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Stick powers Bison back to FCS title game
(STATS) - A record seventh FCS national championship is within reach of the North Dakota State dynasty.
The defending champion and top-seeded Bison rode senior quarterback Easton Stick's huge performance - 316 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns - to roll past fifth-seeded South Dakota State 44-21 in a semifinal Friday night at the Fargodome.
With a seventh appearance in the title game in eight years, the Bison (14-0) will try to sever their tie with Georgia Southern as six-time FCS champions. They'll face Saturday's Maine-Eastern Washington winner on Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.
It will be the final game for Bison fifth-year coach Chris Klieman, who is departing after the playoffs to take over at Kansas State. He's been head coach for three of the titles and could tie former Youngstown State coach Jim Tressel, the only four-time winner.
"Those guys, they battled for me, they battled for Coach Entz - so excited for Matt (the defensive coordinator who has been named the next Bison coach) - and they battled for each other," Klieman told ESPN. "We were going to be a tough team to beat today."
"Captain Clutch" was at the controls of the Bison win. Stick, their three-time team captain, completed 12 of 15 passes for 169 yards and rushed for 147 yards on 16 carries. He scored on 5- and 34-yard runs in the first half, threw a 14-yard touchdown to running back Bruce Anderson in the third quarter and added a 28-yard TD run with 4:05 remaining.
Stick improved to 48-3 as a starter, tying former NDSU QB Brock Jensen for the most wins by an FCS quarterback. He passed Missouri State's DeAndre Smith for the most rushing yards in a career by a Missouri Valley Football Conference quarterback, finishing the game at 2,402.
Anderson, also part of NDSU's school-record 24-member senior class, scored three touchdowns in the third quarter when NDSU extended a 14-7 halftime lead to 35-14. He scored on a 1-yard dive and from 41 yards out in addition to his TD catch.
The senior class graduated earlier in the day.
"I've poured everything I have into this program for eight years," Klieman said. "I was a senior today. I had a blast out there with those guys."
NDSU never trailed against archrival SDSU (10-3) in their 109th all-time meeting, improving its series lead to 62-42-5. The Bison, who also eliminated the Jackrabbits from the playoffs in 2012, '14 and '16, racked up 608 offensive yards.
SDSU senior quarterback Taryn Christion was roughed up in the first half by the Bison's physical defense, prompting the Jackrabbits' training staff to attend to him three times. But Christion came back to throw touchdown passes to tight end Blake Kunz (7 yards) and wide receiver Cade Johnson (52) in the second half. He had 180 passing yards and ended his career as the MVFC's all-time leader in total offense (13,050), passing yards (11,535) and touchdown passes (104).
Jackrabbits freshman running back Pierre Strong Jr. had 20 carries for 135 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
NDSU has won 20 straight games. Since the start of the Bison's first FCS title season in 2011, they're 111-8.
Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 17 | 25 |
Rushing | 10 | 15 |
Passing | 6 | 10 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-12 | 6-10 |
4th Down Conv | 0-2 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 343 | 608 |
Total Plays | 58 | 64 |
Avg Gain | 5.9 | 9.5 |
Net Yards Rushing | 175 | 439 |
Rush Attempts | 31 | 49 |
Avg Rush Yards | 5.6 | 9.0 |
Yards Passing | 182 | 169 |
Comp. - Att. | 11-27 | 12-15 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.2 | 11.3 |
Penalties - Yards | 5-32 | 9-70 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 6 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 5 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 6-40.0 | 2-47.5 |
Return Yards | 75 | 89 |
Punts - Returns | 1-11 | 2-15 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 3-64 | 2-41 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-33 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. ChristionÂ
3 QB
|
T. Christion | 10/26 | 180 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. JohnsonÂ
