GRAND FORKS - For the third week in a row, the University of North Dakota football team will go through practices uncertain about the weekend's starting quarterback.
Fighting Hawks coach Bubba Schweigert said Monday, Oct. 23, the staff is still gathering injury information on Keaton Studsrud, who started against Sacramento State Saturday, Oct. 21, before coming out when he re-injured his leg when he was hit on a sack causing a fumble.
Backup Andrew Zimmerman, a sophomore transfer from Fresno City College, played in the second half last week for the second consecutive game.
On the season, Zimmerman has now thrown for 311 yards on 18-for-36 passing. He has three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has fumbled twice.
Schweigert said he liked how Zimmerman played two weeks ago at Montana and the decision was made last Saturday that if Studsrud was banged up, the team would turn to Zimmerman rather than Brad Heidlebaugh, who started at Montana when Studsrud couldn't play.
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"He entered the game with a lot of confidence and it helped his confidence even more when he had a couple of good balls early," Schweigert said. "Even after turning it over once, he came back and played well. That shows his composure."
Schweigert said he isn't ready to name a starter for Saturday's 6 p.m. matchup with winless Portland State in Oregon.
"I think it's going to be that way until we know more about Keaton," Schweigert said. "We're going to get Andrew some work this week, and we're going to have to work in Brad Heidlebaugh, too. That's just where we're at this season. If we get more info on Keaton, maybe we can make that decision earlier in the week, but at this point, it's still possible he can play."
UND didn't play Portland State last season, but the Fighting Hawks won 19-17 in Hillsboro, Ore., in 2015.
The score could be higher this time around as PSU is allowing 469.3 yards per game and 38.3 points. UND is allowing 36.5 points and 478.0 yards.
The Vikings have lost nine straight dating back to last season and six straight at home.
"I want to see a lot of pride and fight and competitiveness," UND running back Brady Oliveira said. "I don't want guys to quit. We didn't expect or want this outcome, but we have three games left, and I want to make those three the best three of the season.
"(Portland State) is going to come out and fight, just like we're going to come out and fight. We're going to do everything it takes to get that win."
