UND football's passing game ended in loss at North Dakota State – Grand Forks Herald

FARGO – Three weeks ago on Sept. 14, UND quarterback Simon Romfo threw for 287 yards, the most passing yards in a game for the Fighting Hawks since Oct. 29, 2022, when Tommy Schuster threw for 292 yards against Abilene Christian.

But Romfo and the passing game were silenced in UND's 41-17 loss to North Dakota State at the Fargodome on Saturday.

Romfo was 5-for-7 for 40 yards in the first half as UND (4-2, 1-1 MVFC) played a two-score game.

He was unable to extend the field, with Romfo's longest completion being 15 yards to Quincy Vaughn – his third catch of the season.

Bo Belquist had a 13-yard catch in the first half.

“They are a good team,” Romfo said. “They’re just doing a good job taking some of our guys away. We just have to find a way to make plays.”

On the first play of the second half, Romfo fumbled, thwarting any attempt by UND to get back into the game. NDSU quarterback Cam Miller reached the end zone on a 2-yard carry to give the Bison a 31-10 lead.

Romfo found a rhythm in the fourth quarter, going 11-for-13 for 98 yards and a touchdown – even though the Hawks trailed 38-10 entering the final quarter.

UND's struggles in the passing game were particularly evident when facing the experienced Miller, the Bison's fifth-year quarterback.

Romfo went 18-for-23 for 166 yards and a touchdown throw to Caden Dennis. Miller finished the game 13 of 19 for 168 yards and two touchdowns in two and a half quarters of play. He left the game midway through the third quarter due to injury.

“When (teams) don't have the experience within a system to solve problems really quickly, (quarterback) is a difficult position,” NDSU coach Tim Polasek said. “Right now Cam is doing this weekly. He solves problems. He understands what good and bad situations look like. He plays at a high level.”

While UND coach Bubba Schweigert didn't say the Hawks were being conservative in the passing game since Romfo is a freshman in the starting lineup, he did admit that “there's a lot of different coverages and things that (Romfo) probably hasn't seen in live yet.” -Action has seen.” ”

“We're trying to do as much as we think he can handle and we can keep him safe,” he said. “There are so many parts of the passing game that don’t just affect the quarterback. You have to be able to protect and manage the routes and have time to develop the games. But he’s doing better.”

Schweigert remains loyal to Romfo, who is expected to be back on the field after the bye week on October 19th against Northern Iowa at the Alerus Center.

“He’s tough,” Schweigert said. “Of course he will come back and look at the tape and think he can do better and be disappointed. It's just really hard.

“I just love the boy. If you could be with him day in and day out, you would know why in every situation.”