Walker, Bison come back from 24-point deficit
DAVIS, Calif. – Steve Walker threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns as NDSU rallied from a 24-point first-half deficit Saturday to beat UC Davis 28-24 in Great West Football Conference play.
Craig Dahl intercepted a pass with 2:23 left to play to set up the Bison winning TD drive at the 23-yard line.
After the Bison kept a 77-yard drive alive on two fourth-down conversions, the last with 2:28.0 to go in the fourth quarter, flanker John Majeski caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Walker with four seconds left in the game to seal the comeback.
NDSU had 418 total offensive yards.
Jon Grant threw for 215 yards and ran for three scores for the Aggies (4-5, 1-3 Great West).
Grant scored his first two touchdowns on 1-yard runs, followed by a 9-yard score with 5:42.0 left in the first half.
NDSU finally scored when running back Kyle Steffes found receiver Jerimiah Wurzbacher for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Walker then threw a 47-yard score to Kole Heckendorf with 49 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Steffes’ 4-yard touchdown run, with 7:06.0 in the fourth, got the Bison within three points before Majeski made the game-winning catch.
It’s the biggest comeback since 2002 when NDSU erased a 22-point, 24-2 halftime deficit against Montana.
For their standout performances, the Great West Conference honored Walker and Dahl as the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
The Bison (8-1,2-0 GWFC) are scheduled to host Cal Poly (6-3, 2-1 GWFC) in the Harvest Bowl Saturday. Cal Poly is coming off a 10-9 loss at Montana.