SDSU had not lost five games since 2000, but, more importantly, were the stakes of this game. A win and you likely lock in a playoff spot, a loss, and your chances of making it are almost nonexistent. With everything on the line, SDSU made more plays than UND, and was able to beat #12 UND 34-31. 

North Dakota received the opening kickoff and immediately built momentum. After a pair of runs and two completions, SDSU’s defense forced a third-and-7. Quarterback Tommy Kaminski overthrew an open receiver for a potential touchdown, and UND punted.

Jack Henry started at quarterback for the Jackrabbits amid questions about whether Chase Mason would play. The Jacks went to Alec Bullock for their first big play, then turned to their run game. Julius Loughridge carried the ball four times on the drive for 29 yards. The drive eventually stalled, and SDSU pinned UND at its 2-yard line.

Sawyer Seidl ran for 14 yards to give the Fighting Hawks breathing room. Kaminski scrambled for 6 yards, but a block-below-the-waist penalty and an unnecessary roughness penalty added 30 yards to the play.

Another long play from Kaminski advanced the ball to the 28-yard line. On third-and-4, a quarterback keeper forced a fourth down. Another keeper resulted in a UND touchdown, and the Fighting Hawks went up 7-0.

SDSU failed to respond, going three-and-out. The punt didn’t matter, as on the first play of the ensuing drive, Kaminski scored on an 89-yard touchdown slant.

Loughridge picked up 20 yards to continue his strong start on SDSU’s next drive.

Four more Loughridge runs put SDSU in another third-down situation, and the Jacks again turned to him. After two more runs, on third-and-5, Loughridge got the ball for the ninth consecutive time but was stopped short. On fourth-and-1, Loughridge converted to continue the drive.

While Loughridge got a short break, the run game did not. Josiah Johnson had a 9-yard run. On third-and-1, an end-around to Bullock went nowhere, and SDSU faced another fourth down. Johnson ran for 5 yards on fourth-and-1. In a 17-play, 80-yard drive that featured 16 consecutive running plays, Johnson scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to seven.

After receiving the ball on its 35-yard line, UND nearly fumbled but recovered for a 6-yard loss. A jet sweep brought up third-and-8. B.J. Fleming was matched up against SDSU’s Jayden Oliver, who won the one-on-one battle to force a punt.

SDSU lost yards on its first play after a tackle for loss. On second-and-13, a run set up third-and-9. Henry, feeling pressure, overthrew his receiver and was intercepted. UND took over at the 42-yard line.

A short run and a short pass got UND into another third-and-short situation, but SDSU’s Bryce Johnson tackled Seidl for a loss of 2 yards. On fourth-and-5, Kaminski threw to Fleming on a slant. After officials conferred, it was ruled a first down. Immediately after, the Fighting Hawks completed a 27-yard pass to the 5-yard line. SDSU took a timeout after a 1-yard run with 1:12 left. The Jacks stopped Kaminski for a short gain on a keeper. UND faked a run and Kaminski rolled right, but his throw was too far for his diving receiver. UND settled for a field goal to go up 17-7.

With 59 seconds left, Henry was intercepted for the second time. SDSU’s defense held, and the Jackrabbits went into the second half down 17-7.

Both teams struggled on third down in the first half, with only one conversion between them, belonging to SDSU. Henry was 3 of 9 for 18 yards and two interceptions. Kaminski was 10 of 15 for 183 yards and a touchdown. Loughridge had 91 yards on 16 carries. Kaminski was UND’s leading rusher with 36 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Jack Smith had a strong kick return to the 45-yard line to start the third quarter for the Jacks. Despite the field position, they went three-and-out. On UND’s ensuing drive from its 18-yard line, Kaminski forced a pass over the middle that was intercepted.

Two short runs put the Jacks in another third-down situation. Needing 5 yards, Johnson ran to the outside to convert. After two more carries by Johnson, SDSU faced a third down 4 yards from the end zone. Henry gained a couple of yards on a keeper, but the offense stayed on the field. On fourth down, a run play was stopped short. SDSU left tackle Quinten Christensen was ejected after the play for contact with an official.

SDSU forced a three-and-out, but the Jacks muffed the subsequent punt, giving UND the ball at the SDSU 42-yard line. Korey Tai caught a pass from Kaminski on third-and-6 for a first down. Again, SDSU’s defense held, and the Fighting Hawks kicked a field goal.

Henry ran for a yard before nearly fumbling on the next play, his knee hitting the ground just before the ball came out. SDSU faced third-and-12. A pass interference penalty on a throw to Bullock gave the Jacks a first down. After a 1-yard run by Loughridge, Henry scrambled for a first down as the pocket collapsed.

On the next play, tight end Greighton Gannon slipped behind the defense, and Henry hit him for a 42-yard touchdown. SDSU cut the deficit to six.

On the first play of UND’s next drive, defensive lineman Kobe Clayborn sacked Kaminski, forcing a fumble. Logan Green recovered at the 10-yard line. On the next play, Johnson scored on a 6-yard touchdown run, and the Jackrabbits took the lead.

To start the fourth quarter, SDSU’s defense forced a third down. A UND false start made it third-and-7. An incomplete pass gave SDSU’s offense another chance. The Jacks turned to Loughridge, who gained 9 yards for a first down. After a 2-yard run by Johnson, the Jacks faced third-and-7. Henry overthrew his receiver, and a 26-yard punt return gave UND good field position.

The defense got UND into a fourth-and-2 situation at the 36-yard line. Kaminski overthrew his receiver on a go route.

Henry threw a 49-yard pass to Bullock, his longest of the night, to bring the ball to the 15-yard line. Johnson gained 5 yards, and another short run made it third-and-2. He ran through the UND defensive line for a first down at the 4-yard line. Another run got him to the 2. After being stopped initially, a second effort gave Johnson his third touchdown of the game.

With 6:23 left and trailing 28-20, Kaminski picked up a first down with a 2-yard run on third-and-1. He threw a 19-yard pass on the next play to the UND 45. Kaminski then escaped the pocket for a 7-yard run. On third down, he rolled out and completed a short pass for a first down. An inside route gained 20 yards.

After missing an open receiver, Kaminski found his target in the middle of the field for a 16-yard touchdown. Down by two, UND went for the 2-point conversion. Facing pressure, Kaminski rolled out and found a receiver to tie the game with 1:52 left.

Henry rolled out on the first play of the drive and threw the ball away. Johnson was stopped for no gain on second down. With the Jacks facing third-and-10, the Fighting Hawks took a timeout. Henry took a deep shot to Bullock, drawing a pass interference penalty. A false start pushed the Jacks back 5 yards. Henry took another deep shot, but Graham Goehring just missed the catch. On third-and-9, Johnson ran for 6 yards. SDSU elected not to run another play and went to overtime.

SDSU won the coin toss and chose to play defense. Seidl lost 4 yards on a run. Kaminski completed a pass for a 6-yard gain, setting up third-and-long. The Jacks brought pressure and forced an incompletion. UND made a 40-yard field goal to go up by three.

Henry’s first-down pass to Bullock was incomplete. Johnson gained about 2 yards on the next play to make it third-and-8. UND blitzed, and with three defenders in pursuit, Henry rolled out and threw on the run. Goehring, who had just one reception on the night, leaped, high-pointed the ball and brought it in for the game-winning touchdown.

With the win, SDSU is likely guaranteed a playoff spot.