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NDSU Notes | Eastern Washington Notes

THIS WEEK:  North Dakota State faces the top-rated passing attack in the FCS this week when the Bison (1-0) host Eastern Washington (1-0).  Game time is 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).  The Eagles passed for 496 yards in a 45-42 win over Washington State last week.
 
TELEVISION:  NBC North Dakota and ESPN3 coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. with Brian Shawn calling the play-by-play, Lee Timmerman color analyst, and Beth Hoole reporting from the sidelines.  ESPN3 is available through participating Internet service providers on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
 
RADIO:  Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on KPFX-FM 107.9 The Fox and the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network with Jeff Culhane calling the play-by-play, NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst, and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sideline.  Extended coverage on 107.9 The Fox includes "Bison Game Day" from 12 to 2 p.m. and "Bison Hotline" for 2 hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU safety Christian Dudzik.
 
ONLINE:  NDSU All Access live video streaming for home games is by subscription on GoBison.com/allaccess.  Audio streaming of the Bison Radio Network broadcast for every NDSU football game is available free of charge.  Live stats for NDSU home games are available on BisonStats.com.  Follow @NDSUfootball on Twitter for game updates.
 
TICKETS:  Tickets for North Dakota State's home football games in 2016 are sold out.  Additional tickets that become available will go on sale at 8 a.m. Friday before each game on GoBison.com/tickets and at the Bison Ticket Office in the east lobby of the Fargodome.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the second meeting between North Dakota State and Eastern Washington.  NDSU lost 38-31 in overtime at Eastern Washington in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals.  The Eagles went on to beat Villanova in the semifinals and Delaware in the championship.  NDSU trailed 14-0 early in the first quarter but came back to tie it at 17 when Mike Sigers returned the second half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.  EWU answered with an 88-yard kick return TD by Jesse Hoffman, and NDSU tied it again on a 5-yard interception return by Marcus Williams.  NDSU took its first lead late in the fourth on a 21-yard pass from Brock Jensen to DJ McNorton.  EWU forced overtime with a 13-play, 90-yard scoring drive in the final 2 1/2 minutes then scored on the first play of OT on a 25-yard pass from Bo Levi Mitchell to Tyler Hart.

TREES BOWL: This is the 26th annual Trees Bowl game sponsored by the North Dakota Forest Service.  NDSU is 22-3 in the game and has won seven straight including last year's 41-14 win over Weber State.  Western Illinois was the last team to beat NDSU in the Trees Bowl with a 27-22 win in 2008.  The event began in 1990 and has missed only the 2001 season due to the cancellation of the Maine game after 9/11.
 
BISON STOP CHARLESTON SOUTHERN IN #FCSKICKOFF:  King Frazier ran for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime and Jaylaan Wimbush broke up a fourth-and-9 pass in the end zone to seal North Dakota State's 24-17 win over sixth-ranked Charleston Southern in the third annual FCS Kickoff game on ESPN two weeks ago.  NDSU took its first lead 17-10 early in the fourth quarter when Easton Stick hit RJ Urzendowski on a 47-yard touchdown pass.  CSU missed a 51-yard game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation.
 
FIRST OVERTIME GAME IN FARGO:  North Dakota State's 24-17 victory over Charleston Southern was the first overtime game played at the Fargodome and the first since the 2010 quarterfinal loss at Eastern Washington.  NDSU snapped a four-game losing streak in OT dating back to 1997 and improved to 3-5 overall in overtime games.
 
YOUNG DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD TESTED:  North Dakota State's two new starting cornerbacks Jalen Allison and Jaylaan Wimbush were both tested in the season opener.  The duo combined for eight tackles and four pass breakups.  Allison had four tackles, one breakup, and made his second career interception.  Wimbush had four tackles and three breakups including one on fourth-and-9 in the end zone on the final play of the game.
 
PLANK STEPS IN AT LINEBACKER:  North Dakota State junior Matt Plank made a career-high six tackles — all in the second half — filling in at middle linebacker after an injury to starter Nick DeLuca in the 24-17 overtime win over sixth-ranked Charleston Southern.  Plank assisted on a tackle for loss and was part of a defensive effort that held CSU to 2 of 12 on third down and 263 total yardcs, nearly 100 yards under its average from a year ago.
 
CAREER PASSING DAY FOR STICK:  Sophomore quarterback Easton Stick set career highs with 17 completions and 27 passing attempts in the season-opening win over Charleston Southern.  He passed for 194 yards and two touchdowns in guiding NDSU to its 10th straight win.  Stick connected with Darrius Shepherd from 23 yards out to tie the game at 10 and put NDSU ahead for the first time in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard pass to RJ Urzendowski.  Stick also picked up three rushing first downs including long runs of 19 and 18 yards.
 
