Petrino, blocked punt help Idaho beat N. Dakota 31-27
MOSCOW, Idaho -- Mason Petrino threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Cotton Jr. with 27 seconds left to help Idaho rally for a 31-27 win over North Dakota on Saturday.
Petrino finished 27-of-50 passing for 277 yards and two scores with no interceptions. Cotton had 10 receptions for 137 yards -- both career highs -- and Isaiah Saunders added 97 yards rushing, including a 43-yard touchdown, on 17 carries for Idaho (4-5, 3-4 Big Sky).
Jalen Hoover blocked a punt and freshman tight end Connor Whitney returned it 3 yards for a score to pull the Vandals within three midway through the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged punts until, after three-and-out by North Dakota (5-4, 3-3), Petrino led an 11-play, 57-yard drive -- including a 10-yard pass to David Ungerer on fourth-and-6 -- before Cotton's touchdown catch capped the scoring.
Brady Oliveira had 28 carries for a career-high 190 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Fighting Hawks. Garett Maag had seven catches for 74 yards and two scores, including a 10-yard TD that gave UND a 27-17 lead with 12:37 left.
Game Information
2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 8-0 | 15-0 |
| South Dakota | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Northern Iowa | 5-3 | 6-5 |
| North Dakota | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| North Dakota State | 5-3 | 11-4 |
| Youngstown State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| Illinois State | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Missouri State | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Murray State | 1-7 | 2-9 |
| Indiana State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
| Western Illinois | 0-8 | 0-11 |
2023 Big Sky Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 7-1 | 13-2 |
| Idaho | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Montana State | 6-2 | 8-4 |
| Northern Arizona | 5-3 | 5-6 |
| UC Davis | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Sacramento State | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| Weber State | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Portland State | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Idaho State | 3-5 | 3-8 |
| Eastern Washington | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Cal Poly | 1-7 | 3-8 |
| Northern Colorado | 0-8 | 0-11 |
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