Eaglestaff Shines as UND Tops Dickinson State in Bismarck

UND Defense Holds Dickinson State to Zero Points in Second Half

The University of North Dakota football team opened its 2023 season with a dominant 42-7 victory over Dickinson State on Saturday afternoon at the Alerus Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Senior quarterback Tommy Schuster led the UND offense with 310 passing yards and four touchdowns, while sophomore running back Isaiah Smith added over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The UND defense was impressive all game long, holding Dickinson State to just 179 yards of total offense. The Blue Hawks were also held scoreless in the second half as the Fighting Hawks defense forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks.

Eaglestaff Leads Receiving Corps with 140 Yards

Senior wide receiver Garett Eaglestaff led all receivers with 140 receiving yards and a touchdown on 8 catches. Eaglestaff's big day helped the UND offense move the ball consistently throughout the game.

Junior tight end Noah Wanzek also had a strong game with 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six catches. Wanzek's touchdowns came in the second and third quarters and helped give UND a comfortable lead.

UND Offense Dominates Time of Possession

The UND offense controlled the ball for 37 minutes and 37 seconds, compared to just 22 minutes and 23 seconds for Dickinson State. The Fighting Hawks converted 42% of their third downs and were 3-for-3 on fourth downs.

The UND offense also averaged 6.5 yards per play, compared to just 3.6 yards per play for Dickinson State. The Fighting Hawks were able to sustain long drives and keep the Dickinson State offense off the field.

Conclusion:

The Fighting Hawks got their season off to a great start with a convincing win over Dickinson State. The offense was clicking on all cylinders and the defense was dominant. UND will look to continue its winning ways next week when they travel to Northern Iowa for their first road game of the season.