2001 North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team

Schedule

North Dakota got off to a 6–0–0 start, before playing on October 24 to face the 6–0–0 UNO Mavericks of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The game was tied at the end of regulation, with UNO winning in overtime, 27–24, by the margin of a field goal. The Omaha team lost 2 of its last 3 games, while the Sioux won all three of theirs, for the NCC title.

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2001 NCAA Division II Playoffs

After finishing the season at 10–1–0 and winning the North Central Conference title, The University of North Dakota qualified for the playoffs as a home team. The first-round game brought the Winona State Warriors to Grand Forks on November 17. Kelby Klosterman threw six touchdown passes, tying the Division II playoff record. The first two TDs were made from catches by John Kyvig, and the last four were to Jesse Smith, and the Sioux won 42–28. Brian Wilhelmi also had one assisted tackle on the punt team to cap the victory.

The Pittsburg State Gorillas were the next team to visit Grand Forks, on November 24 for the quarterfinal round. Cameron Peterka broke the NCAA playoff record with a 59-yard field goal at the close of the first half. The Sioux held Pittsburg State to minus 17 (−17) yards rushing on their way to a 38–0 win.

The semifinal game on December 1 brought the UC-Davis Aggies to Grand Forks, and the Sioux had a 14–0 lead with 30 seconds left. With UND on its own 3 yard line on fourth down, Coach Dale Lennon directed Klosterman to down the ball in the end zone for a safety, giving the Californians their only points in the 14–2 game. North Dakota earned its first ever trip ever to the Division II championship game in Florence, Alabama, to face the Lakers of Michigan's Grand Valley State University.

Though UND had a 7–3 lead at the half, the Lakers took a 14–10 lead with 2:46 to play after Ryan Brady ran 12 yards for a touchdown. The Sioux had the ball on their 20-yard line as the game was winding down. Klosterman's first two passes were incomplete, and on third, he ran for yardage, but the Sioux were still 2 yards short on fourth down. Klosterman gambled and ran seven yards to keep the drive alive. Three downs later, the Sioux were at their 41-yard line, and it was fourth down again. Gambling again, Klosterman completed a pass to Luke Schleusner to get the first down, but Schleusner eluded a tackler and, with the help of a block by Jesse Smith, made it to the one yard line. With 29 seconds to play, Jed Perkerewicz took the handoff for the winning touchdown, giving the Sioux the 2001 Division II national championship.

Roster

• Chris Mussman Offensive coordinator/Offensive line
• Bubba Schweigert Defensive coordinator
• Tom Dosch Outside linebackers/Defensive line
• Dick Koppenhaver Quarterbacks

References

References

1. "Archived copy".
2. (September 1, 2001). "North Dakota scores early, holds on to beat Central Washington". [[The News Tribune]].
3. (September 9, 2001). "UND starts strong in Alerus Center". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
4. (September 16, 2001). "Perkerewicz sparks UND over Northern Colorado". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
5. (September 22, 2001). "Klosterman leads Sioux past Chargers". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
6. (September 30, 2001). "Sioux roll past SDSU". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
7. Collins, Kerry. (October 7, 2001). "Sioux-per display by UND's defense". The Bismarck Tribune.
8. (October 14, 2001). "Huskies' 'D' gets tricky". [[St. Cloud Times]].
9. (October 21, 2001). "Omaha surges late in game to defeat Sioux". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
10. (October 28, 2001). "Klosterman leads UND past Mavericks, 28-14". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
11. (November 4, 2001). "Augustana falls at North Dakota". [[Argus-Leader]].
12. (November 11, 2001). "Sioux clinch NCC crown". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
13. (November 18, 2001). "North Dakota ousts Winona State in D-II regional". [[St. Joseph News-Press]].
14. (November 25, 2001). "Klosterman leads way as North Dakota rips Pittsburg State, 38-0". [[Argus-Leader]].
15. (December 2, 2001). "Defense shines as Sioux make national finals for first time". [[The Bismarck Tribune]].
16. (December 9, 2001). "Sioux rally for title". [[Star Tribune]].
17. "2001 M Football Schedule". University of North Dakota Athletics.