Rivalry Revisited, No. 8 North Dakota State Travels to No. 18 Montana State on Sept. 24
9/19/2005 5:00:00 AM | Football
GAME FOUR:
No. 8-ranked North Dakota State University (3-0, 0-0 GWFC) is scheduled to travel to Bozeman, Mont., to play No. 18 Montana State University (1-2, 0-0 Big Sky Conference) at 2:05 p.m. (CDT) Saturday, Sept. 24, at Bobcat Stadium ... North Dakota State enters the contest with a six-game winning streak that dates back to the 2004 season ... The last loss was to nationally-ranked Cal Poly on Oct. 23 in the Fargodome ... Over the past two seasons, NDSU is 4-1 over NCAA Division I-AA nationally-ranked teams ... With the 41-0 win over Weber State last Saturday, North Dakota State posted its first shutout since the 2004 season-opening 52-0 victory over Valparaiso at the Fargodome ... The Bison scored on offense, defense and special teams for the second straight week ... NDSU has outscored its first three opponents 135-14 to open the season with the defense allowing only two fourth quarter TDs ... The Bison have forced 11 turnovers and committed only two ... No. 17 Cal Poly defeated Montana State 38-10 in San Luis Obispo on Saturday night.TICKETS: For more information, contact the NDSU ticket office at 1-888-231-NDSU (6378).
BISON-MONTANA STATE ON TELEVISION: The North Dakota State University-Montana State University football game at 2:05 p.m. (CDT) Saturday, Sept. 24, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Mont., will be broadcast by WDAY-TV (Channel 6, ABC, Fargo), and carried by KBMY-TV (Channel 17, ABC, Bismarck), KMCY (Channel 14, Minot) and WDAZ-TV (Channel 8, ABC, Grand Forks) ... Montana Sports Network's Chris Byers (play-by-play), Chris Bach (sideline reporter), and WDAY-TV sports director Steve Hallstrom will make up the broadcast team ... North Dakota State was 1-2 in TV games during the 2004 season and have compiled a record of 70-43-1 (.618) on the tube ... The Bison snapped a four-game losing streak on television with its 25-7 victory at UC Davis ... The last TV win prior to that was the 25-24 thriller over Montana on Sept. 6.
THE SERIES: This is the 33rd meeting between the schools with Montana State holding a 19-13 advantage in the series that dates back to 1914 ... The Bobcats hold a 13-4 advantage in Bozeman ... The series is tied 1-1 in Great Falls and 1-1 in Glendive ... Montana State won the last meeting, 21-19, in Bozeman ... The Bison scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, but were stopped on a pair of two-point conversions ... NDSU has won the last three games against Big Sky opponents (Montana in 2003, Weber State in 2004 and 2005) ... Montana State is the second of two Big Sky Conference teams on the 2005 schedule, the other Weber State (Sept. 17 in Fargo) ... North Dakota State is 25-27 against members of the Big Sky Conference.
THE COACHES: North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl (Nebraska, 1979) is in his third season at the helm of the Bison with a 19-6 mark to date ... North Dakota State is 12-2 at the Fargodome over past two seasons ... Bohl came to NDSU in 2003 from the University of Nebraska, where he was an assistant coach for eight seasons including defensive coordinator over the final three years ... He was an assistant at North Dakota State, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Rice and Duke prior to Nebraska ... He played his college ball at Nebraska (1977-79).
Mike Kramer (Idaho, 1976) is in his sixth season at Montana State and has a 26-36 record ... Kramer has overall coaching record of 63-68 after serving as head coach at Eastern Washington for six seasons ... Kramer led Eastern Washington to the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA semifinals with a 12-2 record that included a Big Sky Championship ... Kramer played on the offensive and defensive lines at Idaho ... Served as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington (1989-93) and Montana State (1983-86) ... Also coached in the high school ranks at Colton, Wash., Tacoma Stadium, Wash., and Helena, Mont.
RADIO BROADCASTS: WDAY-AM 970, Fargo ... Scott Miller will handle the play-by-play. Former NDSU All-American and 11-year NFL great Phil Hansen will handle the color duties, while WDAY-TV sports director Steve Hallstrom and radio personality Jack Michaels will handle the sideline and locker room interviews ... Air time is set for 1:15 p.m. ... Bismarck (KXMR, 710 AM) and Williston (KEYZ, 660 AM) are on the Bison Radio Network.
State Farm Bobcat Network ... Kris Atteberry will handle the play-by-play and Dan Davies does the color ... Pre-game begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE FLATTENS WEBER STATE: Junior running back Kyle Steffes rushed for a career-high 179 yards and one touchdown to help No. 12 North Dakota State defeat Weber State 41-0 on Sept. 17 before a crowd of 14,368 at the Fargodome.
