Javelinas drop opener 40-14

GRAND FORKS, N. DAK. -- The University of North Dakota wore down Texas A&M Kingsville on Thursday night with their relentless offensive attack in a 40-14 win at the Alerus Center.

The season opener for the Javelinas (0-1) began well as the defense held the Fighting Sioux (1-0) to just three points in their first three possessions. UND missed a 50-yard field goal on their first possession and the Javelinas followed that with a missed 48-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession, the Fighting Sioux drove down to the 14-yard line before settling for a 31-yard field goal from Brandon Hellevang with 50 seconds left in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.

The Javelinas responded with a couple of big plays. First, senior Clavens Charles returned the kickoff 31 yards to the A&M 43-yard line. On the first play of the drive, the Javelinas went to a little trickery with a wide receiver reverse pass play from Charles to sophomore Damian Couthren that was good for 56 yards down to the UND 1-yard line. Short yardage quarterback Logan Morris then snuck in for a touchdown on the next play to give the Hogs their first and only lead of the game, 7-3 with nine seconds left in the first quarter.

From that point on, it was all Fighting Sioux starting with a 39-yard kickoff return by Domique Hawkins to end the first quarter. UND would proceed to go on an 8-play, 41-yard drive that was punctuated by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Danny Freund to Brady Trenbeath on third and 19.

The Javelinas appeared to be heading to another touchdown of their own after a 33-yard pass from Billy Garza to Jareko Taylor put them near midfield. On a third down play, Garza's pass hit the hands of a Kingsville receiver only to pop straight up into the hands of Hawkins. The Fighting Sioux would score one more time before the end of the first half and went into the break with a 17-7 lead.

In the third quarter, the Fighting Sioux put the game away with three more touchdowns, as Freund showed by he is one of the top quarterbacks around. He finished the game throwing for 260 yards on 18-of-25 passing and two touchdowns. His main target was Brady Trenbeath who had nine catches for 171 yards and two scores.

The Javelinas received solid quarterback play from both Garza and sophomore Daniel Ramirez. Garza finished 9-of-22 for 95 yards while Ramirez went 10-for-22 for 133 yards and a touchdown. Taylor eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in his career making seven catches and scoring on a 21-yard pass play in the fourth quarter.

Senior Mike Martinez made 10 solo tackles in leading the Javelina defense. Jeff Edwards broke free for back-to-back sacks against the Fighting Sioux late in the second quarter and finished the game with three tackles for loss. Junior punter Cody Smith averaged 42.1 yards on seven punts, including a long of 57 yards.

For North Dakota, it was their first game as a member of NCAA Division I Championship Subdivision. UND set a new season opening record with 11,434 people in attendance.

The Javelinas are back in action Saturday, September 6 at East Central University at 6 o'clock. The game can be listened to on the Wells Fargo Javelina Sports Network and be sure to tune in on Wednesday nights at 5:30 for the Hog Calls Coaches Show.