Bison Beat Up on Coyotes

The NDSU football team introduced the USD Coyotes to the Missouri Valley Football Conference the same way four security guards introduced the first-quarter caped streaker at Howard Wood Field, unwelcoming, rough and to the ground. The Bison scored their first of many touchdowns the play after the streaker was tackled outside the field en route to a 54-0 whopping of the Coyotes.

NDSU scored in almost all phases of the game in their first game against USD as MVFC opponents and the defense only allowed a stunning 76 yards of total offense. Quarterback Brock Jensen rebounded from last week’s three interception loss and threw for two touchdowns while also rushing for two. Running back Sam Ojuri added two rushing scores, cornerback Zack Colvin intercepted a pass for a touchdown, and Christian Dudzik came close to returning a punt for a score.

The Bison were clicking on all cylinders from start to finish. After punting on their opening drive, the tough Bison defense forced a three-and-out. Jensen led the Bison offense with ease down the field, highlighted by a 23-yard strike to Nate Moody on a third-and-5 that put the ball at the 10-yard line. After watching the streaker run joyfully around the field during a timeout, Jensen decided to do some running of his own on a quarterback draw that found the endzone and putting the first points on the scoreboard.

After forcing another three-and-out, the Bison again marched down the field. Facing a third-and-long, Jensen found Trevor Gebhart open at the USD 46-yard line for the first down. NDSU continued its march down into Coyote territory and capped the drive off with an 11-yard scamper by Ojuri to put NDSU up 14-0 with over a minute left in the first quarter.

Cole Jirik tallied a big sack on third down and forced yet another USD punt. Dudzik received the punt and sped 76-yards to the 26-yard line. A John Crockett run for a loss and a false start eventually forced a rare Bison punt.

The Bison defense remained tough and forced another punt. Dudzik received this one at full speed and outran and stumbled through ankle tackles all the way to the 9-yard line on a marvelous return. Jensen found the endzone again later in the drive on a 1-yard sneak. Adam Keller’s kick was blocked, leaving the game at 20-0.

USD tried everything in their power to break through the Bison defense, running a reverse on their first play of the next drive. NDSU was not fooled and forced a fumble that was pounced on by linebacker Carlton Littlejohn. On the very next play, Jensen found Moody on a play-action pass. Moody broke one tackle on his way to the endzone for a 32-yard score. Keller’s kick soared right in the strong wind and NDSU held their 26-0 lead into the half.

The Bison opened the second half with a lengthy drive. Behind the arm of Jensen and the running of Ojuri, NDSU chewed neared six minutes off the clock when Jensen finally found fullback Andrew Bonnet wide-open for the 2-yard touchdown.

Minutes later, Ojuri found the endzone again, this one from 4-yards out and put the Bison up 40-0 after Keller’s kick was good.

The Bison backups didn’t let up in the fourth quarter and showed how deep this squad is. After two long Deveon Dinwiddie runs, quarterback Carson Wentz found Taylor Nelson on a smooth play-action pass from 19-yards out.

The NDSU defense continued their torment on the USD Coyote offense, this time with Colvin intercepting a pass and returning it for the eighth and final touchdown.

Coming off their first loss last week, the Bison showed just how bitter they were. The defense only allowed an astounding four first downs and gave up 17-yards rushing. NDSU’s balanced offense scored with ease and only punted four times, compared to the 10 punts by USD.

The Bison improved to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference. They will return to the Fargodome Saturday to take on Southern Illinois (5-3, 4-1) at 2:37 p.m.