Jake Landry's career as UND's starting quarterback is over.
It ended late Saturday night in San Luis Obispo, Calif., where Landry suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of UND's 22-21 loss against Cal Poly. Few knew the severity of the injury, as Landry finished the game.
It wasn't until Monday that a MRI revealed Landry suffered a torn ACL.
"It's a sad deal for him and our football team," UND coach Chris Mussman said Tuesday during UND's media session. "Jake will handle it as well as anyone can handle that situation."
It's never easy for a player to end his season prematurely with an injury. It's worse when the player is a fifth-year senior like Landry, Mussman said.
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"That's not how (fifth-year seniors) envision ending their careers," Mussman said. "They envision ending on their terms, walking off the field and understanding that's the last time they're going to do it."
Junior Brent Goska will start Saturday's home game against Lamar, which resumed its football program this season after a 20-year break. Marcus Hendrickson will move from wide receiver to quarterback to help UND's depth at the position. Hendrickson came to UND as a quarterback.
It was the second straight injury-filled game for the Sioux, who lost six defensive players during their Oct. 9 home against Southern Utah. Against Cal Poly, Josh Murray, UND's top running back, left the game with a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
He is listed as day-to-day.
Landry started all seven games this season and all 11 UND contests in 2009. This season, Landry completed 110-of-178 passes for 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Landry's toughness never was questioned during his career.
As a freshman, he came on in relief during UND's Division II playoff game against Grand Valley State. The day before the game, Landry could barely walk because of a knee injury.
But he came off the bench in the second half after starter Danny Freund went down with an injury. Landry completed 8-of-12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in UND's 21-14 loss in Allendale, Mich.
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On Saturday night, Landry went back into the game after suffering the knee injury when he was sacked on a third-and-12 late in the third quarter. The sack also led to a Landry fumble, which Cal Poly turned into three points.
Landry limped off the field but returned to run 24 more plays in the fourth quarter.
"If he had to play the next play, he probably wouldn't have been able to go," Goska said. "The adrenaline of the game and him being a competitor, he proved to the coaches and trainers he could still move."
Landry completed 18-of-27 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown against Cal Poly.
The loss of Landry is another setback in a season that has seen UND struggle with inconsistent play and injuries.
"It's not the way Jake wanted it to end and it's not the way I wanted to see it end," said UND senior linebacker Ryan Kasowski, who played with Landry at Grand Forks Central. "It's a tough deal. But I know Jake will handle it well and still be the leader of this team."
