Football | 10/19/2015 2:15:00 PM

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NDSU Notes | Indiana State Notes

THIS WEEK:  North Dakota State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) looks to rebound from its first home loss in three years when the No. 8-ranked Bison face 18th-ranked Indiana State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Game of the Week.  Game time is 1 p.m. EDT at Memorial Stadium (12,764) in Terre Haute, Ind.
 
TELEVISION:  ESPN3 and ESPN College Extra will have exclusive coverage beginning at 1 p.m. EDT with Scott Warmann calling the play-by-play, Danan Hughes color analyst, and Sara Dayley reporting from the sidelines.  ESPN3 is an online broadcast available through the participating Internet providers and ESPN College Extra is available on DirecTV and select cable television providers.
 
RADIO:  KFGO-AM 790 and Mix 101.9 FM of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m. CDT.  KFGO's Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst, commentary from KFGO's Jack Michaels, and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sideline.  A free audio stream will be available on GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the eighth meeting between North Dakota State and Indiana State dating back to 2008.  NDSU has a 6-1 lead in the series after last year's 34-17 in Fargo.  Indiana State's only win was at the Fargodome on Oct. 13, 2012 when the Sycamores won 17-14 behind Tanner Fritschle's 48-yard field goal and Johnny Towalid's 27- and 31-yard interception returns.
            NDSU-Indiana State Series
            2008 - in Fargo, NDSU 34-7
            2009 - in Terre Haute, NDSU 56-17
            2010 - in Fargo, NDSU 27-15
            2011 - in Terre Haute, NDSU 27-16
            2012 - in Fargo, ISU 17-14
            2013 - in Terre Haute, NDSU 56-10
            2014 - in Fargo, NDSU 34-17
 
LAST YEAR:  Zach Vraa caught two touchdowns and John Crockett rushed for 101 yards and two scores in North Dakota State's 34-17 home win last year over Indiana State.  Vraa had 119 yards on a career-high nine receptions including a 48-yard score that put NDSU up 20-0 in the second quarter.  Carson Wentz completed 20 of 29 passes for 222 yards and Adam Keller booted field goals of 19 yards and a career-long 50 yards.  NDSU outgained Indiana State 127-0 in the first quarter and held the Sycamores to 96 yards through three quarters.  Carlton Littlejohn led the Bison with six tackles and Kyle Emanuel had 3.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
 
COYOTES WIN IN FARGO:  Miles Bergner kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to give South Dakota a 24-21 victory over North Dakota State and send the Coyotes home with their first win in Fargo since 1978.  The Coyotes tied the game 21-21 with a 15-play, 72-yard scoring drive, then forced NDSU into a three-and-out to get the ball back with 3:20 left.  USD marched 55 yards in nine plays converting two third downs in the process and advanced to the NDSU 16 before calling timeout with three seconds left to set up the game-winning kick.  Bergner was 4 of 11 on field goals including a miss from 47 yards earlier in the game.  USD outgained NDSU 395-320 and held the Bison to 125 yards rushing.  King Frazier had 39 yards, Chase Morlock ran for 36 and Bruce Anderson had 34 yards and a touchdown.  Bison quarterback Carson Wentz was 16 of 28 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns.  Nick DeLuca made a career-high 15 tackles to lead the NDSU defense.
 
26-GAME HOME STREAK ENDS:  North Dakota State's 26-game home winning streak was the longest active streak in Division I football when South Dakota ended it Oct. 17 with a 24-21 victory.  It was the longest home field streak in Missouri Valley Football Conference history, second longest in NDSU history, and eighth longest all-time in the Football Championship Subdivision.  Georgia Southern holds the top two FCS home win streaks at 39 and 38 games.  NDSU's longest home winning streak is 28 games from 1964-69 and longest home unbeaten streak is 35 games from 1964-71 (including 1970 season-opening tie with Eastern Michigan).
 
