Last week was the first real test of the season for the North Dakota State Bison, taking down in-state rival North Dakota. This week, NDSU looks to take on a different type of challenge with Northern Iowa coming to town.
After losing the first game of the season by less than a touchdown to Iowa State, the Panthers and Quarterback Theo Day have been able to win straight three games, including a convincing 34-7 win against Missouri Valley Conference foe Youngstown State last week. In that one, Day was able to complete 68% of his passes and two touchdowns along with over 200 total yards.
Last week, the Bison were able to hold Tommy Schuster in check, keeping the sophomore QB to under 200 yards and picking off one of his passes in the red zone to prevent UND from going ahead. It was Dawson Webber’s second INT of the season. The Senior Safety is the heart and soul of the secondary and if the Panthers want to have any chance on Saturday, they will have to do it on the ground.
Northern Iowa is one of the better rushing teams in the conference, averaging 164 yards a game with Redshirt Junior Dom Williams leading the way. Williams rushed for 119 yards and a score on 11 carries last Saturday, and is fourth in conference for yards per game at 83. The Bison allowed 85 yards to Otis Weah last week, two yards more than his average, but because the offense was able to score in the second half- the defense didn’t have to continue to get worn down by the Fighting Hawks running game when it came to winning time late in the fourth quarter.
This is where the story takes a turn in my opinion. Last week, NDSU was dead to right to lose at the hands of their rivals up the road. If not for some of the most suspect play calling I have ever seen, the Bison would be coming into this game trying to prevent a losing streak instead of being a spotless 4-0.
The reason that UND was able to give North Dakota State their first real challenge came down to two factors. One, because North Dakotas wasnt’ scared of the Bison. UND came out the gate strong, had their game plan and stuck with it (to a fault). Two, they got a lead and ran the ball. UND only lost the time of possession because once they got down, they began to make dumb decisions.
For North Dakota State, the blueprint to beat them is there. Something that Head Coach Matt Entz has to take into account when facing UNI this weekend. The Bison have used transfer Quincy Patterson more in the run game, with Patterson rushing for over 90 yards and a touchdown against UND, but Entz has almost abandoned the passing game entirely. While Patterson is top ten in conference for rushing touchdowns, he doesn’t even chart for any of the stats you’d expect your quarterback to have. Passing yards, touchdowns, completions- Patterson isn’t in the top conference top ten for any of them.
Which goes to the bigger question. Can a running team in 20201 win a title? The Bison have the #1 rushing offense in the conference and in the country at 317 yards a game, but can the offense withstand a deficit, or does it have to score every time it touches the ball? It helps that the Bison have the number four defense in the FCS, but can the defense hold tight if the offense is having trouble moving the ball on the ground?
Last week was the first conference game and real test for NDSU, and they passed. However, the MVFC is the toughest conference top to bottom by far in the FCS and the road back to Arlington for the National Championship is going to be one of the toughest ones since the Bison won their first title almost a decade ago. That road continues at 1pm in Fargo with the Panthers and Bison meet, listen on KBMW 1450AM for the game.
Prediction: UNI 14 NDSU 28
