North Dakota Erases 21-0 Deficit, Rallies Past Murray State 55-28

No. 5 UND gave up the game's first 21 points, then scored 55 straight; several injured players could return for next week's trip to Northern Iowa.

Fifth-ranked North Dakota fell behind Murray State 21-0 before scoring 55 consecutive points to win 55-28 on Saturday, Oct. 3. The homecoming contest at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks also produced a personal-best receiving performance from a first-year transfer and a set of injury developments worth tracking.

A third-quarter defensive stop came with a scare attached. Leading 31-21 early in the period, the Hawks stopped Murray State on third-and-7 when Jonnie Wiltshire brought down wide receiver Trey Firestone shy of the first-down marker. Wiltshire required attention from the medical staff and came off slowly, but coach Eric Schmidt said the defender was fine, calling it a possible leg bruise after the hit initially appeared to involve his shoulder.

On the whole, North Dakota emerged from the afternoon without major new health concerns. Edge defender Brody Thornton continues to manage a shoulder issue but is not expected to sit for long. Up front, an injury to guard Liam Becher forced the staff to rearrange the offensive line, with former starter Caleb Olson filling the vacancy.

Keeping pressure off Kaminski was a problem, particularly early. Schmidt cited communication breakdowns and lost one-on-one matchups, and he singled out Murray State's No. 15, edge player Jayden Walker, as a matchup UND expected to be difficult — while adding that he hoped the Racer was okay. Walker went down late but was able to leave under his own power after being examined. Schmidt also said the Racers consistently disrupted the pocket, overpowered North Dakota's tackles and cut off downfield throws, forcing an offense playing from behind to stay patient.

The defense had its own struggles, with turnovers repeatedly sending it back onto the field. Murray State's opening touchdown finished a 12-play possession and its third spanned 16. Schmidt conceded his schematic counters were a step behind in what he likened to a chess match the Hawks were losing early, and said the short gaps between possessions made it hard to meet with players and install fixes between series. In his telling, things compounded from there, though the team remains a work in progress with visible growth.

Cameron Weir's role keeps growing in his first season since transferring from Washington State. After eight receptions across the opening four games, he has recorded nine in the past two, including five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown against Murray State — a single-game personal best. He added three punt returns for 71 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown in the first half that evened the score at 21. Schmidt described explosiveness as Weir's defining quality, and the score was the program's first punt-return touchdown since John Santiago went 64 yards against Portland State in 2017.

The unavailable list has grown in recent weeks, but North Dakota appears positioned to get healthier for next weekend's trip to Northern Iowa. All-American edge Lance Rucker, working back from a foot injury suffered before the season, worked out in pads during the week but did not dress against the Racers, and Schmidt said the staff will assess whether he can hit the next milestone in his recovery. Becher, offensive lineman Ayden Teeter, tight end Hunter Kallstrom and safety Avery Dixon were among the starters or regulars who missed the game, while tight end Hadyn Stay took part in warmups and saw only limited action.

Schmidt framed the possible returns as meaningful. He viewed Stay's limited snaps as a positive step, said Kallstrom's return should provide a lift and noted that two offensive linemen advanced enough this week to have a realistic chance to play. Enough roster depth, he added, is what lets a team absorb a stretch like this.