LONGEST IN FCS:  Sophomore kicker Cam Pedersen connected on a career-long 52-yard game-tying field goal at the end of the first half and made all three PAT kicks in the second half and overtime to help lift North Dakota State past Charleston Southern.  The 52-yarder was the longest in the FCS during opening week and tied for third longest in NDSU history.
 
EAGLES LEAD FCS IN PASSING:  Eastern Washington has the No. 1 passing offense in the FCS after throwing for 496 yards in last week's 45-42 win over Washington State.  Sophomore first-year starting quarterback Gage Gubrud went 34 of 40 for 474 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.  Reigning FCS Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp caught 12 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and completed a 22-yard pass.
            Opp. Team 300+ Passing Yds (since 2004)
            482 - at Sam Houston State, 2009
            434 - at Montana, 2015
            385 - at Ball State, 2006
            358 - Sam Houston State, 2007
            337 - South Dakota State, 2006
            330 - Indiana State, 2010
            320 - Illinois State, 2009

            Opp. Player 150+ Receiving Yds (since 2004)
            239 - Jason Madkins, at Sam Houston State, 2009
            172 - Eyad Salem, Illinois State, 2009
            151 - Dominique Barnes, at Youngstown State, 2010
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 49-4 at home since 2010.  The Bison have won 52 of the last 53 home games over non-conference opponents including 43 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 12-2 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams.
 
JOHNSON OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK:  North Dakota State left guard Zack Johnson was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after North Dakota State's 24-17 overtime win against sixth-ranked Charleston Southern.  Johnson had six total knockdowns including four pancakes and two decleaters while playing 73 reps, did not allow a sack or hurry, and graded out at 98.6% on assignment while leading the Bison offensive line in finish (88%) and technique (76%).  NDSU rushed for 230 yards and put up 424 yards of total offense in the victory.  It was his second career award.
 
COACHING STAFF INTACT:  After having at least one new assistant coach every year since beginning Division I play in 2004, North Dakota State has the same full-time coaching staff for the third straight season under head coach Chris Klieman.  NDSU made two changes to support staff adding former Bison defensive back Bryan Shepherd as defensive assistant and former Wisconsin-Stout assistant Kody Morgan in the offensive quality control position.
 
13-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:  North Dakota State won its 13th football national championship last season.  NDSU claimed three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969, five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990, and is the first team in college football history to win five straight national championships with FCS titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
 
MOST WINS IN DIVISION I FOOTBALL:  NDSU has a record of 72-5 since the beginning of the 2011 national championship season.  The Bison went 14-1, 14-1, 15-0, 15-1 and 13-2 for the most wins in Division I football in that five-year span.  Fifteen FCS programs have multiple 10-win seasons since 2011, and only four have reached the 10-win mark at least three times—NDSU (5), Sam Houston State (4), Eastern Washington (3) and Jacksonville State (3).
            Most Wins Since 2011, Division I
            72 - North Dakota State
            63 - Alabama
            58 - Florida State (Monday game)
            58 - Oregon
            57 - Clemson
            57 - Ohio State
            57 - Sam Houston State
            55 - Michigan State
            55 - Stanford
 
VALLEY FOOTBALL PRESEASON PICKS:  North Dakota State had five players picked to the preseason all-Missouri Valley Football Conference team: running back King Frazier, offensive guard Zack Johnson, defensive end Greg Menard, linebacker Nick DeLuca, and free safety Tre Dempsey.  NDSU long snapper James Fisher, defensive tackle Nate Tanguay and strong safety Robbie Grimsley earned honorable mention.  NDSU was picked to win the league ahead of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Illinois State and Youngstown State.
 
OFFENSE RETURNS SIX STARTERS:  Two NFL draft picks are gone in quarterback Carson Wentz and left tackle Joe Haeg, but North Dakota State returns six offensive starters including quarterback Easton Stick, who went 8-0 as a redshirt freshman.  Senior King Frazier (1158 yards, 11 TD, 5.3 ypc) leads a stable of four returning running backs, NDSU's two leading receivers are back in junior RJ Urzendowski and sophomore Darrius Shepherd, and the Bison return three starters and one reserve on the offensive line.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE EXPERIENCED:  Starting left guard Zack Johnson, center Austin Kuhnert and right tackle Landon Lechler are all back from last year's team along with senior Jack Plankers, who rotated at guard and tackle.  Plankers is slated to start at right guard and third-year sophomore Colin Conner is listed as the starting left tackle, where NDSU has had a pair of NFL draft picks since 2011 in Billy Turner and Joe Haeg.  Tanner Volson made his first start at center against Charleston Southern filling in for Kuhnert, who will serve the second of a two-game suspension this week (academics).
 
