BISON Visit DakotaDome for First Time in 12 Years to Face COYOTES THIS WEEK: No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (7-0, 3-0 MVFC) makes its first trip in 12 years to the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D., to face South Dakota (2-5, 0-3 MVFC) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. TELEVISION: Midco Sports Network and the NBC North Dakota network will have live coverage beginning at 2 p.m. with Jay Elsen calling the play-by-play and Andre Fields color analyst. RADIO: KFGO-AM 790 and KRWK-FM 101.9 of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. KFGOs Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst and NDSUs Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sidelines. A live audio stream will be available free of charge on GoBison/allaccess. THE SERIES: This is the 79th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota dating back to 1903. NDSU leads the series 51-25-2 and has won four straight in the series including a 42-0 win last year in Fargo and a 54-0 win at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls two years ago. The only other meeting as Division I opponents was a 38-16 NDSU non-conference win at the Fargodome in 2010. The Bison are 20-16-1 all-time in Vermillion, but have not played at the DakotaDome since 2002 when the Coyotes won in four overtimes, 40-37. RECORD WINNING STREAKS: North Dakota States 31-game winning streak is an MVFC record, the longest in NDSU and Football Championship Subdivision history, and the third longest winning streak in Division I football over the past 50 years. NDSU has beaten 15 ranked teams and outscored its last 31 opponents by an average of 34-11. The Bison have also set an MVFC record with 16 consecutive victories in conference play. Active Division I Overall Winning Streaks 31 - North Dakota State (MVFC) 23 - Florida State (ACC) 9 - Mississippi State (SEC) 9 - Harvard (Ivy) Longest Division I Winning Streaks (Ended) 47 - Oklahoma, 1953-57 (Notre Dame, 7-0) 39 - Washington, 1908-14 (Oregon St., 0-0) 37 - Yale, 1890-93 (Princeton, 6-0) 37 - Yale, 1887-89 (Princeton, 10-0) 35 - Toledo, 1969-71 (Tampa, 21-0) 34 - Miami (Fla.), 2000-03 (Ohio St., 31-24, 2ot) 34 - Penn, 1894-96 (Lafayette, 6-4) 31 - North Dakota State, 2012-present 31 - Oklahoma, 1948-50 (Kentucky, 13-7) 31 - Pittsburgh, 1914-18 (Cleveland Naval, 10-9) 31 - Penn, 1896-98 (Harvard, 10-0) SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN: NDSUs school- and FCS-record 31-game winning streak has been marked by second-half dominance. The Bison have shut out 9 of their last 16 opponents after halftime allowing just 48 second-half points in those 16 games. The fourth quarter has been even better with NDSU allowing just 30 points in the last 27 games. IN THE POLLS: North Dakota State has received votes in the AP Top 25 each of the past eight weeks since beating Iowa State in the season-opener. The Bison also garnered votes after all three FCS national titles. NDSU has been No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll for 28 straight weeks and the Sports Network poll for 36 of the past 43 weeks. VRAA SCORES FIRST TWO TOUCHDOWNS: North Dakota State wide receiver Zach Vraa caught his first two touchdown passes of the year on 48- and 3-yard plays against Indiana State. Vraa made a career-high nine receptions for 119 yards. He has caught a pass in 34 of 36 games in his career and ranks fifth in NDSU career receiving yards (2147), sixth in career receptions (137), and fourth in touchdown catches (21). NDSU Career Receiving Yards 1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 3. 2332 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99 4. 2232 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11 5. 2147 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 NDSU Career Receptions 1. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 2. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06 3. 161 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11 4. 147 - Ryan Smith, 2010-13 5. 137 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 NDSU Career Receiving TDs 1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99 2. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88 3. 22 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 4. 21 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 CROCKETT CRACKS 3,000 MARK: Senior running back John Crockett moved into seventh place on North Dakota States all-time rushing list with 101 yards in last weeks victory over Indiana State. Crockett has 3,079 yards in his third season with the Bison after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. He has 13 career 100-yard games including a season-high 144 against Montana a career-high 195 yards against New Hampshire in last years NCAA semifinal game. Crockett is on pace to finish as one of NDSUs top five rushers despite splitting the carries in 2012 and 2013. NDSU Career Rushing Leaders 1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01 2. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06 3. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, RB, 2009-13 4. 3688 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97 5. 3313 - Chris Simdorn, QB, 1987-90 6. 3212 - Tony Satter, RB, 1987-90 7. 3079 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14 TOP SCORING DEFENSE: North Dakota State has the top scoring defense in the FCS for the fourth straight year. NDSU allowed 12.7 points per game in 2011, then 11.5 points in 2012 and 11.3 points last season before limiting opponents to 9.7 points per game this year. The Bison returned six defensive starters and seven of the top nine tacklers from last years squad. SACK MAN: NDSU defensive end Kyle Emanuel is among the national leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. The Buck Buchanan Award nominee already has a career-best 8.5 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss through seven games. He ranks sixth in the FCS with 1.21 sacks per game and seventh with 2.0 TFLs per game. Emanuel is among the top five sack men in NDSU history: NDSU Career Sack Leaders (half sacks counted as whole) 41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90 41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74 31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11 29 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14 29 - Cole Jirik, DE, 2010-13 29 - Mike Stratton, DT, 1980-83 HEAGLE SOLO TACKLES LEADER: Strong safety Colten Heagle is North Dakota States career leader in solo tackles, and he passed elite company. Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, has 165 solo tackles and passed three current NFL players for the school record. Free safety Christian Dudzik and outside linebacker Travis Beck continue to climb the list. NDSU Career Solo Tackle Leaders 165 - Colten Heagle, SS, 2010-14 159 - Joe Mays, LB, 2004-07 (Kansas City Chiefs) 147 - Ramon Humber, LB, 2005-09 (New Orleans Saints) 132 - Craig Dahl, SS, 2003-06 (San Francisco 49ers) 125 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14 123 - Jared Essler, FS, 2001-04 120 - Travis Beck, LB, 2011-14 120 - Mike Maresh, LB, 2005-08 50+ GAMES: Three NDSU players will take the field for the 53rd time in their four-year careers Saturday at South Dakota. Linebacker Travis Beck, free safety Christian Dudzik and defensive end Kyle Emanuel have each played in all 52 games and the Bison have a 50-2 record in that span. Dudzik has made all 52 starts, Beck has 46 starts and Emanuel 45 starts. The FCS record for games played is 62 by Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks, who made 47 starts from 2004 to 2008. PAT STREAK: Senior Adam Keller is 24 of 24 this year and has converted 83 straight PAT kicks dating back to the fourth game of 2013 at South Dakota State, a streak which is seventh longest in MVFC history. Keller ranks 17th in the FCS in scoring with 9.0 points per game. He is third among FCS active career leaders with 7.5 points per game. NDSU Career PATs (made-attempted) 178 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (178-182) 157 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (157-163) 155 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (155-165) FIELD GOAL RECORDS: Senior Adam Kellers 13 field goals made rank second among all FCS players and just five shy of his own school record of 18 field goals made in 2012. Keller made five field goals in the win over Montana to snap the NDSU record of four FGs set in 1983 by Ken Kubisz and tied by Keller in 2012 at Northern Iowa. Kellers 40 career field goals rank third in school history and fourth among FCS active career leaders. NDSU Career FG Made 51 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (51-73) 42 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (42-63) 40 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (40-52) 31 - Ryan Jastram, 2009-11 (31-45) FCS Active Career FG Leaders 51 - Jordan Wiggs, Stephen F. Austin 44 - Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State 42 - Chris Rogers, Sacred Heart 40 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State CHEWING UP CLOCK: North Dakota State ranks third in the FCS converting 56 percent of its third down opportunities, and the Bison are first in time of possession averaging 34:49 per game. The Bison held the ball for 41:12 against Indiana State, one of only four games in NDSUs Division I history that has happened: NDSU Time of Possession 40+ Minutes 41:12 - Indiana State, 2014 40:48 - Southern Illinois, 2012 40:20 - at South Dakota State, 2013 40:17 - Cal Poly, 2006 PUNT COVERAGE: North Dakota States Ben LeCompte has punted 24 times this season for an average of 41.7 yards that ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. LeCompte has landed 11 of 24 punts inside the 20-yard line with four touchbacks and four punts of 50+ yards. Opponents have been held to five punt returns totaling just 33 yards. LeComptes 43.08 career punting average is second in NDSU history, third in MVFC history, and fourth among active players in the FCS. THORTON SEMIFINALIST: Senior linebacker Esley Thorton is a national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The award, a 25-pound bronze trophy in its 25th season, recognizes the best football scholar-athlete in the nation and the winner receives a postgraduate scholarship of $25,000. Up to 16 of the candidates will receive $18,000 scholarships as part of the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete program. CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: The following players were recognized as Player of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their performances: - Kyle Emanuel, 2x Defense (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries) - John Crockett, Offense (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win) - Joe Haeg, 2x Offensive Line (Graded out at 100% in win at Iowa State with six knockdown blocks as NDSU put up 506 total yards of offense including 302 on the ground...Graded 91% technique and 100% assignment at Southern Illinois with four knockdowns) - Adam Keller, Special Teams (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards) NATIONAL HONORS: The following players have earned national recognition this season for their performances: - Kyle Emanuel, Sports Network FCS Defensive Player of the Week (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble) and College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries) - John Crockett, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win) - Carlton Littlejohn, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Scored go-ahead touchdown on 5-yard fumble return in 24-7 win at Weber State, where one of his 12 tackles came at the NDSU 2 on a fake field goal to preserve a 21-7 lead) - Adam Keller, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards) SUCCESS VS. THE FBS: North Dakota State has an 8-3 record and has won five straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents after beating Iowa