VRAA SETS CAREER YARDS MARK:  Sixth-year wide receiver Zach Vraa made three receptions for 35 yards against South Dakota and became North Dakota State's new career leader in receiving yards.  Vraa enters the Indiana State game with 2,738 career receiving yards, topping the previous mark of 2,732 set by Kole Heckendorf from 2005-08.  He broke the career receptions record against Northern Iowa and needs one touchdown to tie the school record of 26 set by Tim Strehlow from 1996-99.  Vraa is among the MVFC's top 10 in all three categories.
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2738 - Zach Vraa, 2011-15 (49g)
            2. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 (43g)
            3. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 (39g)

            NDSU Career Receiving TDs
            1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            2. 25 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
            3. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88

            NDSU Career Receptions
            1. 182 - Zach Vraa, 2011-15
            2. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            3. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06
 
BOUNCING BACK:  For the fourth time in the last five losses dating back to 2011, the Bison find themselves on the road trying to bounce back from a defeat.  North Dakota State has not lost back-to-back games since October 2009 and has been able to score early and often after its last four losses.
            Last Four NDSU Games After Losses
            2015 - vs. Weber State, led 28-7 at halftime, won 41-14
            2014 - at Missouri State, led 21-3 at halftime, won 45-10
            2012 - at South Dakota, led 26-0 at halftime, won 54-0
            2011 - at Western Illinois, led 21-0 at halftime, won 37-21
 
BISON LEAD MVFC IN KICKOFF GAME:  Through three conference games, North Dakota State leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in both kickoff returns and kickoff coverage.  The Bison are averaging 26.2 yards per kickoff return with freshman Bruce Anderson providing the spark the last two weeks averaging 31.0 yards on four returns including a 42-yarder against South Dakota.  On defense, NDSU has a conference-best 41.3 net kickoff average in three league games.  Matt Plank (6) and Chris Board (5) are NDSU's top two special teams tacklers this year through six contests.
 
BISON LEAD FCS IN TIME OF POSSESSION:  North Dakota State still leads the nation in time of possession through the first six games of the year despite behind out-clocked for the first time in 22 games by South Dakota.  The Bison are averaging an FCS-best 36:42 over six games.  NDSU also ranks fifth in third down conversion defense (27%), first downs allowed (79) and fourth down conversions (78%).

	Opponent	Opp 3rd Down	NDSU TOP
	Montana	6-18	35:16
	Weber State	1-13	40:04
	North Dakota	2-13	36:36
	South Dakota State	2-15	39:19
	Northern Iowa	3-10	39:08
	South Dakota	8-13	29:52

 
LeCOMPTE SECOND IN FCS IN PUNTING:  All-America punter Ben LeCompte is fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision with a 45.7 average on 30 punts including a long of 73 in the Weber State game, 10 punts of 50-plus yards, and 13 downed inside the 20.  LeCompte ranks fifth in FCS history and is the MVFC leader in career punting average at 44.32.  He is second in school history behind Mike Dragosavich's 44.46 average from 2004-07.
            NCAA FCS Career Punting Leaders
            45.1 - Jonathan Plisco, Old Dominion (2009-12)
            44.8 - Mark Gould, Northern Arizona (2000-03)
            44.6 - Eric Enderson, Delaware (2013-15)
            44.4 - Pumpy Tudors, Chattanooga (1989-91)
            44.3 - Ben LeCompte, NDSU (2012-15)
 
WENTZ PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Quarterback Carson Wentz was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week after passing for four touchdowns in a 31-28 come-from-behind victory over Northern Iowa.  Wentz led the Bison on a 10-play, 79-yard drive in less than two minutes capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darrius Shepherd with 35 seconds left.  Wentz connected with 11 different receivers and finished 26 of 40 (both career highs) for 335 yards, the fifth most passing yards in NDSU history.  His 40 attempts against UNI were the most by a Bison quarterback since 2009.
 
WENTZ SETS RECORD:  Quarterback Carson Wentz set an NDSU record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception during the Northern Iowa game.  Wentz made 143 passing attempts over seven games dating back to last year's NCAA semifinal win over Sam Houston State before UNI's Tim Kilfoy intercepted him in the second quarter.  Wentz responded by completing 9 of 10 passes before a deflected ball led to his second interception.  The previous NDSU record was 142 set by Brock Jensen in seven games in 2011 followed by the 110 straight by Steve Walker from 2005 to 2006.
 