FRAZIER LEADS DEEP RUSHING ATTACK:  North Dakota State has had a 1,000-yard rusher for 13 straight seasons after King Frazier's 1,158 yards last season as a junior.  Frazier leads a group of four returning running backs who each had at least 90 carries last year.  He rushed 219 times and averaged 5.3 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns on the season.  Frazier averaged 94.0 yards per game over the final eight contests.  He has four career 100-yard games including a career-high 177 yards at Southern Illinois and back-to-back playoff games last year against Northern Iowa (107) and Richmond (121).
 
EIGHT STARTERS BACK ON DEFENSE:  North Dakota State returns eight starters and eight of the top nine tacklers from last year's defense that ranked third in the FCS in total defense (271.5) and fifth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg). Six of the front seven are back including top tackler Nick DeLuca at middle linebacker (135 tackles) and leading pass rusher Greg Menard at defensive end (10.0 sacks, 15 QB hurries).  Junior safety Tre Dempsey (9 PBU, 3 INT) is the veteran in the defensive backfield, where sophomore Robbie Grimsley also returns after making 10 starts as a true freshman.
 
PRESEASON WATCH LISTS:  North Dakota State senior Nick DeLuca is the only FCS player on the watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award, honoring the nation's best collegiate linebacker.  The 51-player watch list is voted on by a 51-member panel of NFL/college GMs, coaches, scouts and media.  DeLuca and junior defensive end Greg Menard were two of 22 players named to the watch list for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year, which was won in 2014 by NDSU defensive end Kyle Emanuel.
 
DEFENSE STINGY IN PLAYOFF RUN:  North Dakota State finished third in the FCS in total defense, fifth in scoring defense, 10th in rush defense and 11th in pass defense last year after a stingy performance in the playoffs.  NDSU limited its four playoff opponents all to season-lows in total yardage, culminating with a 204-yard performance against a Jacksonville State team that had nine 500-yard games last year.  NDSU's average of 217 yards allowed over four games was the best Bison defense in six FCS playoff trips.
 
KICK RETURN TEAM FIRST NATIONALLY:  North Dakota State last year ranked first in the FCS in kickoff returns with an average of 29.09 yards per return, which was a new NDSU and MVFC single-season record.  Freshman Bruce Anderson was NDSU's leading kickoff returner with 585 yards and a school-record 36.56 yards per return.  Anderson would've led the FCS in kick return average by more than five yards, but his 16 return attempts were two shy of qualifying for the NCAA rankings (1.2 returns/game).  He tied the NDSU career record of two kickoff return touchdowns in the playoffs against Montana (100 yards) and Northern Iowa (97 yards).
 
BISON CHEW UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State led the nation in time of possession with an average of 36:39 last year and the Bison have only been out-clocked once in the last 32 games (South Dakota, 2015).  The Bison held the ball for 43:47 against Western Illinois last year, the most time of possession in NDSU's 12 seasons of Division I football.
 
#PROBISON:  North Dakota State has eight former players active in the NFL and two others in the CFL.  Three Bison from last season are still with NFL teams including No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz, fifth-round pick Joe Haeg, and undrafted free agent Andrew Bonnet.  On the sidelines, former Bison safety/punter (1984-1988) and longtime assistant coach (1996-2005) Gus Bradley is in his fourth season as the Jaguars' head coach.

Name	Year in NFL	Team
Andrew Bonnet, FB	1st	Philadelphia Eagles (practice squad)
John Crockett, RB	2nd	Green Bay Packers
Kyle Emanuel, LB	2nd	San Diego Chargers
Joe Haeg, OL	1st	Indianapolis Colts
Ramon Humber, LB	8th	Buffalo Bills
Billy Turner, OL	3rd	Miami Dolphins
Carson Wentz, QB	1st	Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Williams, CB	3rd	New York Jets
Name	Year in CFL	Team
Brock Jensen, QB	2nd	Ottawa Redblacks
Ryan Smith, WR	3rd	Winnipeg Blue Bombers

 
 
NATIONAL EXPOSURE:  North Dakota State has become a well-known name in college football thanks to its run of five straight national championships and several appearances on national television.  NDSU hosted ESPN's College GameDay in 2013 and 2014, SportsCenter on the Road in 2015, and has played 15 games on ESPN (five), ESPN2 (nine) or ESPNU (one) since 2011.  The Bison have also won games at Minnesota (2011) on the Big Ten Network and at Kansas State (2013) and Iowa State (2014) on Fox Sports 1.  Next week's game at Iowa will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2.
 
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 did not play an FBS opponent in 2015, but the Bison play at Iowa in Week 3 this season and have games at Oregon in 2020 and Colorado in 2024.