Oct. 23—GRAND FORKS — The UND football program had in-fighting late in the fourth quarter last Saturday as the Fighting Hawks were putting the finishing touches on an upset of then-No. 1 South Dakota State at the Alerus Center.
Quarterback Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson felt Jerry Kaminski deserved the right to kneel out the clock. Kaminski argued Tupou'ata-Johnson earned the chance to take a victory formation snap.
"I feel like he deserved it coming off the injury," Tupou'ata-Johnson said. "That's just our relationship. We always want to give one another what they deserve."
Kaminski's incredible return from an ankle injury the week before was the dominant storyline of the Fighting Hawks' win over SDSU but Tupou'ata-Johnson's role was key, as well. The teammates and their coaches say their relationship was an important piece of the performance.
Against the Jackrabbits, Tupou'ata-Johnson ran six times for 34 yards, including three first-down runs on third down. Kaminski finished off three first-half scoring drives — including a pair of touchdown passes — as the Hawks popped out to a 21-0 lead against SDSU.
"It felt surreal beating the No. 1 team in the country, especially when it's a Dakota team," Tupou'ata-Johnson said. "It felt pretty good to actually contribute and get on the field and help our offense any way I can."
Kaminski and Tupou'ata-Johnson have showcased a friendship that wouldn't seem possible considering the circumstances.
When UND head coach Eric Schmidt took the job in Grand Forks prior to the 2025 season, he brought Tupou'ata-Johnson with him from San Diego State, where the quarterback had a taste of a starting role in the Mountain West Conference.
UND entered the 2025 fall camp with a three-way battle for quarterback, which included Kaminski, Tupou'ata-Johnson and returning starter Simon Romfo.
Kaminski emerged from the competition as the starter and has ran with the opportunity. Yet this past offseason, both Kaminski and Tupou'ata-Johnson elected to return to the Fighting Hawks — a rarity in the transfer portal era.
"Two guys the same age competing for the same job, and you can only pick one and both are still here," Schmidt said. "Credit to Danny Freund that both of those guys feel like they're getting developed. (Tupou'ata-Johnson) still feels like he's getting better and valued here. You get close to somebody when you do hard things together ... those guys are close because they've done hard things together."
Kaminski, a native of Sun Prairie, Wis., was quick to give credit to his backup after the win over the Jacks.
"He's a high-character guy," Kaminski said. "People are attracted to him and want to be around him. He's just such a great teammate and great person. That's one of my best friends. He's really poured into me this week. I can't thank him enough."
Despite the optics of an FBS transfer coming to UND to take the quarterback job, Kaminski welcomed Tupou'ata-Johnson immediately.
"When I first transferred, he was one of the first players to bring me in and ask if I want to throw with him in the offseason," Tupou'ata-Johnson said. "Our relationship has grown tremendously. Me, him and Korey Tai are tight and always hanging out.
"We're going for the same position but at the end of the day, it's what's best for the team. We all want a national championship. When I was going in on third downs, he was hyping me up and congratulating me. Whatever is best for the team — that's why we're close. Whoever is in, we want to win."
Tupou'ata-Johnson's success against the Jacks is a likely indicator the Hawks will be willing to explore his use more this season.
"He has a role in our football team ... he'll be a guy now we can use and need to use," Schmidt said. "He has charisma and makes plays. The sideline gets excited when he makes a play because they like to cheer for a guy who's a team-first guy."