1 week Ago By Abby Sharpe
GRAND FORKS — UND quarterback Simon Romfo was used last season as a change-of-pace, running quarterback. But Saturday night in his debut at the Alerus Center as starting quarterback, Romfo didn't record a rush in the first half against No. 4 Montana.
The Fighting Hawks trailed 24-7 at halftime and decided to make a change at the break: Let Romfo create plays with his legs. ADVERTISEMENT That was a difference-maker for UND in the second half as the Hawks scored 20 unanswered points to upset Montana 27-24, helped by a 19-yard touchdown run by Romfo in the third quarter that began with a bad snap. “Some of those runs were really tough,” UND coach Bubba Schweigert said.
“His touchdown run was a bad snap, and he takes it up the middle, ends up in the end zone. He just really played well. He'll keep getting better.
It's his second start. So he'll keep getting better and better, but he's just so gritty and tough.” Simon says, "Watch this!" #UNDproud | #LGH pic.
twitter.com/aiLDgjQnbR Montana coach Bobby Hauck was caught off guard by Romfo's running in the second half. "They've got some depth problems at quarterback, and we didn't really anticipate they'd run it much (with Romfo) in this game,” Hauck said.
“We didn't lean on quarterback run defense, which we have some things we like against that. . .
against teams that do a lot of that. But we didn't really anticipate they were going to do that." Romfo ended with 7 rushes for 57 yards.
His third quarter touchdown pulled UND within three, 24-21. Romfo completed 11-for-24 passes for 97 yards and threw one interception. His longest passing was a 17-yard connection to fifth-year wide receiver Bo Belquist.
“We’ve got to start faster,” Romfo said. “Whatever we have to do to figure it out, we just have to figure it out. We have to do it, and it's on me.
I have to be better right away, but we'll take the win.” ADVERTISEMENT Despite the tough start offensively, Schweigert didn’t entertain the idea of making a change at quarterback. “Never entered our mind,” he said.
“Was not even part of the thought process. We have to let guys grow and give guys opportunities to grow and see how they respond. A lot of times, there were some plays out there tonight, it wasn't always on the quarterback.
Somebody maybe ran a wrong route, somebody didn't pick up the right guy, and he got pressure. So the passing game, everybody's involved with it. I know the quarterback’s responsible for a lot, but everybody's involved with it.
” The confidence Schweigert and the team has in Romfo “means everything” to him, he said. “It means everything to be able to start for my home state,” Romfo said. “It means the world.
So, I know that I have to play better right away, but I'm just so, so thankful that we got the win, and so thankful for my coaches putting me in a great spot.”.
