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Hillsboro, OR - In a battle of the Big Sky Conference's top two defenses, North Dakota got the key fourth quarter stop on its way to a 19-17 victory over the Portland State Vikings.

PSU led for the much of the game, holding North Dakota mainly to field goals and coming up with two big turnovers that it turned into 10 Viking points. But North Dakota stopped a PSU drive with just over four minutes to play, forcing the Vikings to punt on fourth-and-one on its own side of the field. UND took over with 3:53 to play and was able to convert two first downs, running out the clock.

With the win, North Dakota is tied for first in the Big Sky at 2-0 and goes to 4-1 on the year. The Vikings suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1, 1-1.

The Vikings created early excitement with a 76-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Alex Kuresa hit Paris Penn running down the seam and Penn ran 50 yards after the catch for the score. The lead held up as North Dakota managed only a field goal in the first quarter despite running 24 plays to just four for the Vikings.

UND kicker Reid Taubenheim added a second field goal - from 37 yards - midway through the second quarter trimming PSU's lead to 7-6.

After their initial score, the Vikings did not produce a lot of offense. But a big defensive play late in the second quarter ignited PSU. On the first play of North Dakota's fourth series, Viking safety Beau Duronslet put a big hit on UND ball carrier Iwarri Smith, forcing a fumble. Walter Santiago picked up the football at the North Dakota 18 and returned it to the 10. PSU ended up with a 19-yard field goal just before halftime and led 10-6 at intermission.

North Dakota finally garnered the lead in the third quarter. Another field goal by Taubenheim made the game 10-9. On PSU's next series Kuresa fumbled and UND took advantage. On the ensuing series, quarterback Keaton Studsrud took a read option play up the middle for a 32-yard score. That gave North Dakota its first lead at 16-10 with 5:47 to go in the third quarter. 

The Viking defense then came up with another big play. Patrick Onwuasor picked off a Studsrud pass late in the third quarter, returning it 61 yards to the UND 1. Two plays later, Nate Tago stomped into the end zone and PSU was back on top 17-16.

North Dakota drove 63 yards on the next possession and took the lead back on a 29-yard field goal by Taubenheim with 12:53 to play. 

PSU had only two more possessions in the game, totaling 63 yards, but was unable to score. The defining stop came on 4th-and-1 at the PSU 45 with four minutes left.

"It was a dogfight. We knew it was going to be a defensive battle and it was. Congrats to (UND) Coach Schweigert and the crew. They played hard. I am proud of my group because I saw effort and I saw "wanna" and they didn't stop," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum.

"I gambled on my defense, and I made a mistake with how many timeouts I had. That's a mistake on me. But, I thought if we stop them, they are backed up and something good happens with a turnover or a punt."

North Dakota ended up with 396 yards of offense to just 247 for the Vikings. PSU's running game was shut down for the first time this season, managing only 97 yards on 30 carries. Meanwhile, Studsrud (107 yards) and John Santiago (111 yards) led UND's run game.

Kuresa was 9-13 passing for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a team-leading 55 yards. Penn caught four passes for 94 yards and a score.

Linebacker Jeremy Lutali led the Viking defense with 10 tackles and forced two fumbles. 

GAME NOTES: Kicker Jonathan Gonzales is 5-5 on field goals this season… Onwuasor's interception was his third on the season… Portland State travels for a non-conference next Saturday. The Vikings will play North Texas in a 2 p.m. PT game.