15 WR
|
C. Johnson | 1/1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
P. Strong Jr.Â
20 RB
|
P. Strong Jr. | 20 | 135 | 1 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. ChristionÂ
3 QB
|
T. Christion | 10 | 32 | 0 | 11 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. JohnsonÂ
15 WR
|
C. Johnson | 0 | 3 | 89 | 1 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. HillÂ
84 WR
|
I. Hill | 0 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. BrownÂ
1 WR
|
Ja. Brown | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. AndersonÂ
80 WR
|
A. Anderson | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Strong Jr.Â
20 RB
|
P. Strong Jr. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. ChristionÂ
3 QB
|
T. Christion | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. VinatieriÂ
4 K
|
C. Vinatieri | 0/0 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. HaleÂ
49 P
|
B. Hale | 6 | 40.0 | 2 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
C. JohnsonÂ
15 WR
|
C. Johnson | 3 | 21.3 | 26 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Harris 18 CB
|
M. Harris | 1 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
E. StickÂ
12 QB
|
E. Stick | 12/15 | 169 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
E. StickÂ
12 QB
|
E. Stick | 16 | 147 | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. AndersonÂ
8 RB
|
B. Anderson | 9 | 79 | 2 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. CofieldÂ
18 RB
|
A. Cofield | 6 | 77 | 0 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. BrooksÂ
28 RB
|
T. Brooks | 12 | 48 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ShepherdÂ
20 WR
|
D. Shepherd | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. ShepherdÂ
20 WR
|
D. Shepherd | 0 | 4 | 71 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. EllefsonÂ
82 TE
|
B. Ellefson | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. JensonÂ
85 TE
|
N. Jenson | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. AndersonÂ
8 RB
|
B. Anderson | 0 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. FreemanÂ
83 WR
|
D. Freeman | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. RobbinsÂ
34 FB
|
B. Robbins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. TuszkaÂ
91 DE
|
D. Tuszka | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. JonesÂ
94 DE
|
S. Jones | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. GrimsleyÂ
5 S
|
R. Grimsley | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. PedersenÂ
36 K
|
C. Pedersen | 1/2 | 32 | 5/5 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
G. WegnerÂ
38 P
|
G. Wegner | 2 | 47.5 | 1 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. BrooksÂ
28 RB
|
T. Brooks | 1 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. AndersonÂ
8 RB
|
B. Anderson | 1 | 27.0 | 27 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Shepherd 20 WR
|
D. Shepherd | 2 | 7.5 | 15 | 0 |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) 36-C.Pedersen kicks 65 yards from NDS 35. 15-C.Johnson to SDS 26 for 26 yards. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - SDST 26 (15:00 - 1st) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 80-A.Anderson. |
+2 YD | 2 & 10 - SDST 26 (14:56 - 1st) 20-P.Strong to SDS 28 for 2 yards. |
+6 YD | 3 & 8 - SDST 28 (14:51 - 1st) 3-T.Christion to SDS 34 for 6 yards. |
Punt | 4 & 2 - SDST 34 (14:15 - 1st) 49-B.Hale punts 51 yards from SDS 34. 20-D.Shepherd to NDS 30 for 15 yards. Penalty on NDS 99-S.Waege Illegal block in the back 10 yards enforced at NDS 30. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 20 (13:55 - 1st) 8-B.Anderson to NDS 23 for 3 yards. |
No Gain | 2 & 7 - NDST 23 (13:38 - 1st) 12-E.Stick incomplete. Intended for 34-B.Robbins. |
Penalty | 3 & 7 - NDST 23 (13:02 - 1st) Penalty on NDS 68-Z.Johnson False start 5 yards enforced at NDS 23. No Play. |
+2 YD | 3 & 12 - NDST 18 (12:57 - 1st) 12-E.Stick scrambles to NDS 20 for 2 yards. |
Punt | 4 & 10 - NDST 20 (12:57 - 1st) 38-G.Wegner punts 54 yards from NDS 20. 18-M.Harris to SDS 37 for 11 yards. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
No Gain | 1 & 10 - SDST 37 (12:29 - 1st) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 88-B.Kunz. |