BEST DEFENSE IN 41 YEARS:  North Dakota State held North Dakota to 61 yards of total offense, which was the lowest output by an NDSU opponent in 41 years since allowing five yards in a 1974 home win over Morningside College.  The Bison did not allow a first down until less than five minutes remained in the third quarter and limited the UND offense to four yards rushing, the fewest since 2013 when NDSU held South Dakota State to minus-32 rushing in Brookings.  Harvey, N.D., native MJ Stumpf made a team-high six tackles for NDSU while the Bison posted eight tackles for loss including sacks by Jordan Champion, Brian Schaetz, Stanley Jones and Aaron Steidl.
 
FOURTH LARGEST CROWD:  The 111th matchup between longtime rivals North Dakota State and North Dakota attracted a crowd of 19,044 to Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.  It was the fourth largest home crowd in NDSU history behind the 2013 homecoming game with Missouri State (19,108), the 2012 homecoming game with Youngstown State (19,065) and the 2006 season finale with South Dakota State for the Great West Football Conference championship (19,053).
 
FIRST HALF EXPLOSION:  North Dakota State rolled up 407 yards of total offense by halftime in the win over Weber State and went on to outgain the Wildcats by a 586-206 margin.  It was the most total offense by NDSU since a 2013 national quarterfinal win over Coastal Carolina when the Bison had 623 yards.  North Dakota State had nine different players combine to rush for 305 yards and quarterback Carson Wentz was 19 of 29 passing for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 43-4 at home since 2010.  The Bison have won 50 of the last 51 home games over non-conference opponents including 40 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 11-2 at home against Top 10 teams.
 
FOUR TRUE FRESHMAN:  North Dakota State has played four true freshmen this year.  Safety Robbie Grimsley, running back Bruce Anderson and wide receiver Dimitri Williams all played in the season opener at Montana.  Kicker Cam Pedersen traveled to Montana and made his debut in Week 2 against Weber State.
 
PEDERSEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF WEEK:  Freshman kicker Cam Pedersen was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after converting all four PAT kicks and 28- and 49-yard field goals in the 34-9 win over North Dakota.  Pedersen, a recruited walk-on, is now 13 of 13 on PATs and 4 of 4 on field goals in three games.  He traveled to the season-opener at Montana but did not play.
 
HAEG TWO-TIME MVFC LINEMAN OF THE WEEK:  Left tackle Joe Haeg was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Weber State and South Dakota State games this year.  He led the Bison with 12 total knockdowns, nine pancakes and two decleaters against Weber State and graded out at 92 percent on technique.  He had eight knockdowns with two decleaters and a 94 percent grade on technique at South Dakota State.  Haeg has been named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week five times in his career.
 
BISON PICKED TO WIN; THREE ALL-MVFC:  NDSU was tabbed to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown with 32 of 40 first-place votes in a poll of the league's head coaches, media and sports information directors.  The Bison had fullback Andrew Bonnet, left tackle Joe Haeg and punter Ben LeCompte voted to the preseason all-conference team.  Quarterback Carson Wentz, tight end Luke Albers, long snapper James Fisher, offensive linemen Zack Johnson and Jeremy Kelly, and cornerback CJ Smith were honorable mention.
 
WENTZ UP FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Quarterback Carson Wentz is on the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year and College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Year watch lists after a record-setting campaign in his first year as the Bison starter.  Wentz, the NCAA championship game MVP and first team Capital One Academic All-American®, set NDSU single-season records for passing attempts, completions, yards, and total offense per game.  He completed 228 of 358 passes for 3,111 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and was NDSU's second-leading rusher with 138 carries for 642 yards and six TDs while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.  His rushing total was the most by a Bison QB since the veer-option offense led by Kevin Feeney in 1996.
 
BISON LEAD FCS WITH FIVE STATS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS:  North Dakota State led the nation with five players selected to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America team.  Left tackle Joe Haeg and punter Ben LeCompte made the first team, fullback/tight end Andrew Bonnet and left guard Zack Johnson are on the second team, and long snapper James Fisher is on the third team.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference led the nation with 17 preseason All-Americans.
 
