After two heart-breaking road losses, UND enters pivotal home stretch
· Yahoo Sports
Nov. 2—GRAND FORKS — Coming off two heart-breaking losses on the road to Top 10 programs in the FCS, the UND football team didn't waver from its messaging Monday as it prepares for the final two games of the regular season.
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The No. 11 Fighting Hawks host No. 10 Illinois State — a fourth-straight matchup against a Top 10 foe — at the Alerus Center at 1 p.m. Saturday.
With UND's final home game coming against unranked Southern Illinois, the matchup with the Redbirds is UND's last opportunity to earn another signature win for the FCS playoff committee.
Despite the big-picture stakes, UND's leaders and coach Eric Schmidt kept the focus at the immediate task at hand during their moments at the microphone for the program's weekly press conferences at Memorial Village.
"We know there's urgency, but we take it week-by-week and day-by-day," UND edge Lance Rucker said. "We'll watch film and learn from it."
Rucker is often soft-spoken and direct in his messaging, but Schmidt and quarterback Jerry Kaminski also stuck to matter-of-fact answers about any postseason feel to a key showdown with Illinois State.
"As the season gets going, every opportunity matters," Kaminski said.
The Hawks have been on the road six of the last eight weeks and have yet to reach the bye week, which arrives next Saturday before the final regular-season game against SIU.
"We're really going to hone in on the process," Schmidt said. "That's the most important thing. Guys understand how important these games are down the stretch. We knew this stretch would be an opportunity to solidify ourselves to make the playoffs and get home games and all that, but none of it matters if we don't perform and play up to our capabilities on Saturday. We aren't looking at anyone to go out there and wear a cape. These last few weeks have hardened us, and we'll continue to improve. That's what I'm most excited about — our guys have embraced a growth mindset."
The last two weeks have been emotional rides for UND fans. The Hawks lost in overtime at South Dakota, then fell on a late fourth-and-19 touchdown at Youngstown State last Saturday after leading 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 in the third quarter.
South Dakota State, South Dakota, Youngstown State and UND are all undefeated at home.
"I think there are four or five really good teams at the top of our league and there's not a lot of separation," Schmidt said. "It's any given Saturday. There have been a lot of dramatic games. They've come down to three or four plays, and we have to find a way to make one more play than our opponent moving forward.
"You want your place to be a home field advantage and over the years ours has been. We're not just feeling good because we're at home. We know we have to play well in that arena in order for us to be successful. We've got to November here and have a chance to stay home for the entire month."