State 34-14 in the season-opener. The Bison are 5-0 against the FBS since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14). THREE PEAT: North Dakota State is just the second team in FCS history to win three straight national championships joining the Appalachian State teams of 2005-07. NDSU set a school record for wins with a 15-0 mark and become the first undefeated national champion since Southern Conference champion Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title. DEFENSIVE LINE YOUNG: North Dakota State returns a pair of defensive ends, all three linebackers, and 3 of 4 defensive backs that all played in last years FCS championship game, but the Bison have a new look at defensive tackle, where junior Brian Schaetz is the only returner. Redshirt freshmen Nate Tanguay has started all seven games and Grant Morgan has played all seven at defensive tackle, while sophomore Austin Farnlof has seen action in four contests after being sidelined by an injury last year. TWO FRESHMEN PLAY: Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski out of Creighton Prep in Omaha and defensive end Greg Menard from Lakeville North in Minnesota are the only true freshmen who have played for NDSU this season. Urzendowski caught one pass for six yards in his debut at Iowa State in the season opener. Menard joined the travel squad for Weber State, where he made one tackle in his first game. WENTZ STEPS IN: Junior quarterback Carson Wentz takes over the reins of the Bison offense in place of All-American Brock Jensen, who went 47-5 as NDSUs starter and totaled an FCS-record 48 victories at quarterback. Wentz completed 18 of 28 passes for 204 yards and ran eight times for 38 yards at Iowa State in his first career start. He ranks first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 11th nationally completing 66 percent of his passes. VAADELAND BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR: Tight end Kevin Vaadeland, one of 24 seniors on last years team, returned to the Bison program for a sixth season due to a 2010 injury. Vaadeland caught 20 passes for 233 yards last year and his eight touchdown receptions ranked third overall in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and second in the FCS among tight ends. He made a career-high five catches in the win over Montana, including his 11th career TD reception, which ranks second in NDSU history among tight ends. O-LINE SHAKEUP: North Dakota State has just one returning starter on the offensive line and that is junior Joe Haeg, who is moving from right tackle to left tackle in place of Miami Dolphins third round draft pick Billy Turner. The Bison expected three starters back, but center Josh Colville gave up his final two years of eligibility due to injuries, and left guard Zack Johnson is missing the season due to injury. PRESEASON PICKS: North Dakota State, ranked No. 1 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 2 in the Sports Network media poll, was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference ahead of South Dakota State and Northern Iowa. NDSU had a league-high eight players on the preseason all-conference team including fullback Andrew Bonnet, wide receiver Zach Vraa, left guard Zack Johnson (out due to injury), defensive end Kyle Emanuel, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety Colten Heagle and punter Ben LeCompte. Free safety and punt returner Christian Dudzik was an honorable mention. ON THE ROAD: North Dakota State has won 17 straight true road games and 21 including three national championship games in Frisco, Texas, and one neutral site win against South Dakota in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bison have won 26 of their last 30 road games and are 18-7 in MVFC road games. The Bison have not lost away from Fargo since the 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals. Division I Road Winning Streaks 17 - North Dakota State (MVFC) 10 - Ohio State (Big Ten) 10 - Florida State (ACC) 8 - Missouri (SEC) 7 - Harvard (Ivy) BISON AT HOME: North Dakota State has won 18 straight home games and 46 of the last 47 non-conference home games including 36 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis. NDSU is 9-2 at home against Top 10 teams after beating No. 3/4-ranked Montana. The Bison have the longest home winning streak in Division I football. Division I Home Winning Streaks 18 - North Dakota State (MVFC) 13 - Auburn (SEC) 13 - Baylor (Big 12) 13 - Alabama (SEC) 11 - Coastal Carolina (Big South) 11 - Fordham (Patriot) 11 - Marshall (C-USA) 11 - Michigan State (Big Ten) 11 - Florida State (ACC) RECORD ATTENDANCE: North Dakota State in 2013 set a school record for average home attendance for the third straight year drawing 18,622 over nine games, which ranked sixth in the FCS. NDSU drew a record crowd of 19,108 for last years homecoming game against Missouri State, and the crowd of 19,034 for homecoming this year vs. Southern Illinois was the fourth largest in school history. The Bison have sold out 20 times since 2006 including the first three home games this season. NDSU ranks fourth in FCS average home attendance. 2014 FCS average home attendance 1. Montana - 25,509 2. James Madison - 22,761 3. Montana State - 19,099 4. North Dakota State - 18,855 5. Liberty - 17,822 THE COACH: The 30th head coach in team history, Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) takes over the North Dakota State program after spending the past three years on staff as the defensive backs coach and handling the defensive coordinator duties in 2012 and 2013. The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU after five years at Northern Iowa. He also made coaching stops at Western Illinois (1994-96), Kansas (1997), Missouri State (1999) and Loras (2002-04). He is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and was a three-time all-conference defensive back at UNI from 1986-90.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 07:49:03 +0000
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