Bison make statement in victory
Fifth-ranked NDSU scores 51 unanswered points to crush the nationís 9th-ranked team, Cal Poly. The Bison will play for Great West Football Conference Saturday against SDSU
Last season, Cal Poly embarrassed NDSU, defeating the Bison by 31 points.
On Saturday, NDSU returned the favor.
NDSU — ranked No. 5 in NCAA D- I-AA — spotted the No. 9-ranked Mustangs a 14-point lead, but scored 51 unanswered to defeat Cal Poly 51-14 at the Fargodome in Great West Football Conference action Saturday.
“ This group believes in one another,” NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said of his team. “There wasn’t a time where we have panicked; that is what makes this team so special.”
Cal Poly, (6-4, 2-2 GWFC) a team known for running unusual plays, showed some trickery on its first drive.
On second down and two from his own 49-yard line, quarterback Matt Brennan pitched it to fullback Jon Hall. The Bison defense bit on the pitch and Hall passed to a wide-open Rames Barden for a 42-yard reception.
Three plays later, Brennan threw a touchdown pass to Justin Belcher to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Kyle Steffes fumbled on NDSU’s second play from scrimmage, resulting in a turnover for the Bison.
Cal Poly scored for the second time in less than six minutes to jump to a 14-0 lead.
Facing an early deficit, the Bison went back to what has carried the offense for the season’s entirety: an efficient passing attack from quarterback Steve Walker and a load of carries for Steffes.
“ I think we got off to a slow start but we didn’t get too down about it,” Walker said.
Walker took over from there. The junior finished the game with 13 of 16 passes completed and three touchdowns.
NDSU (9-1, 3-0 GWFC) used two 11-play drives that spanned more than 10 minutes to take control of the game.
The first drive was capped by an 11-yard run by Kyle Steffes. The second ended with Walker throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kole Heckendorf.
Jerimiah Wurzbacher and freshman Pete Blincoe added touchdowns in the second quarter, turning a 14-point deficit to a 28-14 halftime lead.
“ It was just amazing how we came together, no one let down,” cornerback Richard Bowman said, who’s interception in the second quarter helped spark the comeback. “It was a real team- oriented victory.”
Steffes, who has the majority of NDSU’s carries this season, was able to get some rest as Blincoe broke out in the second half.
The freshman from Imperial, Calif., had a 65-yard touchdown run early in the second half. Blincoe finished with 110 rushing yards while Steffes led the way with 127.
It marked the first time this season NDSU had two rushers with more than 100 yards.
With the victory, NDSU will play for a chance to win its first ever Great West conference championship at 6 p.m. Saturday against SDSU at the Fargodome.
The Jackrabbits are also 3-0 in GWFC play and are riding a seven-game winning streak.
“ That is what we have been focused on all season,” Bohl said of a GWFC championship. “To have an opportunity to do that is a great feat for us.”
NDSU will play for its first conference title since 1994 when it belonged to the D-II North Central Conference.