Cory Vartanian kicked a pair of field goals for the Bison, who also received touchdowns from their defense and special teams.
It was NDSU's first shutout since the opening game of the 2004 season, a 52-0 win over Valparaiso (Ind.) in the school's I-AA opener.
Steffes scored the first time he touched the ball, taking a handoff up the middle and bouncing outside en route to a 51-yard scamper. It was the longest touchdown run of his career.
Steffes, who had 15 of his 19 carries in the first half, went over 100 yards for the eighth time in an NDSU uniform. His previous high game was 176 yards rushing, against Weber State last year.
Vartanian nailed field goals from 24 and 46 yards in the first half. His 48-yard attempt in the closing seconds of the second quarter hit the crossbar and fell short.
The Bison led 20-0 at intermission. They received touchdowns from other units to put the game away early in the second half.
NDSU went ahead 27-0 after Isaac LaVant returned a fumble 3 yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Kole Zimmerman forced the turnover when he sacked quarterback Ian Pizarro. Joe Mays led the defense with 11 tackles including a pair of sacks.
The special teams scored next when Shamen Washington returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown, making it 34-0 less than five minutes into the third quarter. It was the second straight week that Washington returned a punt for a score.
The Bison forced Weber State to punt 11 times.
BISON DOMINATE NORTHWESTERN STATE IN ROAD OPENER: The game-time temperature was 92 degrees but that didn't cool down 22nd-ranked North Dakota State defense as the Bison intercepted four passes and broke up six more in defeating 11th-ranked Northwestern State 35-7 in front of 13,252 fans at Turpin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Linebacker Joe Mays led the 22nd-ranked Bison's charge with two interceptions and six tackles. Safety Craig Dahl had an interception of his own to go along with nine tackles and cornerback Scott Walter returned an interception 29 yards with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. The defense also came up clutch holding the Demons to just 2 of 13 third-down conversions.
Quarterback Steve Walker completed 12 of 18 passes for 210 yards and tied his career high with three touchdown passes. Walker led the Bison on a eight-play, 78-yard drive finished by a 12-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Kole Heckendorf giving the Bison the early 7-0 lead. The touchdown was Heckendorf's first career score.
Walker hooked up with tight end AJ Cooper on his two other scores. Cooper's first score was 34 yards that extended the Bison lead to 14-0. The tandem hooked up again in the fourth quarter from 38 yards out.
Walker's career high of three touchdown passes was set against UC Davis on Nov. 13, 2004, and was matched last week vs. Arkansas-Monticello. He also had one interception, his first in 87 pass attempts to start his career.
Running back Shamen Washington showed his versatility leading the team in rushing with 56 yards on just four carries, returning two kickoffs for 76 yards which included a 55-yard return in the 4th quarter and returning two punts for 69 yards that included a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter giving the North Dakota State a 21-0 lead going into halftime.
Washington's punt return for a touchdown was the first for North Dakota State since Richard Lewis ran one back 40 yards vs. Nebraska-Omaha on November 3, 2001.
In the third quarter, Walker's interception for touchdown was the only score and extended the Bison's lead to 28-0.
Northwestern State's lone score came in the fourth quarter when Anthony Holmes scored on a 23-yard touchdown run. North Dakota State retaliated fast with Cooper's second touchdown reception set-up by Washington's long kickoff return making the score 35-7.
North Dakota State's victory snapped an 11-year, 22-game non-conference home winning streak for the Demons.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE ON THE ROAD: North Dakota State posted its third straight road win with the victory against Northwestern State dating back to last season ... The Bison ended the 2004 season with wins at Weber State and UC Davis ... NDSU is now 7-4 on the road over the past three years and 14-13 since 2000 ... North Dakota State is 14-10 at outdoor venues over that span.
BISON DEFENSE BULLISH ON THIRD DOWN: North Dakota State's defense has been bullish on the opponents in third down situations ... Through the first two games, the opposition is 6 of 39 for 15 percent on third down ... NDSU and South Dakota State are listed below the Division I-AA statistic leaders by the NCAA because of reclassifying from a Division II to Division I-AA football program. Both schools are in the third of a five-year transition period. UNC and UC Davis are also listed in the same fashion.
