South Dakota Wins the Dakota Duel in Overtime, 26-23
South Dakota led 17-0 after one quarter and still needed overtime. That is the whole game, and it ended 26-23.
The Coyotes got everything they wanted early: a Bohdie Ing field goal, a Jackson Proctor four-yard run and a Tysen Boze touchdown catch from Austyn Modrzewski, all before the first quarter ended. A second Ing kick made it 20-3 at the half. Then North Dakota slowly came back. Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson scored from a yard out in the third, Matt Lawson did the same with 3:57 left, and Kenten Laughman's 45-yard field goal with 45 seconds to go tied it at 20-20. That is 17 straight points after the 20-3 hole.
In overtime, Laughman kicked a 38-yarder to put North Dakota in front, and South Dakota needed a touchdown. It took one play of the story to settle it: Modrzewski to Brayden White from 14 yards for the win. North Dakota was in the red zone of this game right up until it was not.
Charles Pierre Jr. was South Dakota's workhorse, 21 carries for 128 yards, while Modrzewski finished with minus 27 rushing yards on seven carries and still threw two touchdowns on 15 of 22 for 159. North Dakota is credited with five sacks to South Dakota's two, and lost anyway. Laughman, for the record, made all three of his kicks (46, 45 and 38 yards) and the day still ended badly for him.
The box score has a few clues. North Dakota lost two fumbles (South Dakota lost none) and Jerry Kaminski threw it 46 times for 251 yards, while South Dakota ran 42 times for 166 and threw for only 160. South Dakota moves to 7-1, North Dakota falls to 6-2. Fantasy-wise, White was the best score on the field, with Deng Deng the best of the visitors.