by Shane Hylton
Columnist

The leaves are starting to drop and change color and the inevitable beet harvest has begun. Don’t worry folks, it is just pre-pile for now but the trucks are out. Please give them the room they need and watch for stray beets on the road as they can still do some damage to your vehicle if they get kicked up by another vehicle. Also, watch for dirt and possible mud on the road as it can get slick.

I have to share this next story because I do not think Grand Forks realizes the importance of the loss by UND Football last week in San Diego. I am kicking myself now for not going to the family wedding in San Diego last weekend. If the defense can shore up their tackling problems we have a great team here in Grand Forks. Here is the story as reported by the awesome people at UND Sports.com (photo and story courtesy of UND Athletics Media relations)

SDSU holds off late-charging UND in shootout

SAN DIEGO – North Dakota needed 17 yards on a late fourth down to keep hopes of its first win over a FBS opponent alive, but came up inches short on what would be the visitor’s final offensive play in a wild shootout at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday. On the scoreboard, it would be eight points that UND fell short by as San Diego State held on for the 49-41 victory as both teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. “We were close, but I guess a consolation prize is not something that you want,” UND head coach Chris Mussman said. “Our expectations are higher than that. We came in here and expected to win a football game. A lot of people will not believe that, but after what you saw here tonight, I think that you can kind of believe that was what our focus was tonight.”

UND senior quarterback Marcus Hendrickson turned in his second straight outstanding performance, passing for 434 yards and four touchdowns in the loss. The reigning Co-Big Sky Player of the Week connected with junior Greg Hardin for three of those scores as the duo thrived again, connecting eight times for 142 yards. The 434-yard passing game by Hendrickson was the second highest single-game effort in UND history (515 by John Bowenkamp in 2002 vs. Augustana), while Hardin equaled his career-high with those eight catches and had a three-touchdown game for the second-straight outing. Hendrickson needed to get his passing yardage to 435, however, to keep UND’s late rally alive, but senior Mitch Sutton was forced out of bounds after netting 16-plus yards on a 4th-and-17 with a minute, 10 seconds to play. Mountain West officials reviewed the spot, but the call on the field was confirmed resulting in UND falling to 0-6 all-time against FBS opponents.

UND reached the 40-point plateau for the third straight game on their next drive as Hendrickson converted two third downs and a crucial fourth down before finding Tyrhe Ivery for a touchdown from 15 yards out. It was Ivery’s first catch of the season and came at an opportune time with 6:17 left on the clock. On their next drive, the Aztecs ran four minutes off the clock, but the UND defense was able to give its offense two minutes to work with after stopping SDSU on a 4th-and-9 from their opponent’s 29-yard line. Long passed up a 46-yard field goal attempt to try and seal the win with a fourth-down pass from Katz that was off target. UND took over from there, but two straight incompletions followed by the Aztec’s second sack of the game left Hendrickson facing a 4th-and-19. He avoided the rush this time and escaped the pocket to his right where he found Sutton out of the backfield. The senior from Plover, Wis., caught the ball in stride and barreled his way towards the first-down marker, but an Aztec defender was able to knock Sutton out of bounds just inches short. Katz took a knee on the next two snaps to run out the clock and give the home team a hard-earned victory.

Around Town

Best Pizza in Greater Grand Forks Contest

This Saturday the 22nd will bring the best pizza makers in town will invade the Town Square (3rd Street & Demers Avenue) for the title of best pie maker in Grand Forks. I do not usually advocate food contests, but this one is a lot of fun and you get the best pizza in Grand Forks, just remember to not overdo it. There will also be live entertainment and more. For more info contact: 701-746-2545.

UND Sports

This weekend brings a small lull on the UND sports scene with UND Football heading for their first Big Sky Conference game at Sacramento State in California and Volleyball heading to Idaho State University. Both teams will play on Saturday the 22nd. However UND Women’s Soccer will be playing Friday the 21st against Sacramento State with a start time of 4 PM and also on Sunday the 23rd at 11 AM against Portland State. Both games will be played at Bronson Field (Located southeast of the Ralph Engelstad Arena), check out UNDSports.com for more info.

GFPL Basic Computer Class – Electronic Devices (It’s on, now what?)

For those of you that have parents or grandparents that won’t listen to you about their electronic devices, this class is for them! Get your electronically handicapped family member out to the Grand Forks Library this Saturday the 22nd from 10 AM to 11 AM. Have them bring their device to the library and they’ll help you learn to use it. If you don’t have your own, you can come and try out one of the library’s electronic devices. This is also great for those that are thinking about making a device purchase in the near future as well. For more info. contact: Grand Forks public Library at 701-772-8116. The Grand Forks Library is located at 2110 Library Circle in Grand Forks.

Nancy Gardner Memorial Food Drive

This is a great cause and a way to get rid of that library fine! The Nancy Gardner Memorial Food Drive and Fine Forgiveness will take place Sept. 23 to 29. If you bring in a canned good, you will receive $2 off your overdue fine. No fines? You can still donate! Donations will go to an area food cupboard. Fine forgiveness donations cannot apply to lost or damaged item charges. Food drive will be held at the Grand Forks Public Library at 2110 Library Circle. For more info. Contact: GFPL Reference 701-772-8116

UND music faculty to present recital to raise money for scholarships

The University of North Dakota Department of Music announces an upcoming faculty solo and chamber music recital at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the Josephine Campbell Recital Hall to raise money for music scholarships. The UND Applied Music Faculty, accompanied by artists/teachers from the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra and Grand Forks Public Schools, will perform a variety of genres: solo voice, solo string, piano trio and woodwind and brass ensembles. No tickets will be sold at the door. Good will offerings are greatly appreciated and happily accepted. Proceeds from the concert will go toward UND Music scholarships.

Performers include Anne Chrisopherson, Maria Kennedy-Williams, Marla Fogderud, Royce Blackburn and Wesley Lawrence, voice; Sharon Boschee, flute; Elizabeth Rheude and Michelle Ingle, clarinet; Philip McKenzie and Amy Roethke, oboe; Michael Wittgraf and Cassel Everson, bassoon; Kayla Nelson and Bruce Morlock, horn; Ronnie Ingle, trumpet; Joel Pugh, trombone; Nariaki Sugiura and David Henrickson, piano; Simona Barbu, cello; and James Popejoy, conductor. Composers to be represented throughout the recital include Brahms, Mozart, Gonoud, Pierne, Granados, Strauss, Plog, Schubert and Catan.

For additional information, contact Professor Elizabeth Rheude at 701.777.2823.

Story courtesy of UND media relations