Football team looks to end year on high note
Written by Michael Howe Friday, 20 November 2009 08:00
The Bison football team finishes their 2009 season at home tomorrow with a matchup against fellow Missouri Valley Football Conference member, the Youngstown State Penguins.
NDSU comes into the game with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-5 conference mark. The Penguins sit at 5-5 overall and have a 3-4 record in the MVFC.
Both teams are coming off wins last weekend. The Bison won their second consecutive game, beating Indiana State 56-17, while Youngstown State ended a three-game losing streak with a 30-18 win over Illinois State.
NDSU is looking for some revenge after YSU beat the Bison in Youngstown last season, 32-24.
Saturday’s game will be the fourth meeting all-time between the two schools. The Penguins hold a 2-1 series edge over the Bison, however the last time YSU traveled to Fargo was in 1972, when NDSU won 16-10.
In last season’s contest, the Bison trailed 23-3 and dug themselves into a big hole early on. NDSU’s offense was able to get the Bison back in the game, but Coach Craig Bohl says that this year’s Penguin defense won’t be so forgiving.
“I really see an improved football team,” Bohl said. “Defensively they’re much stronger than they were last year. They’re a solid defense, very aggressive, they pursue well to the football.” Senior Pat Paschall believes the same thing.
“They present some challenges for us. Especially with their blitzing,” Paschall said. “We have to prepare for them just like we would prepare for any other team.
The Bison defense also struggled to contain YSU quarterback Brandon Summers. At last year’s meeting, Summers threw two touchdowns during his 12 passes and avoided the Bison pass rush, running for 64 yards.
“Offensively, Summers is, I think, much more of a complete quarterback this year than last year,” Bohl said. “I thought last year, athletically against us, he was certainly very athletic. His throwing was a little bit inaccurate, but he’s been able to stay pretty healthy. He runs the ball well, but he’s really become a complete passer.”
The Bison defense will be tested for the first time in almost four weeks. The Penguin offense is much more explosive than Indiana State and Western Illinois. The YSU offense had 472 total yards, including 346 yards passing from Summers in the win against Illinois State last week.
“They put up a lot of yards last week,” Bohl said. “I think against a pretty solid Illinois State defense.”
Like NDSU, Youngstown is experiencing an unusual down year. The Penguins are traditionally at or near the top of the conference standings every year. But this season, they are fighting for a sixth place finish with NDSU.
“I think in the midst of it, we got to recognize that Youngstown State has five national championships,” Bohl said. “They’re a football school that enjoys a proud tradition.”
Youngstown State has the fewest fumbles in the MVFC, but Summers has thrown 14 interceptions this year. The Bison defense, which shutout Indiana State in the second half last week, may look to be opportunistic and force some turnovers.
Saturday’s game will be the final contest for 21 Bison seniors. Many of the seniors have experienced the highs and lows of Bison football. The two 10-1 seasons and the win at the University of Minnesota being the high points, while a disappointed 6-5 season last year and this season’s struggle are the lows. Coach Bohl believes that this senior class wants what’s best for Bison football in the future.
“There’s a group of seniors there that came to NDSU striving to win a national championship and this year hasn’t gone anywhere like they wanted,” Bohl said. “It’s important for them to see our football program move forward.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 1:07 p.m. at the Fargodome.
