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NDSU Notes
Western Illinois Notes

THIS WEEK:  North Dakota State (4-0, 0-0 MVFC) returns from a bye week to face Western Illinois (2-3, 0-1 MVFC) in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Game of the Week at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Hanson Field (16,368) in Macomb, Ill.
 
TELEVISION:  Saturday's game will be televised live on ESPN3, Mediacom and the NBC North Dakota network with Scott Warmann calling the play-by-play, Danan Hughes as color analyst and Sara Dayley reporting from the sideline.
 
RADIO:  KFGO-AM 790 and KRWK-FM 101.9 of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.  KFGO's Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sidelines.  A live audio stream will be available on GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the sixth meeting between North Dakota State and Western Illinois and the first since 2011 when NDSU clinched a share of its first Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 37-21 victory in Macomb.  The Bison are 3-0 in Macomb and lead the series 3-2 with both losses coming at home in 2008 and 2010.
 
BYE WEEK SUCCESS:  NDSU is coming off its only bye week as part of the first 12-game regular season schedule in school history.  The Bison have won 10 straight games coming off bye weeks including two home victories last year against Delaware State (56-0) and Illinois State (28-10).  NDSU hasn't had a road game after a bye since beating Minnesota 37-24 in 2011.
 
RECORD WINNING STREAK:  North Dakota State's 28-game winning streak is an MVFC record and the longest in NDSU and Football Championship Subdivision history.  The Bison won 24 straight games spanning three seasons 1964-66, Penn set the previous FCS record of 24 from 1992-95, and Montana tied the FCS record over two seasons from 2001-02.
            Active Division I Overall Winning Streaks
            28 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            20 - Florida State (ACC)
            8 - Oklahoma (Big 12)
 
BISON FIND WAYS TO SCORE:  North Dakota State ran for 280 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry against Montana, but the Bison ground game was held out of the end zone for the first time since a 56-10 win at Indiana State last year when the Bison scored on four passes, two punt returns, a kickoff return and an interception return.  NDSU beat Montana 22-10 behind Adam Keller's school-record five field goals and a 3-yard passing strike from Carson Wentz to tight end Kevin Vaadeland.
 
TWO MILLION FANS:  North Dakota State welcomed its 2 millionth fan through the Fargodome doors at the Sept. 20 game vs. Montana.  This is NDSU's 22nd season in the dome, which has drawn 2,001,568 fans over 135 home games since 1993.
 
THORTON SEMIFINALIST: Senior linebacker Esley Thorton is a national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.  The award, a 25-pound bronze trophy in its 25th season, recognizes the best football scholar-athlete in the nation and the winner receives a postgraduate scholarship of $25,000.  Up to 16 of the candidates will receive $18,000 scholarships as part of the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete program.
 
NATIONAL HONORS FOR KELLER:  Senior kicker Adam Keller was selected as a National All-Star by the College Sporting News and the National Placekicker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards after kicking a school-record five field goals in NDSU's 22-10 home win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana two weeks ago.  He was the Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
KELLER BREAKS FG RECORD:  Senior kicker Adam Keller broke North Dakota State's single-game record with five field goals in NDSU's 22-10 home win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana on Sept. 20.  Keller connected from 41, 22, 32 and a season-long 47 yards in the first half and a 30-yarder in the second half to snap the record of four FGs set in 1983 by Ken Kubisz and tied by Keller in 2012 at Northern Iowa.
 
50th GAME:  Three NDSU players will take the field for the 50th time in their four-year careers Saturday at Western Illinois.  Linebacker Travis Beck, free safety Christian Dudzik and defensive end Kyle Emanuel have each played in all 49 games and the Bison have a 47-2 record in that span.  Dudzik has made all 49 starts, Beck has 43 starts and Emanuel 42 starts.  The FCS record for games played is 62 by Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks, who made 47 starts from 2004 to 2008.
 
NATIONAL HONORS FOR EMANUEL, CROCKETT:  Defensive end Kyle Emanuel and running back John Crockett each earned national Player of the Week awards for their performances in North Dakota State's 34-14 win at Iowa State.  Emanuel was named the FCS National Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network after making a team-high nine tackles. He led the FCS with four tackles for loss including two sacks and also forced one fumble.  Crockett was selected as an FCS National All-Star by College Sporting News after rushing 17 times for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.  His 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter cut NDSU's deficit to 14-7 and sparked the Bison to 34 unanswered points.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference picked Crockett as Offensive Player of the Week and Emanuel as Defensive Player of the Week.
 
HAEG NAMED O-LINEMAN OF THE WEEK:  Left tackle Joe Haeg was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week for the second time in his career after grading out at 100 percent with six knockdown blocks and zero sacks or quarterback hurries in North Dakota State's win at Iowa State.  It was Haeg's first start at left tackle after playing right tackle in his first 29 career games.  NDSU put up 506 yards of total offense highlighted by touchdown runs from John Crockett (80 yards) and Chase Morlock (66 yards) and an 18-for-24 passing day for QB Carson Wentz, who had 204 yards in his first start.
 
