Several silver linings shine as UMD football sits .500 heading into Homecoming
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The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) football team may have fallen to undefeated Sioux Falls University 34-31 last Saturday, but a lot of good things came out of that close loss.
The Bulldogs’ starting quarterback Garrett Olson played his first full game this season since suffering an injury in week one. Also redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Walljasper shined, not from the pocket, but by rushing for a team-high 90 yards.
“Obviously I love to run it otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it,” Walljasper said. “But I can throw and I think the coaches are just making sure that I’m ready, have everything down with the offense so whenever they call my number to throw I’ll be ready to do it.”
Walljasper brought in one touchdown against the Cougars while Olson finished throwing for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
UMD also continued to excel defensively. Defensive back Dayvia Gbor picked up his third interception remaining the only Bulldog on defense to snag any so far this year.
The UMD football team may have fallen to undefeated Sioux Falls 34-31 last Saturday, but a lot of good things came out of that close loss.
“I just look at film a lot,” Gbor explained. “See what type of tendencies receivers give based on different formations, different splits, different types of things receivers like to do.”
“Also my teammates being out there,” Gbor added. “The pass rush getting there forcing the quarterback to throw the ball ealier, and the safeties being over the top helping me go be more aggressive on plays and make more plays on the ball.”
Now 2-2 UMD kicks off Homecoming this Saturday hosting Minnesota State University-Moorhead at noon.