Mon, Jan 8th, 2024 - 4:45am
November 25, 2023 - 5:03pm | By Chris Larson
(Grand Forks, ND) — The opening round of the FCS returned to the Alerus Center for the first time since the 2020 season. The opponent was a former rival of the Fighting Hawks from their days in the Big Sky Conference in the Sacramento State Hornets. The Hornets got the better of the Fighting Hawks, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns en route to a 42-35 victory.
Quincy Vaughn’s one-yard touchdown run with 2:07 to go in the third quarter tied the two teams at 28-28, setting up a battle in the fourth quarter.
Bubba Schweigert’s message to his team at the end of the third quarter was simple. Tied 28-28, after being down 28-14, the Fighting Hawks still had a lot left to play for in the fourth quarter – with a chance still to advance.
“We just got in that huddle there and said, let's go win the fourth. It's a tie game,” Schweigert said in the post-game press conference. “We had the ball and it was important to get ahead.”
But Sacramento State struck just over three minutes into the fourth quarter on a four-yard rush by running back Marcus Fulcher, giving the Hornets the one-touchdown advantage. The Fighting Hawks then forced a three-and-out, setting up a chance for the Fighting Hawks to claw back into the game.
Just over eight minutes later, Vaughn found the endzone again for a two-yard scamper, tying the game once again.
On the ensuing drive, Sacramento State drove the ball 75 yards over seven plays in just over three minutes, when Kaiden Bennett found the endzone from four yards out. The score wouldb be the final score of the game, as the Fighting Hawks would be forced to punt with just under three minutes to go to seal the game.
Bo Belquist finished the game with five receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Tommy Schuster finished 11-for-17 passing for 137 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked four times.
UND finished the season with a 7-5 record.
