Nov 23, 2008 - 04:05:28 CST
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - Brandon Hellevang kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime to give North Dakota a 34-31 win over South Dakota in the season finale for the Great West Conference rivals.Hellevang had a game-winning 47-yard attempt with 7 seconds left in regulation blocked, sending the game into overtime where South Dakota's Justin Veazie hooked a 37-yard attempt wide left on the Coyotes' possession.
After three plays netted nine yards, UND coach Chris Mussman summoned Hellevang again.
"It's been bittersweet for him," Mussman said of Hellevang. "I'm happy for him because he's struggled some this year."
The season was a struggle for both former Division II powers in the first year of transition to Division I. The win snapped North Dakota's three-game losing streak, while halting South Dakota's four-game winning streak. The Coyotes (6-5, 1-2) lost four of their first six games.
North Dakota has beaten South Dakota two straight years at the Dakota Dome. The win last season snapped the Coyotes' 23-game home win streak.
"Our last two games here have been ridiculous," South Dakota coach Ed Meierkort said. "We've been competitive, but competitive isn't good enough. We need to win these games."
The Coyotes started strong, taking a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter on a Veazie field goal and scores by Isaac Newton and Dustin Little.
Little had three catches for 55 yards and two scores.
But North Dakota came back to tie it 17-17 at half on Hellevang's 27-yard field goal and a 16-yard, Danny Freund-to-Blair Grover TD pass. Danny Fruend completed 30 of 37 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
UND didn't stop there. Freund tossed a 26-yard TD to Alex Nicholas and John Murray scored on a 7-yard run to put the Sioux up 31-17 with 8:53 to play. Murray ran 22 times for 140 yards and two scores.
"I had this feeling on the sideline the whole game," Mussman said. "We overcame some things offensively."
South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard brought the Coyotes back, throwing an 18-yard TD to Dustin Little with 5:55 left. But there was a delay getting a holder on the field for the PAT, and Veazie's kick failed, leaving the Coyotes down 31-23.
The Sioux lost a fumble on their next possession and Shepard tied the game on a 1-yard run and two-point conversion run with 1:38 left.
Shepard was 18-for-31 for 239 yards and two scores and ran for 76 yards.
UND finished with 421 yards of offense to South Dakota's 388.
North Dakota 0 17 7 7 3 - 34
South Dakota 3 14 0 14 0 - 31
First Quarter
USD-FG Justin Veazie 23, 6:58.
Second Quarter
USD-Isaac Newton 3 run (Veazie kick), 12:58.
UND-Josh Murray 62 run (Brandon Hellevang kick), 12:08.
USD-Dustin Little 23 pass from Noah Shepard (Veazie kick), 10:46.
UND-Blair Grover 16 pass from Danny Freund (Hellevang kick), 7:48.
UND-FG Hellevang 27, :58.
Third Quarter
UND-Alex Nicholas 26 pass from Freund (Hellevang kick), 1:08.
Fourth Quarter
UND-Murray 7 run (Hellevang kick), 8:53.
USD-Little 18 pass from Shepard (kick blocked), 5:55.
USD-Shepard 1 run (Shepard run), 1:38.
Overtime
UND-FG Hellevang 33.
UND USD
First downs 23 20
Rushes-yards 28-116 42-149
Passing 305 239
Comp-Att-Int 30-37-0 18-31-0
Return Yards 0 10
Punts-Avg. 4-41.5 3-37.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 5-35 2-14
Time of Possession 30:14 29:46
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-UND, Murray 22-140, Brandon Brady 2-4, Freund 4-(minus 28). USD, Shepard 16-76, Chris Ganious 15-39, Newton 10-20, Jeremy Blount 1-14.
PASSING-UND, Freund 30-37-0-305. USD, Shepard 18-31-0-239.
RECEIVING-UND, Ismael Bamba 10-91, Grover 6-82, Nicholas 6-70, Brady Trenbeath 4-35, Brady 2-22, Murray 1-3, Marcus Tibesar 1-2. USD, Dustin Nowotny 7-75, Little 3-55, Ganious 3-6, Ben Oberle 2-54, Blount 1-22, London Landry 1-19, Brandon White 1-8.
Records: UND 1-2 Great West, 6-4 overall; USD 1-2, 6-5
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