LITTLEJOHN NATIONAL ALL-STAR:  Middle linebacker Carlton Littlejohn was named a College Sporting News FCS National All-Star after making 12 tackles and scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 5-yard fumble return in the 24-7 win at Weber State.  Littlejohn also had a key tackle at the NDSU 2 on a fake field goal that preserved a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.  He had one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record and has won five straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents after beating Iowa State 34-14 in the season-opener.  The Bison are 5-0 against the FBS since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14).
 
THREE PEAT:  North Dakota State is just the second team in FCS history to win three straight national championships joining the Appalachian State teams of 2005-07.  NDSU set a school record for wins with a 15-0 mark and become the first undefeated national champion since Southern Conference champion Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title.
 
BULK OF DEFENSE RETURNS:  NDSU returns 10 total starters including six players from the nation's No. 1 scoring defense and a Buck Buchanan Award nominee in strong safety Colten Heagle.  Seven of the top nine tacklers are back led by linebacker Carlton Littlejohn (89 tackles) and including free safety Christian Dudzik (6 interceptions) and right end Kyle Emanuel (7.5 sacks).  NDSU's defense was in usual form at Iowa State, holding the Cyclones to just 102 yards on the ground and only 57 yards of total offense in the second half.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE YOUNG:  North Dakota State returns a pair of defensive ends, all three linebackers, and 3 of 4 defensive backs that all played in the FCS championship game, but the Bison will have a new look at defensive tackle, where junior Brian Schaetz is the only returner from last year's four-man rotation.  Redshirt freshmen Nate Tanguay and Grant Morgan will play along with sophomore Austin Farnlof, who missed last year with an injury.
 
TWO FRESHMEN PLAY:  Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski out of Creighton Prep in Omaha and defensive end Greg Menard from Lakeville North in Minnesota are the only true freshmen who have played for NDSU this season.  Urzendowski caught one pass for six yards in his debut at Iowa State in the season opener.  Menard joined the travel squad for Weber State, where he made one tackle in his first game.
 
WENTZ STEPS IN:  Junior quarterback Carson Wentz takes over the reins of the Bison offense in place of All-American Brock Jensen, who went 47-5 as NDSU's starter and totaled an FCS-record 48 victories at quarterback.  Wentz completed 18 of 28 passes for 204 yards and ran eight times for 38 yards at Iowa State in his first career start.  He ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 15th nationally completing 66 percent of his passes.
 
RUNNING BACKS:  North Dakota State had dual 1,000-yard running backs each of the past three seasons and part of that equation the past two seasons was John Crockett, who ranks 10th in school history with 2,800 career rushing yards.  He has 12 career 100-yard games including a season-high 144 against Montana.  Crockett is on pace to finish as one of NDSU's top five rushers despite splitting the carries in 2012 and 2013.  Chase Morlock returns after getting 47 carries as a true freshman, and sophomore King Frazier joins the mix after transferring from Nebraska.
            NDSU Career Rushing Leaders
            1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, 1998-01
            2. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, 2003-06
            3. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, 2009-13
            4. 3688 - Jake Morris, 1994-97
            5. 3313 - Chris Simdorn, 1987-90
            6. 3212 - Tony Satter, 1987-90
            7. 2985 - DJ McNorton, 2008-11
            8. 2945 - Jeff Bentrim, 1983-86
            9. 2837 - Chad Stark, 1983-86
            10. 2800 - John Crockett, 2012-14
 
VRAA AMONG NATION'S BEST:  Wide receiver Zach Vraa was third in the FCS last year with a school-record 15 touchdown catches, and ranked 10th nationally with a school-record 1,191 receiving yards.  Vraa has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games and 32 of 33 games in his career.  He ranks fifth in NDSU career receiving yards (1990), sixth in career receptions (126), and fourth in touchdown catches (19).
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93
            3. 2332 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            4. 2232 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            5. 1990 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14


            NDSU Career Receptions
            1. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06
            3. 161 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            4. 147 - Ryan Smith, 2010-13
            5. 134 - TR McDonald, 1990-93
            6. 126 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14


            NDSU Career Receiving TDs
            1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            2. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88
            3. 22 - TR McDonald, 1990-93
            4. 19 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
 
VAADELAND BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR:  Tight end Kevin Vaadeland returned to the Bison program for a sixth season due to a 2010 injury and is coming off his most productive season.  Vaadeland caught 20 passes for 233 yards and his eight touchdown receptions ranked third overall in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and second in the FCS among tight ends.  He made a career-high five catches in the win over Montana, including his 11th career TD reception, which ranks second in NDSU history among tight ends.
 
O-LINE SHAKEUP:  North Dakota State has just one returning starter on the offensive line and that is junior Joe Haeg, who is moving from right tackle to left tackle in place of Miami Dolphins third round draft pick Billy Turner.  The Bison expected three starters back, but center Josh Colville gave up his final two years of eligibility due to injuries, and left guard Zack Johnson is missing the season due to injury.
 
