UND football prepares to leave the state for the first time since August – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — Despite wet and windy conditions Tuesday, the UND football program practiced outdoors on the new artificial turf at Memorial Field rather than the comfortable surroundings of the Pollard Center next door.

Because the Fighting Hawks are preparing for outdoor football again.

It’s been a while.

UND has not left North Dakota State for its season opener at Iowa State since late August.

After playing at the Alerus Center five times and the Fargodome once, the Hawks will take a plane trip this weekend for the first time in nearly two months.

UND will face Youngstown State on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium, a venue nicknamed “Ice Castle.”

“We talked to our captains and leadership and made it clear very early on: We have to do a good job, stay in the moment and deal with the road and everything that comes with it,” UND coach Bubba Schweigert said.

Aside from UND’s 6 p.m. kickoff against Montana in the home opener, Saturday’s scheduled kickoff time is the latest kickoff time in 2024. Temperatures in Youngstown, Ohio, are expected to be around 50 degrees this weekend.

“There will be a change for sure,” said UND offensive lineman Jack Kuntz, a Devils Lake native who was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week this week for his performance in last Saturday’s win over Northern Iowa. “We just have to get used to the new environment we will be in.”

UND has won 30 of its last 33 games at the Alerus Center and is 5-0 at home this season, including a win over then-No. 4 Montana in the home opener.

The Hawks have struggled to maintain this level of play on the road in recent years. UND’s only road win in 2023 was against Missouri Valley Football Conference newcomer Murray State.

In 2022, UND won three road games, including a 35-30 victory at Youngstown State, a victory sparked by a blocked punt and return by Cole Davis for a touchdown.

“The preparation is still the same,” UND linebaker Riley Gerhardt said. “We have to come in every day and work and execute the game plan… just stay ready no matter what.”

Youngstown State is 2-6 this season, with its only wins coming against Indiana State and non-scholarship Valparaiso.

The Penguins, who have a strong running game and an experienced offensive line, have struggled on defense, where YSU suffered a major setback with graduation and the transfer portal. Thirteen of YSU’s top 14 tacklers from a year ago have either graduated or transferred, and only one starter remains on the roster from last year’s FCS playoff team.

The Penguins rank last in the MVFC in run defense, giving up more than 220 yards per game. That total ranks 113th nationally among the 123 defenses ranked in NCAA statistics.