First-Half Heroics Not Enough For Racers to Overcome Fifth-Ranked Fighting Hawks

Saturday, October 3

Grand Forks, N.D.

1 p.m.

Murray State

1-5 , 0-2

North Dakota

5-1 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Murray St.	14	7	0	7	28
North Dakota	0	24	28	3	55

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

First-Half Heroics Not Enough For Racers to Overcome Fifth-Ranked Fighting Hawks

10/3/2026 4:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Murray State Falls to North Dakota in Grand Forks

By: Charlie Williams

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A 21-0 first-half lead was not enough for Murray State (1-5, 0-2 MVFC) to overcome No. 5 North Dakota (5-1, 2-0 MVFC) on Saturday afternoon in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Murray State defense got things started with a bang as Dylan Rowsey forced a fumble on the opening drive of the game, and Amari McGill recovered the ball to give the Racers possession. The offense rewarded the defensive effort by driving all the way to the UND 8-yard line before Tyrell Campbell gave the Racers an early lead with a 7-yard touchdown.

The defense was not done, as on the ensuing drive Jerry Martin dove on a Jerry Kaminski fumble and rumbled down to the UND 9-yard line to put the Racers in the red zone yet again. Two plays later, Mykel Allen punched it in from the 1 to give Murray State a 14-0 first-quarter lead. After a Fighting Hawks punt, the offense got to work once again, driving 75 yards in 16 plays before Allen capped off the drive with his second score of the day to put the Racers ahead 21-0.

North Dakota fought back in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on two consecutive drives before Cameron Weir tied the game with a 57-yard punt return touchdown with 2:36 to go in the second quarter. The Fighting Hawks took the lead on a 23-yard field goal with 5 seconds to go in the half to make it 24-21 at the break.

The third quarter was all Fighting Hawks as North Dakota scored twice on the ground and twice through the air to take a 52-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Fighting Hawks added 3 more in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard field goal before the Racers got their only points of the second half. Jim Ogle hit Dimitri Howard across the middle before the Birmingham, Ala., native streaked up the sideline for a 51-yard score to make the final 55-28.

The Racers finished the game with 266 total yards of offense, and a season-high 28 points with 121 on the ground and 145 through the air. Tyrell Campbell led the team in rushing yards with 51, while Mykel Allen added 41 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Baxter Wright had 14 yards on 10 carries and went 8-of-11 for 80 yards through the air. Jim Ogle went 3-of-5 for 65 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in relief.

Dylan Rowsey highlighted the Racers' defensive effort with 11 total tackles and a forced fumble, while Ryan McCall had 7 tackles, and Tay Cline had 6. Jayden Walker had 5 total tackles, including 3 for loss.

Up Next
Following a bye week, the Racers return to Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m. CDT for a homecoming matchup against South Dakota.

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