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They would talk to Pisek, Parshall and Pembina about it again. It was so brave. Or something.
The UND head coach made a decision that tipped the outcome of the game in favor of the Bison, offering a second-half lead in what was ultimately a 16-10 NDSU victory in a match against the Fighting Hawks, their fans, their alumni and the city. desperately wanted Grand Forks.
As it stands, Schweigert had to tell the media gathered after the game that he would likely lose sleep over his decision.
The rest of the world interested in Bison-Hawks football games are left scratching their heads in wonder and confusion.
Jayden Price and Jasir Cox of North Dakota state celebrate a fourth save against North Dakota at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on Saturday, October 2, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
UND was leading 7-6 midway through the third quarter, his defense playing its guts and smothering the Bison’s much-vaunted offense with blitzes and physical play that confused and frustrated NDSU quarterback Quincy Patterson and Co. It seemed unlikely that the NDSU could organize a long trip. enough to score a touchdown.
But on the fourth down-and-1 of UND’s own 20-yard line, Schweigert decided that instead of returning the ball to the Bison and trusting his defense to smother the NDSU once again, he would go .
A first down, that is to say. For the glory. For victory.
To repeat: Of its own 20, with a lead, the NDSU offensive doing nothing.
“I just thought we could get it,” Schweigert said.
North Dakota State quarterback Quincy Patterson escapes North Dakota’s Jayson Coley at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on Saturday, October 2, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
So the UND quarterback, the very tall Quincy Vaughn, trotted across the field. And although the Hawks initially lined up in punt formation, the Bison immediately recognized the play and didn’t have a deep return. They lined up in their usual defense.
Vaughn ran to the line of scrimmage, looked over the defense, took the snap and dove forward. UND’s blockers did not generate any momentum. Vaughn was arrested, although Schweigert said after the match that one of the officials thought UND had enough for the first try.
Suddenly and inexplicably, the Fighting Hawks were in deep trouble.
“I made a decision which put our team in a difficult position. I think our defense has responded well,” said Schweigert. “I wanted to do this. It’s hard when you make those calls if they don’t work, then you have to live with it.”
North Dakota State kicker Jake Reinholz scores his third goal against North Dakota at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on Saturday, October 2, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
UND’s defense, remarkable for most of the game until the Bison’s decisive touchdown in the final minutes, was indeed up to the task. He held the NDSU to 8 yards in three games, forcing a 30-yard field goal from Jake Reinholz for a 9-7 Bison lead.
It remained until 4:34 in the third quarter.
The decision – The decision? – even took the Bison by surprise.
“A little, yeah. No. 14 (Vaughn), we knew he was the stealth guy. It was definitely a little surprising,” Bison linebacker Jackson Hankey said. “Like I said, that’s what they are. Third, fourth, they’re going to go for it. You have to expect the unexpected with these guys.”
North Dakota State players chat with North Dakota’s Otis Weah after the game at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on Saturday, October 2, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
Unexpected would be an understatement. UND is a team that relies heavily on sleight of hand when it comes to big games, and they’ve faced a few against the Bison. The Hawks’ first touchdown was a quick deception that caught the Bison off guard.
But Schweigert’s appeal, so deep in UND’s own territory with the lead at this point in the game, was something else.
Schweigert was asked what he thought behind this.
“Take the first goal and keep our attack on the pitch because we hadn’t moved the ball yet. Quincy (Vaughn) hadn’t been stopped yet this year. The next we run we get five yards,” did he declare. “We just didn’t get it. I’m going to guess it, without a doubt. I’m going to guess because it didn’t work.”
UND went for another fourth in the fourth quarter – he needed NDSU’s 2 yards at 43 at that point – still trailing 9-7 with six minutes to go. A backhand to receiver Bo Belquist gained 1 yard and the Bison totaled 58 penalty yards for the decisive touchdown.
This bet made sense. The first, less.
“You have to live with it. We have to move forward. It is difficult,” said Schweigert. “I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight because we haven’t had it.”
The question will always be whether the head coach was caught in the moment. When a program treats a single game like the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup Finals, and Game 7 of the World Series all in one, maybe those things happen.
I wonder what they think of Pisek, Parshall and Pembina?
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