STEFFES HAS TWO 100-YARD GAMES IN 2005, EIGHT IN CAREER: Kyle Steffes rushed 19 times for a career-high 179 yards and one TD in the win over Weber State. Steffes, a 5-foot-11 1-2, 206-pound junior from Dickinson, N.D., logged his eighth career 100-yard game against WSU. He scored on his first touch, a career best 51-yard scamper in the first quarter. Steffes rushed for
For the season, Steffes has carried the ball 54 times for 333 yards (6.2 avg.) and two touchdowns for an average of 111 yards per game.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE DEFENSE FORCING THE ISSUE: With seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries, North Dakota State's defense has forced the issue ... The result has been a plus-3.00 turnover margin, which is tops in I-AA football ... The Bison defense is No. 13 in total defense.
NDSU and South Dakota State are listed below the Division I-AA statistic leaders by the NCAA because of reclassifying from a Division II to Division I-AA football program. Both schools are in the third of a five-year transition period. UNC and UC Davis are also listed in the same fashion.
MODEL OF EFFICIENCY: North Dakota State quarterback Steve Walker is No. 6 in I-AA pass efficiency with a 176.28 rating ... Walker has completed 31 of 54 passes for 513 yards, seven TDs and one interception this season ... He started his career with 87 straight passes without an interception with the first pick coming against Northwestern State (9-10-05) ... The school record was 99 consecutive passes without an interception set by Ryan Johnson in 1999.
THE RETURN OF AMAZIN' SHAMEN: North Dakota State speedy sophomore Shamen Washington has literally burst back on the scene ... He is averaging 152 yards per game of all-purpose running and has scored four TDs including the 63-yard punt return for a touchdown against Northwestern State (9-10-05) and 69-yard punt return for a TD vs. Weber State ... Washington is No. 3 in punt returns (22.33 ypr), No. 9 in kickoff returns (31.75 ypr) and No. 17 (152 ypg) in all-purpose running in the NCAA Division I-AA statistics.
PAGING DR. ZIMMERMAN, PAGING DR. ZIMMERMAN: North Dakota State senior linebacker Kole Zimmerman returned an interception 27 yards for a TD in the season opener against Arkansas-Monticello (9-1-05) ... It was the first interception return for a TD since the 2003 season Matt Gorman raced 93 yards with a pick against Concordia-St. Paul.
BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE: North Dakota State junior strong safety Ryan Olson blocked a field goal against Arkansas-Monticello ... It was the first similiar defensive action since former Bison nose tackle and current New York Jets offensive lineman Isaac Snell recorded a blocked PAT last season.
POPOWSKI NAMED TO AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM®: North Dakota State University offensive tackle Tim Popowski (Brookings, S.D.) was one of 22 student-athletes selected to the 2005 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team®. Popowski is the second NDSU student-athlete to receive the honor joining former teammate Jared Essler, who was named to the 2004 AFCA Good Works Team®.
The two 11-man teams, a Division I-A team and a combined team from Divisions I-AA, II, III and the NAIA, honor players for their dedication and commitment to community service. From 1992-1996, the Good Works Team was selected by the College Football Association. When the CFA disbanded in 1997, the AFCA began selecting the teams.
In addition to the AFCA honor, Popowski was also one of 25 student-athletes to be interviewed for NCAA Football "Good Works" features being offered to television stations around the country by Host Communications.The program was open to all varsity football players at any NCAA institution.
DEFENSE LEADS NO. 17 CAL POLY PAST MONTANA STATE: Cal Poly defenders Chris Gocong and Courtney Brown scored touchdowns in the first half, leading the No. 18-ranked Mustangs to a 38-10 non-conference victory over No. 11 Montana State before 8,043 Saturday night in Mustang Stadium.
Brown returned an interception 28 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and Gocong recovered a Montana State fumble in the end zone for another score as Cal Poly built a 28-7 halftime lead and improved to 2-1 on the season.
Montana State, held to its lowest point total since 2003, fell to 1-2. The Bobcats have lost to Cal Poly the last seven times the two schools have met and trail in the series, 4-9.
Freshman running back James Noble rushed for 157 yards on 18 carries, scoring one touchdown on a 49-yard scamper in the third quarter for Cal Poly. It was his second 100-yard game in two career starts.
Senior quarterback Anthony Garnett completed seven of 12 passes for 180 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns spanning one and six yards for the Mustangs.
Nick Coromelas kicked a 20-yard field goal with 8:17 to play, completing the scoring for Cal Poly.
Montana State quarterback Travis Lulay completed 12 of 25 passes for 235 yards and his team's only touchdown -- a 21-yarder to Michael Bass in the second quarter.
Jeff Hastings added a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter for the Bobcats.
Tremaine Murray had five catches for 107 yards for the Bobcats while Chaz Guinn added four receptions for 47 yards.
