Undefeated No More, ISU 17 - NDSU 14

NDSU shocked by Indiana State at Gate City Field in the Fargodome.

 

 

 

 

FARGO - North Dakota State (5-0) put their undefeated record on the line Saturday at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome as the Sycamores of Indiana State (4-2) look to upset the Bison on their own turf.

The Bison won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, meaning the Indiana State would recieve the ball first.

Nothing materialized from an opening 51-yard kickoff return by Indiana State, and both teams went three-and-out on their first posessions.

A short punt by Bison punter Ben LeCompte gave the Sycamores the ball inside Bison territory to start their second drive, and found themselves inside the 10-yard line before a bad snap pushed Indiana State out of the redzone and settled for a field goal, taking the first lead of the game at 3-0 with 7:57 left in the first quarter.

The Herd was held scoreless in a quarter for the first time this season, but look to strike starting the second quarter with the ball at the Indiana State 4-yard-line.

Adam Keller knocked in a 21-yard field goal six seconds into the second quarter to tie things up at 3-3.

NDSU held the Sycamores who were forced to punt, but it was the Indiana State defense that came up with the big play as Jensen was picked off by Johnny Towalid who returned the ball 28-yards for a touchdown and a 10-3 Indiana State lead.

The Indiana State defense continued to show why they're ranked 3rd in the FCS as they stalled a Bison drive near midfield and holdilng on to their seven point lead heading into halftime.

Marcus Williams again showed his All-American providing the Bison with a jump start taking the second half kick-off across the Indiana State 50-yard line potentially setting Keller for another field goal to close the gap to 10-6.

To add to an already difficult afternoon for the Bison, wide receiver Zach Vraa had to leave the game in the third quarter with a seperated shoulder.

The fourth quarter didn't start any better for the Herd, as Jensen again was picked-off by Johnny Towalid of Indiana State who returned the ball 31-yards for a 17-6 lead with 14:43 left in the game.

But the Herd wasn't ready to back down yet. Jensen engineered a great drive down the field where he took it into the endzone himself with a 1-yard quarterback sneak on third-and-goal.

Jensen again struck into the Indiana State lead as his number was called on a keeper for the two-point-conversion making it 17-14 with 9:55 left.

Indiana State responded with a drive of their own, but Sycamore kicker Tanner Fritschle was wide left on his forty-six yard leaving the Bison trailing by just three with plenty of time remaining. But the Sycamore defense came up big once again intercepting Jensen for the third time sealing the victory for the Indiana State.

 

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