Portland State Vikings @ North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Nelson pick-6 lifts North Dakota past Portland State, 17-10
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Lenny Nelson IV picked off a tipped Davis Alexander pass and returned it 58 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter of North Dakota's 17-10 comeback victory over Portland State on Saturday afternoon.
Facing an unrelenting pass rush from the Fighting Hawks, Alexander got Portland State in field goal range with 4:42 left in the first half and Cody Williams converted from 25-yards out. Alexander then stretched to break the plane of the goal on a 4-yard run with 3:49 left in the third quarter to put Portland State up, 10-7.
Alexander had the Vikings (4-6, 2-4) in North Dakota territory and was looking to complete a short pass when the ball was tipped at the line and Nelson scooped it out of the air and ran, untouched, for the score.
Alexander was 13-of-29 passing for 139 yards and carried 21 times for 70 yards.
Nate Ketteringham got North Dakota (6-4, 3-2) on the board in the first quarter, sneaking in from a yard out to cap an eight-play, 50-yard drive. He finished 8 of 16 for 100 yards passing.
Game Information
Grand Forks, ND
2025 Standings
| Big Sky ConferenceBig Sky Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Montana State | 8-0 | 14-2 |
| Montana | 7-1 | 13-2 |
| UC Davis | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Sacramento State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Idaho State | 5-3 | 6-6 |
| Northern Arizona | 4-4 | 7-5 |
| Eastern Washington | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Cal Poly | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Idaho | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Weber State | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Portland State | 1-7 | 1-11 |
| Missouri Valley Football ConferenceMissouri Valley Football Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 8-0 | 12-1 |
| South Dakota | 6-2 | 10-5 |
| North Dakota | 5-3 | 8-6 |
| Youngstown State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Illinois State | 5-3 | 12-5 |
| South Dakota State | 4-4 | 9-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 4-4 | 7-5 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Murray State | 1-7 | 1-11 |
| Indiana State | 1-7 | 3-9 |
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