced.
Defense
UND plays an attacking 3-4 defense and have been pretty good in 2023. They held Boise State to 28 points through 3 quarters before getting boat raced in the 4th quarter due to being on the field for too long. This group has experience and talent at all three levels and will have a strong game plan in place to slow down the Jackrabbits. In 2023, they have allowed 7, 22, and 42 points. So what are they? In all likelihood, they are probably a 24 ppg type of defense which will win them a lot of games this season with an offense like they have. They have allowed 136.7 yards per game rushing and 253.5 yards per game passing. Opponents have converted on 51% of their 3rd down opportunities and have scored on 8 of 10 trips into the redzone with 7 touchdowns. This defense forced two fumbles and an interception against Boise State and that seemingly kept them in a majority of that game.
The UND front 7 will present a challenge to the #605Hogs. #18 Ben McNaboe (6-3, 245) and #99 Jaelen Johnson (6-2, 260) are a really good duo at defensive end. McNaboe led the team with 6.5 sacks a year ago and so far has 6 tackles this season. Johnson has been really quiet to start the year and has just 1 tackle. The Fighting Hawks added NIU transfer #0 Jeffrey Griffin Jr (6-0, 315) to finally add some beef to their interior. He has 3 tackles on the year including 2 for loss. His backup, #90 Craig Orlando (6-3, 290) also has 3 tackles. #47 Barty Ogbu (6-3, 250) is back in a reserve role and the highly recruited #91 Jack Teiken (6-4, 245) is on the depth chart and seeing action.
#46 Ted Mullin (6-1, 220) and #34 Josh Navratil (6-2, 225) are the outside linebackers and it feels like they have been making plays for UND for the last decade. Mullin has 9 tackles, 2 TFL, and an INT this season. Navaratil has 7 stops, 2 TFL, 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles. These are two really good players on the edge. On the interior are #59 Wyatt Pedigo (6-0, 230) and #36 Malachi McNeal (6-0, 235). Pedigo paces the team with 22 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Pedigo joined the starting lineup last season and has just made plays, including a sack against SDSU last season. McNeal comes in with 12 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 QBH. UND really does send blitzes from all four linebackers and that is what makes them so challenging. #42 Kason Kelley (6-2, 235) is a reserve linebacker and he has 13 total tackles.
The secondary has some nice players but has certainly struggled to perform as a cohesive unit in 2023. #3 CJ Siegel (6-0, 180) is one of the top corners in the MVFC and has simply made plays since stepping onto campus. He has six tackles and two PBUs this year. Because of Siegel’s talent, the opposite starter is a natural target. This year, that person is #8 Edmund Ocansey (6-0, 180). He has 3 tackles, 2 PBU, and 1 QBH. #23 Devin Hembry (6-2, 190) has 9 tackles, 1 PBU, and 1 QBH. These all have plenty of experience. A new addition at corner is #22 Antonio Bluiett (6-1, 190) and he has 6 tackles and 2 PBU. #24 Kadon Kauppinen (6-2, 210) has been active from his starting safety position. He is second on the team with 13 total tackles, 3 PBUs and 2 QBHs. He is paired with #4 Malachi Buckner who has 11 tackles and 2 PBUs this season. Buckner was a reserve linebacker for UND last year and prior to that was an all conference player for Gadner-Webb. #21 Sammy Fort (6-0, 195) has struggled with injuries during his time in Grand Forks but has appeared in all 3 games this season and has 6 tackles as a reserve.
Special Teams
UND special teams are always good and will have a trick play or two up their sleeves for this one. SDSU’s uneven play in this area will certainly give them hope that they can win this phase of the game. #85 Luke Silvernale has 9 punts on the season for an average of 37 yards. He has a long of 50, landed 2 inside the 20 and has forced 3 to be fair caught. Opponents have just 1 return yard on 3 attempts.
#92 Brady Stevens handles the kicking duties and is 0-1 on the season on field goals and he has also missed 2 extra points on 12 attempts. Stevens also handles the kickoffs and is averaging 61 yards per kick and has 2 touchbacks. Opponents are averaging just 21 yards per return with a long of 33 so it is clear that UND hopes to pin opponents inside the 25 yard line.
The returners for UND are both talented but have not done much this year. Bo Belquist handles the punt return duties and CJ Siegel is the kick returner. He has 5 returns and a 20 yard average. Welsey Eliodor can also handle return duties. If Luke Skokna is healthy it wouldn’t shock me to see him returning punts as well.
Prediction
This game is interesting. I feel like we know so little about both teams. UND didn’t play great against Boise State in their only true test this season. UNDs win over NAU is less impressive because the Lumberjacks just got destroyed by Utah Tech. I think the Fighting Hawks will come out fired up to show that they belong and will put up a good fight. However, I don’t think we know a ton about the Jackrabbits yet either. Western Oregon and Drake were glorified scrimmages while the win over Montana State was pretty uneven. UND will likely score more points than most are expecting just because they are so balanced on offense.
SDSU 38- 21 UND
Go Jacks!
Matt