NDSU LEADS WITH FOUR ON FAB 50 LIST:  North Dakota State had a nation's best four players named to the College Sporting News Preseason Fab 50 FCS All-America Team and the Missouri Valley Football Conference led all conferences with 12 selections.  Quarterback Carson Wentz, fullback Andrew Bonnet, left tackle Joe Haeg and punter Ben LeCompte were NDSU's four honorees.  Wentz, Haeg and Bonnet all were named to the year-end Fab 50 All-America list last season.
 
RETURNING 12 STARTERS:  North Dakota State returns 12 starters from last year's team that won a fourth straight FCS national championship and went 7-1 to claim a share of its fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title.  NDSU returns eight starters on offense and four on defense.  In addition, all-conference left guard Zack Johnson is back from a knee injury that kept him out in 2014, and All-America punter Ben LeCompte is back after ranking second nationally in punting average last season.
 
VRAA GETS SIXTH SEASON:  All-conference wide receiver Zach Vraa is back for a sixth season after redshirting in 2010 and having his 2011 freshman season cut short with a broken collarbone in his first game.  He started in 11 of 13 games played as a sophomore in 2012 and had a record-setting junior year in 2013 when he finished 10th in the FCS with a school-record 1,191 yards (seventh in MVFC history) and was third nationally with a school-record 15 touchdowns (second in MVFC history).  Wide receiver Nate Moody is also returning for a fifth season after a knee injury early last year.
 
NEW-LOOK DEFENSE:  There will be plenty of new faces on the Bison defense as NDSU looks to replace two starting defensive ends, two outside linebackers and two safeties.  And junior middle linebacker Nick DeLuca started only five games down the stretch last year in place of injured Travis Beck.  NDSU does return experience at defensive end, where junior Brad Ambrosius and sophomores Greg Menard and Jarrod Tuszka were part of the regular rotation behind starters Mike Hardie and Buck Buchanan Award winner Kyle Emanuel.  At safety, two-time All-American Colten Heagle and 61-game starter Christian Dudzik are gone.  Sophomore Tre Dempsey was a regular part of the Bison nickel defense last year and other front-runners are special-teams standouts Chris Board and Andrew Smith.
 
NDSU SEVENTH IN FCS ATTENDANCE:  North Dakota State ranks seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision averaging 18,805 fans over the first four home dates.  NDSU ranked third nationally last year with an average of 18,571 over nine dates, down slightly from the school-record 18,622 set in 2013.
            FCS Average Home Attendance
            26,653 - Southern
            26,043 - Montana
            22,300 - Tennessee State
            20,677 - Liberty
            19,585 - James Madison
            19,494 - Montana State
            18,805 - North Dakota State
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and has won five in a row against FBS foes since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14).  NDSU is scheduled to play at Iowa next season and Oregon in 2020.
 
FOUR-PEATS:  North Dakota State earned a share of its fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship last year tying Illinois State with a 7-1 record in conference play.  NDSU was the second school in Valley Football history to win four straight league titles behind Northern Iowa's run of seven straight from 1990 to 1996.  NDSU was just the second team in NCAA history to win four straight national championships.  Augustana College of Rock Island, Ill., won four NCAA Division III titles from 1983-86.  Carroll College of Helena, Mont., won four straight NAIA championships from 2002-05.
 
KLIEMAN INKED THROUGH 2020 SEASON:  North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) accepted a two-year contract extension in the offseason that will keep him with the Bison until January 2021.  Klieman led the Bison to a 15-1 record, a fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 7-1 mark, and an unprecedented fourth straight NCAA Division I FCS national title.
 
NDSU didn't skip a beat in Klieman's first year despite losing 23 seniors and welcoming seven new assistant coaches.  The Bison scored 34 unanswered points to beat Big 12 member Iowa State in the season opener as part of an FCS-record 33-game winning streak that extended into November.
 
North Dakota State went 9-1 against Top 25 competition and earned the No. 2 national seed for the FCS playoffs.  NDSU had nine players named All-America, including Buck Buchanan Award-winning defensive end Kyle Emanuel, and four Capital One Academic All-America® selections.  Klieman was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award and was named the Rawlings Football/American Football Monthly FCS Coach of the Year.
 
The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU from Northern Iowa in 2011 as the defensive backs coach and was the defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.  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.