+14 YD | 2 & 10 - SDST 37 (12:18 - 1st) 20-P.Strong to NDS 49 for 14 yards. |
+7 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 49 (12:12 - 1st) 3-T.Christion to NDS 42 for 7 yards. |
-1 YD | 2 & 3 - NDST 42 (11:43 - 1st) 3-T.Christion to NDS 43 for -1 yard. |
No Gain | 3 & 4 - NDST 43 (11:01 - 1st) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 80-A.Anderson. |
Punt | 4 & 4 - NDST 43 (10:21 - 1st) 49-B.Hale punts 43 yards from NDS 43 to NDS End Zone. touchback. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+12 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 20 (10:16 - 1st) 12-E.Stick complete to 20-D.Shepherd. 20-D.Shepherd to NDS 32 for 12 yards. |
+10 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 32 (10:07 - 1st) 12-E.Stick scrambles to NDS 42 for 10 yards. |
+11 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 42 (9:42 - 1st) 12-E.Stick to SDS 47 for 11 yards. |
+8 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 47 (9:07 - 1st) 8-B.Anderson to SDS 39 for 8 yards. |
Penalty | 2 & 2 - SDST 39 (8:32 - 1st) Penalty on NDS 75-D.Radunz False start 5 yards enforced at SDS 39. No Play. |
+4 YD | 3 & 4 - SDST 41 (7:46 - 1st) 12-E.Stick scrambles to SDS 37 for 4 yards. |
+32 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 37 (7:08 - 1st) 12-E.Stick complete to 22-S.Wilson. 22-S.Wilson to SDS 5 for 32 yards. |
Penalty | 1 & 5 - SDST 5 (6:33 - 1st) Penalty on NDS 64-C.Conner False start 5 yards enforced at SDS 5. No Play. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 10 (5:56 - 1st) 20-D.Shepherd to SDS 5 for 5 yards. |
+5 YD | 2 & 5 - SDST 5 (5:56 - 1st) 12-E.Stick runs 5 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (5:16 - 1st) 36-C.Pedersen extra point is good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (5:11 - 1st) 36-C.Pedersen kicks 65 yards from NDS 35 to SDS End Zone. touchback. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 25 (5:11 - 1st) 20-P.Strong to SDS 28 for 3 yards. |
+2 YD | 2 & 7 - SDST 28 (5:11 - 1st) 3-T.Christion complete to 88-B.Kunz. 88-B.Kunz to SDS 30 for 2 yards. |
+8 YD | 3 & 5 - SDST 30 (4:39 - 1st) 3-T.Christion scrambles to SDS 38 for 8 yards. |
+25 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 38 (3:55 - 1st) 20-P.Strong to NDS 37 for 25 yards. |
Penalty | 1 & 10 - NDST 37 (3:35 - 1st) Penalty on SDS 56-E.Lickiss False start 5 yards enforced at NDS 37. No Play. |
No Gain | 1 & 15 - NDST 42 (2:56 - 1st) 20-P.Strong to NDS 42 for no gain. |
Penalty | 2 & 15 - NDST 42 (2:56 - 1st) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 80-A.Anderson. Penalty on NDS 21-J.Allison Pass interference 15 yards enforced at NDS 42. No Play. |
-3 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 27 (1:50 - 1st) 3-T.Christion complete to 84-I.Hill. 84-I.Hill to NDS 30 for -3 yards. |
+30 YD | 2 & 13 - NDST 30 (1:41 - 1st) 20-P.Strong runs 30 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (1:00 - 1st) 4-C.Vinatieri extra point is good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (0:51 - 1st) 4-C.Vinatieri kicks 64 yards from SDS 35. 8-B.Anderson to NDS 28 for 27 yards. |
+8 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 28 (0:51 - 1st) 22-S.Wilson to NDS 36 for 8 yards. |
+4 YD | 2 & 2 - NDST 36 (0:45 - 1st) 28-T.Brooks to NDS 40 for 4 yards. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 40 (15:00 - 2nd) 28-T.Brooks to NDS 42 for 2 yards. |
+21 YD | 2 & 8 - NDST 42 (14:30 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick complete to 20-D.Shepherd. 20-D.Shepherd to SDS 37 for 21 yards. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 37 (13:48 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick complete to 1-C.Watson. 1-C.Watson to SDS 33 for 4 yards. |
Penalty | 3 & 6 - SDST 33 (13:06 - 2nd) Penalty on NDS 82-B.Ellefson False start 5 yards enforced at SDS 33. No Play. |
No Gain | 3 & 11 - SDST 38 (12:32 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick incomplete. Intended for 20-D.Shepherd. |
+8 YD | 3 & 11 - SDST 38 (12:07 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick to SDS 30 for 8 yards. |
No Good | 4 & 3 - NDST 30 (12:00 - 2nd) 36-C.Pedersen 48 yards Field Goal is No Good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Sack | 1 & 10 - SDST 30 (11:30 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion sacked at SDS 26 for -4 yards (91-D.Tuszka). |