Cal Poly compiled a 417-320 advantage in total offense and 21-17 in first downs.
Leading the Mustangs defensively were linebacker Kyle Shotwell with 12 tackles (eight solo) and defensive end Gocong with 10 (six total). Gocong, who led the nation in sacks a year ago with 17.5, added three more Saturday night as the Mustangs sacked Lulay five times.
POLL WATCHING: North Dakota State was No. 8 in the second regular season ESPN/USA Today I-AA Coaches Top 25 poll released Sept. 19 ... It is the highest ranking the Bison football team has achieved since moving to NCAA I-AA ... The third regular season ESPN/USA Today I-AA Coaches Top 25 will be released on Monday, Sept. 26 ... North Dakota State was ranked No. 8 in The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll released Sept. 19 ... The fourth regular season poll is scheduled to be released Monday, Sept. 26 ... Montana State was No. 18 in both polls.
NDSU 2005 CAPTAINS: North Dakota State University head football coach Craig Bohl announced the captains for the 2005 season. On offense, sophomore quarterback Steve Walker (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township H.S.) and senior tackle Tim Popowski (Brookings, S.D./Brookings H.S.) were voted by teammates. On defense, senior linebacker Kole Zimmerman (Windom, Minn./Windom H.S.), senior defensive end Alvin Robinson (Sumrall, Miss./Sumrall H.S./Pear River C.C.) and junior strong safety Craig Dahl (Mankato, Minn./Mankato H.S.) were selected.
CRAIG BOHL FOOTBALL SHOW: The Craig Bohl Football Show airs every Sunday throughout the season at 10:30 p.m. on WDAY-TV in Fargo, and on KBMY-TV in Bismarck and KMCY-TV in Minot on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Former NDSU and Buffalo Bills star Phil Hansen, in his third year as a radio commentator for Bison broadcasts on WDAY-AM, will host the show.
2004 REWIND: North Dakota State finished the 2004 season with an 8-3 record under the direction of head coach Craig Bohl. It was NDSU's first year of Division I-AA football. The Bison finished 23rd in The Sports Network's Top 25 poll, 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25, 20th in the AGS (Any Given Saturday.com) Final Poll, 17th in the GPI (Gridiron Power Index) Final Poll and 15th in the Football Gazette's Top 40.
GREAT WEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE: North Dakota State begins its second season at the Division I-AA level in the Great West Football Conference ... The conference is comprised of six schools located in five states and three time zones ... League membership includes NDSU, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Cal Poly, Southern Utah and UC Davis.
The Bison open Great West Football Conference play against defending league champion and preseason favorite Cal Poly at 8 p.m. (CST) Saturday, Oct. 8, at Mustang in San Luis Obispo ... The Mustangs were 9-2 last season.
North Dakota State had offensive tackle Tim Popowski, halfback Kyle Steffes and strong safety Craig Dahl named to a Preseason All-Great West Football Conference first team selected by GWFC correspondent Chris Kelly. Linebacker Joe Mays was listed as the Super Sophomore.
The Bison were well represented on the I-AA.org preseason magazine conference watch list including offensive tackle Tim Popowski and halfback Kyle Steffes on the first team offense; defensive end Alvin Robinson and strong safety Craig Dahl on the first team defense; halfback/return specialist Shamen Washington on the first team special teams; offensive guard Justin Buckwalter, quarterback Steve Walker and halfback Cinque Chapman on the second team offense; cornerback Bobby Babich and linebacker Mike Maresh on the second team defense, and punter Mike Dragosavich on the second team special teams. NDSU was picked to win the GWFC title by the I-AA.org writers, while Steffes and Popowski were named the top performers at their respective positions.
GREAT WEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS: North Dakota State was picked by I-AA.org and The Sports Network to win the 2005 Great West Football Conference title ... Street & Smith's College Preview and the conference media members had the Bison at No. 2, while the league coaches had NDSU at No. 3.
STEFFES, WALKER ON THE RADAR: Halfback Kyle Steffes and quarterback Steve Walker have received some preseason notice. Steffes was named the Great West Football Conference's top offensive player in 2005 Street & Smith's College Football Preview. He was also listed at No. 12 in I-AA running backs to watch this season by The Sports Network:
12. Kyle Steffes, North Dakota State (Jr., 5-11 1/2, 206)--After a good freshman season, Steffes broke through as a potential emerging star in 2004. The junior from Dickinson, North Dakota averaged 5.4 yards per carry while running for 1,055 yards and 13 touchdowns in the Bison's first year at the I-AA level. Steffes ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Bison scored an impressive 24-14 win at Nicholls State on Oct. 2. Steffes went for a career-high 176 yards and two scores to lead the Bison to a victory at Weber State, and teams with emerging quarterback Steve Walker to form a solid duo for a Bison team that should reside in the top 25 in 2005.