OFFENSIVE OPENER: Despite an entirely new offensive line and a new quarterback, North Dakota State rolled to 506 yards of total offense at Iowa State in the opener, the most total offense since putting up 571 yards against Stephen F. Austin in the 2007 opener.  NDSU rushed for 302 yards, the most since 2008 against Austin Peay (304).  Career-long runs for John Crockett (80) and Chase Morlock (66) both went for touchdowns, and the Bison controlled the clock with a time of possession advantage 35:47 to 24:13, including 10:28 in the fourth quarter.
 
WEARING THEM OUT:  North Dakota State has a habit of wearing out its opponents with its bruising running game in the fourth quarter.  NDSU has held the ball for over 10 minutes in the final quarter in 3 of 4 games and ranks second nationally in time of possession. NDSU ranked second nationally in time of possession (33:40) and led the FCS in third down conversions last year (55%).
 
SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN:  NDSU's school- and FCS-record 28-game winning streak has been marked by second-half dominance.  The Bison have shut out 9 of their last 13 opponents after halftime allowing just 24 second-half points in those 13 games.  The fourth quarter has been even better with NDSU allowing just 16 points in the last 24 games.
 
KELLER BACK ON PLACE KICKING DUTIES:  Senior Adam Keller is back from an offseason hip surgery to handle North Dakota State's place kicking duties.  Keller set school records for PAT kicks made (76) and attempted (78) for the second straight season.  He converted 9 of 12 field goals including a season-long 48-yarder in the FCS quarterfinal victory over Coastal Carolina and led the Bison in scoring with 103 points.  Keller has converted 72 straight PAT kicks dating back to the fourth game of 2013 and 13 straight field goals over the past eight contests.  He has a career-long of 49 yards against Youngstown State in 2012.
 
PUNT COVERAGE:  North Dakota State's Ben LeCompte punted 52 times for an average of 43.65 yards per punt that ranked second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and fourth in school history last season.  LeCompte had 10 touchbacks, 25 punts inside the 20, and 12 boots of 50 yards or more including a career-best 75 yards at South Dakota State and a 74-yarder in the same game.  Only 8 of 52 punts were returned and NDSU was fifth in the FCS allowing just 2.63 yards per return.  LeCompte is second in NDSU and MVFC history with a 43.35 career punting average.
 
PRESEASON PICKS:  North Dakota State, ranked No. 1 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 2 in the Sports Network media poll, was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference ahead of South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.  NDSU had a league-high eight players on the preseason all-conference team including fullback Andrew Bonnet, wide receiver Zach Vraa, left guard Zack Johnson (out due to injury), defensive end Kyle Emanuel, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety Colten Heagle and punter Ben LeCompte.  Free safety and punt returner Christian Dudzik was an honorable mention.
 
ON THE ROAD:  North Dakota State has won 16 straight true road games and 20 including three national championship games in Frisco, Texas, and one neutral site win against South Dakota in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The Bison have won 25 of their last 29 road games and are 17-7 in MVFC road games.  The Bison have not lost away from Fargo since the 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals.
            Division I Road Winning Streaks
            16 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            9 - Florida State (ACC)
            9 - Ohio State (Big Ten)
            7 - Missouri (SEC)
            6 - Harvard (Ivy)
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State has won 16 straight home games and 46 of the last 47 non-conference home games including 36 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 9-2 at home against Top 10 teams after beating No. 3/4-ranked Montana.  The Bison have the longest home winning streak in Division I football.
            Division I Home Winning Streaks
            16 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            12 - Auburn (SEC)
            12 - Baylor (Big 12)
            12 - Alabama (SEC)
            12 - Northern Illinois (MAC)
            11 - Coastal Carolina (Big South)
 
HOME GAMES SOLD OUT:  For the third straight season, all six North Dakota State home games sold out within an hour of single-game tickets going on sale Aug. 1.  The Bison have more than 12,000 season ticket holders plus 4,000 student tickets available at Gate City Bank Field, where capacity is 18,700.  Additional single-game tickets may become available Fridays of each home game week.
 
RECORD ATTENDANCE:  North Dakota State in 2013 set a school record for average home attendance for the third straight year drawing 18,622 over nine games, which ranked sixth in the FCS.  NDSU drew a record crowd of 19,108 for last year's homecoming game against Missouri State.  The Bison have sold out 19 times since 2006 including both home games this season.  NDSU ranks fifth in FCS average home attendance.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 25,423
            2. James Madison - 22,085
            3. Yale - 20,734
            4. Montana State - 18,955
            5. North Dakota State - 18,955
 
THE COACH:  The 30th head coach in team history, Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) takes over the North Dakota State program after spending the past three years on staff as the defensive backs coach and handling the defensive coordinator duties in 2012 and 2013.  The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU after five years at Northern Iowa. He also made coaching stops at Western Illinois (1994-96), Kansas (1997), Missouri State (1999) and Loras (2002-04).  He is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and was a three-time all-conference defensive back at UNI from 1986-90.