+3 YD | 2 & 14 - SDST 26 (11:15 - 2nd) 20-P.Strong to SDS 29 for 3 yards. |
No Gain | 3 & 11 - SDST 29 (10:30 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 1-J.Brown. Penalty on SDS 9-J.Brown Holding declined. |
Punt | 4 & 11 - SDST 29 (9:41 - 2nd) 49-B.Hale punts 41 yards from SDS 29. 20-D.Shepherd to NDS 30 for no gain. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+10 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 30 (9:39 - 2nd) 8-B.Anderson to NDS 40 for 10 yards. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 40 (9:32 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick complete to 11-P.Sproles. 11-P.Sproles to NDS 43 for 3 yards. |
+4 YD | 2 & 7 - NDST 43 (8:59 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick pushed ob at NDS 47 for 4 yards. |
+2 YD | 3 & 3 - NDST 47 (8:14 - 2nd) 8-B.Anderson to NDS 49 for 2 yards. |
Punt | 4 & 1 - NDST 49 (7:46 - 2nd) 38-G.Wegner punts 41 yards from NDS 49 to SDS 10 fair catch by 18-M.Harris. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+17 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 10 (7:07 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion complete to 15-C.Johnson. 15-C.Johnson to SDS 27 for 17 yards. |
+16 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 27 (7:00 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion complete to 80-A.Anderson. 80-A.Anderson to SDS 43 for 16 yards. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 43 (6:34 - 2nd) 20-P.Strong to SDS 46 for 3 yards. |
Penalty | 2 & 7 - SDST 46 (6:03 - 2nd) Team penalty on SDS False start 5 yards enforced at SDS 46. No Play. |
+9 YD | 2 & 12 - SDST 41 (5:19 - 2nd) 20-P.Strong to NDS 50 for 9 yards. |
+3 YD | 3 & 3 - SDST 50 (5:03 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion to NDS 47 for 3 yards. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - NDST 47 (4:21 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 84-I.Hill. |
No Gain | 2 & 10 - NDST 47 (3:45 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 80-A.Anderson. |
No Gain | 3 & 10 - NDST 47 (3:34 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion incomplete. Intended for 15-C.Johnson. |
Punt | 4 & 10 - NDST 47 (3:30 - 2nd) 49-B.Hale punts 28 yards from NDS 47 to NDS 19 fair catch by 5-R.Grimsley. Penalty on SDS 52-B.Sorenson Fair catch interference 15 yards enforced at NDS 19. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 34 (3:20 - 2nd) 28-T.Brooks to NDS 36 for 2 yards. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+15 YD | 2 & 8 - NDST 36 (3:20 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick complete to 85-N.Jenson. 85-N.Jenson to SDS 49 for 15 yards. |
+15 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 49 (3:20 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick complete to 82-B.Ellefson. 82-B.Ellefson to SDS 34 for 15 yards. |
+34 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 34 (2:30 - 2nd) 12-E.Stick runs 34 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (1:43 - 2nd) 36-C.Pedersen extra point is good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (1:35 - 2nd) 36-C.Pedersen kicks 65 yards from NDS 35 to SDS End Zone. touchback. |
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - SDST 25 (1:35 - 2nd) 20-P.Strong to SDS 38 for 13 yards. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - SDST 38 (1:35 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion incomplete. |
+7 YD | 2 & 10 - SDST 38 (1:10 - 2nd) 3-T.Christion scrambles runs ob at SDS 45 for 7 yards. |
+2 YD | 3 & 3 - SDST 45 (1:05 - 2nd) 15-C.Johnson complete to 3-T.Christion. 3-T.Christion to SDS 47 for 2 yards. |
Punt | 4 & 1 - SDST 47 (0:50 - 2nd) 49-B.Hale punts 41 yards from SDS 47 Downed at the NDS 12. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (0:05 - 2nd) 4-C.Vinatieri kicks 60 yards from SDS 35. 28-T.Brooks to NDS 19 for 14 yards. |
+78 YD | 1 & 10 - NDST 19 (15:00 - 3rd) 22-S.Wilson to SDS 3 for 78 yards. Penalty on SDS 18-M.Harris Horse Collar 2 yards enforced at SDS 3. |
+1 YD | 1 & 1 - SDST 1 (14:56 - 3rd) 8-B.Anderson runs 1 yard for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (14:30 - 3rd) 36-C.Pedersen extra point is good. |