Walker was listed "Five (Quarterbacks) Ready for a Breakthrough:" Five quarterbacks who started only parts of 2004 that showed the potential to make a major name for themselves in 2005:
2. Steve Walker, North Dakota State (So., 6-0 1/2, 207)--Walker took over the starting spot for the last three games and played superb in leading NDSU to wins against Northwestern St., UC Davis and Weber State. Walker completed 78 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions while playing parts of 10 games.
FRESHMEN OF INFLUENCE: North Dakota State University head football coach Craig Bohl announced several freshmen will have the redshirt taken off this season. In the defensive secondary, cornerbacks 5-foot-8, 171-pound Richard Bowman (Houston, Texas/North Shore H.S.) and 5-8, 169-pound Nate Agbetola (Sugar Land, Texas/Kempner H.S.) are seeing playing time. At linebacker, 5-10 1/2, 214-pound Ramon Humber (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park H.S.) has impressed the coaching staff.
FOOTBALL 101 BACK FOR ANOTHER SEASON: Bison Athletics is offering a great opportunity for all to learn more about the game of football. Head Coach Craig Bohl will be teaching "Football 101" for those fans who want to learn more about the game ... The goal is for ladies and fun-loving fans to gather in a social setting and learn more about football than the traditional male fan ... Come join us in the locker room area of the Fargodome for four fun and informative sessions that started Sept. 7 ... Classes will meet from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday through Sept. 28. Sessions will include classroom chalk talks, on field demonstrations, offense, defense, kicking game and football rules. Cost is $50. All proceeds will be used in the fight against ovarian cancer ... For more information, call 701-231-7816 or email Margie Trickle at m.trickle@ndsu.edu to request a registration form.
WHITE OUT FOR SEASON: North Dakota State University wide receiver Travis White suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice Aug. 22. White plans to return for the 2006 season.
White, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior from Cedar, Minn., had 119 receptions for 1,336 yards and 11 touchdowns in 29 career games. He is No. 3 all-time at NDSU in receptions.
A second-team All-Great West Football Conference performer last season, White caught 57 catches for 776 yards and nine touchdowns.
White caught a career-high 10 passes for 127 yards against Northern Colorado last season. He had caught at least one pass in 14 straight games dating back to Nov. 1, 2003 vs. South Dakota.
Backup wide receiver Nick Jackson (East Cleveland, Ohio) is out for a month with a separated shoulder sustained in the Weber State contest.
SUCCESS OF THE BISON PROGRAM: The success of North Dakota State football over the past few years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Here is what the Bison have accomplished since the early 1980s:
-Won 161 of the last 207 conference games (161-44-2, .780)
-Won 223 of the last 285 games (223-60-2, .782)
-Won 197 of the last 248 regular-season games (197-49-2, .790) played including a streak of 22 straight wins before losing to Nebraska- Omaha in October 1983.
-Won 204 of the last 224 home games (204-18-2, .909) at home since a 1980 season-opening 10-0 loss to Northern Michigan.
-Appeared in six straight NCAA playoffs from 1981 to 1986 and 15 in the last 23 years including finishing second nationally in 1981 and 1984, making the semifinals in 1982 and 2000, and winning the NCAA title in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990.
NDSU ADDS NCAA DIVISION I-A BALL STATE TO 2006 SCHEDULE: North Dakota State University Director of Athletics Gene Taylor announced NDSU and Ball State University have agreed to play Sept. 23, 2006, at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Ind.
Ball State is a member of the NCAA Division I-A Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals were 2-9 overall in 2004 and 2-6 in the MAC. Ball State is scheduled to open the 2005 season on Sept. 3 at the University of Iowa.
"Scheduling our first Division I-A opponent is another big step in building our program," said North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl.
North Dakota State has played three games against current Mid-American Conference opponents. NDSU tied Eastern Michigan 14-14 in the 1970 opener, and defeated Northern Illinois 31-13 in 1968 and 28-0 in 1969. The last major college opponent was Missouri in 1956 when the Tigers defeated the Bison 42-0 in Columbia.
The Bison have seven games on the 2006 schedule with home contests against Northeastern University on Sept. 9, Cal Poly on Nov. 11 and South Dakota State on Nov. 18. Road games include Ball State on Sept. 23, Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 30, Southern Utah on Oct. 28 and UC Davis on Nov. 4.
