No. 4 UND outgained Northern Iowa 367 yards to 144 on Saturday and still lost, 24-17, in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, according to the Grand Forks Herald and KFYR. Turnovers made the difference.
How it went
The Grand Forks Herald reported that the Fighting Hawks turned the ball over five times, the first time that has happened to them since 2021. The Herald also reported that Northern Iowa's Andrew Price returned a blocked punt 33 yards for a touchdown, the first punt block returned for a score against UND since 2022.
UND Athletics and the Herald reported that backup quarterback Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 24-17, but the Hawks could not finish the comeback.
Kaminski's status
The Herald reported that starting quarterback Jerry Kaminski was helped off the field with a possible ankle injury early in the fourth quarter, and that UND coach Eric Schmidt said after the game that the X-ray picture was not clear. His status for next week is unconfirmed. Check ahead with UND Athletics or the Herald.
Where UND stands
The loss moves UND to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, according to KFYR and the Herald. UND Athletics' headline listed the team as No. 4 and No. 7 in the two national polls. Northern Iowa leads the all-time series 27-16, per UND's postgame notes.
Next up
UND hosts South Dakota State on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, with a 1 p.m. kickoff listed by ticketing and schedule sites. UND's Family Weekend runs Oct. 16-18, per UND's Family Weekend page. Check fightinghawks.com for kickoff time, broadcast and ticket details.
Sources: UND Athletics, Grand Forks Herald, KFYR-TV, The Associated Press.