North Dakota State Beats Hawaii 21-13

DJ Scott capped a 16-play, fourth-quarter drive with a touchdown run, and Ray James Jr. returned an interception 49 yards for a score as North Dakota State rallied to beat Hawaii 21-13 on Saturday night.

The victory lifts North Dakota State to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain West Conference, while Hawaii drops to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The result sets up the Bison to host Northern Illinois on Saturday, while the Rainbow Warriors head on the road to face Nevada.

Hawaii Football Postgame Press Conference vs. North Dakota State — University of Hawaii Athletics Department – Manoa

Logan Larson intercepted a pass from Micah Alejado three plays into Hawaii’s second possession, handing North Dakota State prime field position at the Rainbow Warriors’ 11-yard line. Nathan Hayes delivered a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Collins two plays later, pushing the Bison ahead 7-0 after the first quarter.

Hawaii responded before the break when DeVon Rice punched in a 15-yard touchdown run with just 4 seconds left in the half, leveling the score at 7-7. Sean Olvera-Harle supplied the only scoring of the third quarter with 28- and 33-yard field goals, putting the Rainbow Warriors in front 13-7 heading into the final period.

North Dakota State reclaimed momentum with a grinding 69-yard possession that burned 8:37 off the game clock before Scott punched in the go-ahead score. Hayes finished the night completing 13 of 20 passes for 97 yards for the Bison, who pulled out the win despite generating only 183 yards of total offense.

On the other side, Alejado tallied 231 yards through the air on 31-for-47 passing, though he was intercepted twice. The Hawaii ground game struggled to find traction, managing a meager 31 yards on 26 rushing carries.