NDSU Clinches Sixth Straight Valley Football Title With 28-21 Win at USD

Saturday, November 19

Vermillion, S.D.

2 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

10-1 , 7-1

South Dakota

4-7 , 3-5

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
North Dakota State	7	14	7	0	28
South Dakota	7	7	0	7	21

Photo by: Tim Sanger

NDSU Clinches Sixth Straight Valley Football Title With 28-21 Win at USD

11/19/2016 8:09:00 PM | Football

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. - No. 4-ranked North Dakota State clinched its sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 28-21 win over South Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 19, before a crowd of 10,011 at the DakotaDome.

NDSU finished the regular season 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the MVFC. The Bison, ranked No. 1 earlier in the week by the NCAA Division I football championship committee, locked up a top seed and home field advantage for the FCS playoffs.

Lance Dunn rushed 14 times for a career-high 145 yards as the Bison rolled up a season-high 369 rushing yards. Easton Stick went 13 of 20 passing for 154 yards and three touchdowns.

North Dakota State got a three-and-out on defense to start the game, then went 70 yards in 11 plays on its first drive to go ahead 7-0 on King Frazier's 1-yard touchdown run.

Stick completed touchdown passes to Darrius Shepherd from 40 yards and Jeff Illies from 13 yards as the Bison built a 21-14 halftime lead. NDSU scored on the opening drive of the second half when Connor Wentz's 6-yard TD reception made it a 28-14 game.

NDSU threatened to pull away early in the fourth quarter, but a fumble in USD territory turned into a Coyote touchdown nine plays later and cut the Bison lead to 28-21.

South Dakota forced a three-and-out on the next possession and then drove to the NDSU 24 before failing to convert a fourth-and-9 with 4:53 left in the game.

The Bison picked up four first downs on the final drive to run out the clock. RJ Urzendowski caught a seven-yard pass on third-and-5 and, five plays later after USD's final timeout, Frazier got two yards on third-and-2 to seal the victory.

Greg Menard had six tackles with one sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup, MJ Stumpf made six tackles including one for a loss and one pass breakup, and Pierre Gee-Tucker had six tackles to lead the Bison defense. Stanley Jones had five tackles including one sack and a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss.

NDSU held the ball for more than 37 minutes and converted 9 of 13 third down opportunities. The Bison outgained USD by a 523-345 margin.

The 24-team FCS playoff bracket will be announced on an ESPNU selection show at 10 a.m. CST on Sunday. NDSU, which has won 20 straight postseason games, earned a first-round playoff bye and will play in the second round Saturday, Dec. 3.