UND's Braden Mohr ties school record with 10 sacks in 49-21 rout

North Dakota Fighting Hawks defensive end Braden Mohr tied the school record for regular-season sacks with 10.0 against Illinois State on Saturday. Mohr recorded 1.5 sacks in the 49-21 victory at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The total places him level with the 2001 record set by former head coach Eric Schmidt. Mohr is not a full-time starter in every game, but his production has matched the benchmark set by Schmidt two decades ago. Teammate Lance Rucker holds the overall single-season record with 11.5 sacks, a mark he set in 2025.

Schmidt praised Mohr's consistency during the match. Schmidt noted that Mohr makes up ground on the quarterback frequently, making him difficult to block. Schmidt said he expected Mohr to improve this season after the player recovered from long-term injuries in 2024 and 2025. Those injuries kept Mohr out for extended periods, requiring nine to 12 months of physical therapy and training. Schmidt credited the strength and conditioning staff for helping Mohr regain confidence and peak condition.

Wide receiver Deng Deng recorded the first multiple-touchdown game of his career. Deng finished with four receptions for 81 yards, including a career-long 41-yard gain. He also served as a pass blocker, creating space for other receivers in the short passing game. Quarterback Jerry Kaminski said he feels confident when Deng is on the field. Kaminski described Deng as a reliable target who secures the ball effectively, reducing the number of 50-50 plays. Deng has accumulated 53 catches for 771 yards and four touchdowns this season.

The Fighting Hawks controlled the game through short passes rather than a rushing attack. Korey Tai caught seven passes for 45 yards, with a longest reception of 10 yards. Schmidt said the team aimed to out-compete the Illinois State defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. The strategy focused on latching onto targets and blocking to ensure assignments were executed correctly. Schmidt emphasized that Deng is a large, physical player who is difficult to separate from receivers.

This victory marks the end of a four-game stretch against Top 10 ranked opponents in the FCS Top 25. North Dakota is now on a bye week before its final home game against Southern Illinois. Kaminski said the team will use the break to identify areas for improvement. The Fighting Hawks plan to study previous performances and refine their execution during the week off.

Turnovers played a key role in the outcome. North Dakota recovered two fumbles during the contest. Illinois State also botched a punt, which positioned the Fighting Hawks on the short field for a touchdown. The team went 7-for-7 in the red zone, converting every opportunity into a score. Schmidt said the defensive line played simply and aggressively, allowing players to pursue the ball without overthinking calls. He highlighted Victor Dawson as a tough tackler who is difficult to bring down when moving vertically. Schmidt noted that the defensive unit made the opposing offense earn every yard, leading to multiple near takeaways.

Jerry Kaminski completed five touchdown passes in the game. The No. 11 ranked Fighting Hawks routed the No. 10 ranked Illinois State Redbirds. The performance snapped a recent trend of road struggles where turnovers were a weakness. The offense maintained possession through the short passing game, while the defense applied consistent pressure. The 28-point margin of victory secures a strong finish to the ranked-opponent streak before the break.