Article

Back To Their Old Ways

After earning its second win of the season last week, MSU football falls to UND

by Dan Myers
October 25, 2005

The Minnesota State football team took another top-ranked team to the brink of upset last Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium, before submitting (once again) to No. 2 North Dakota 26-7 on Senior Day.

The Mavericks fought tooth and nail with UND, keeping the game within distance until the fourth quarter, like every other game this season against a ranked opponent.

Jeff Glas’ 34-yard field goal was the only scoring play during the first half as UND led 3-0 heading to the break.

“We were just playing hard,” said MSU defensive coordinator Ken Gordon. “We didn’t change anything. We played our base front. Our kids were just ready and were mentally prepared.”

Another field goal by Glas gave UND a 6-0 lead in the third quarter. The game’s first touchdown was scored when UND quarterback Josh Belmore found Trent Christensen on a 31-yard strike with just 34 seconds remaining in the third. Glas missed the extra point and the game headed to the final frame with UND holding a 12-0 lead.

“The momentum was going our way,” Gordon said. “That touchdown hurt. If we keep them out of the end zone, we have them right where we wanted them.”

On their first drive of the fourth quarter, Jamie VanDenElzen misfired on a pass and was intercepted by UND’s Dan Ullsperger. The turnover gave UND prime field position at MSU’s 21-yard line.

UND took advantage when Belmore rolled to his left on a bootleg and scored from 14 yards out with just over three minutes into the fourth. The extra point gave UND a 19-0 advantage.

History was made on the ensuing kickoff, however, when up-back Dan Smedberg took the Glas kickoff 85 yards for the touchdown. Smedberg — a junior fullback — is primarily in charge of being Sean Treasure’s lead blocker on returns. A swirling wind gave Smedberg the chance and he became the first Maverick since Reggie Patterson (1996) to return a kickoff for a touchdown.

“The kick was short and hung up in the wind,” Smedberg said. “Everyone adjusted to the pooch. There happened to be a hole and I took it. I saw the kicker and one other guy and thought, ‘If I can make a move to get past these two, I can score.’”

MSU nearly made another big play on the next drive when senior defensive lineman Darnell Flannigan picked off a Belmore pass. Flannigan would fumble the football and UND recovered. Eight plays later, UND took a 26-7 advantage when Chris Beatty scored from four-yards out.

“We’ve just gotten worn out,” Gordon said. “We harp on these guys to finish, but when you don’t have that much depth, it’s hard. When you get tired, the first thing that goes is the mental part. And I think that happened to a few of our guys.”

The Mavericks play Augustana noon on Saturday in Souix Falls, S.D.

 

LONE PROVIDER: Minnesota State sophomore Dan Smedberg’s kick return touchdown was MSU’s only trip to the end zone in its 26-7 loss to North Dakota at Blakesee Stadium Saturday. Smedberg serves as MSU’s lead blocker on kick returns.