Jerry Kaminski ties career-high with 5 passing TDs as North Dakota overpowers Illinois State 49-21

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Jerry Kaminski threw five touchdown passes and ran for another as North Dakota pulled away from Illinois State for a 49-21 victory Saturday in a clash of top-15 FCS teams.

The Fighting Hawks (7-4, 4-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference), ranked No. 11 in the Stats Perform poll, broke a 14-14 tie by scoring 28 unanswered points. Kaminski threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter, then added a 1-yard scoring run early in the third to make it 42-14.

Kaminski completed 18 of 27 passes for 293 yards. His 7-yard touchdown pass to Korey Tai gave him 25 for the season, tying a career high, and made him the fourth North Dakota quarterback with at least 50 career touchdown passes.

Hunter Kallstrom had two catches for 91 yards, including an 80-yard catch-and-run that was North Dakota’s longest offensive play of the season. Deng Deng caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

Beckham Pellant threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns for No. 9 Illinois State (7-3, 3-3). Mar’Quan Gary had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

North Dakota's Braden Mohr reached double-digit sacks on the year, becoming the second Fighting Hawk in program history to do so during the regular season. Erick Paye also recorded his first career sack.

Up next

North Dakota: Has a bye week before hosting Southern Illinois on Nov. 21.

Illinois State: At Youngstown State next Saturday.

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