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Grand Forks, N.D. • John Santiago returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and North Dakota knocked off Weber State, 27-19, in a battle of previously unbeaten Big Sky Conference teams Saturday.

Weber State scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to grab a 13-7 lead at intermission but the Fighting Hawks (7-2, 6-0) got rolling in the second half.

Brady Oliveira scored on a 17-yard run and Brad Heidlebaugh tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Noah Wanzek to make it 21-13 after three quarters.

Reid Taubenheim kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 24-13, but the Wildcats (5-3, 4-1) got within a touchdown when Jadrian Clark hit Tui Satuala with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 4:46 left.

Taubenheim put the game out of reach with a 42-yard field goal with 1:57 left.

Clark was 20 of 36 for 274 yards and two touchdowns for Weber State, but was picked off three times.