Bison win fifth straight national championship

North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz for the third straight season won the NCAA Elite 90 Award presented at the NCAA Division I football championship banquet Friday, Jan. 8, at the Frisco Convention Center.

Jacksonville State enters its first FCS championship game on a 12-game winning streak since an overtime loss September 12 to Auburn of the SEC.

The Bison defense locked down on the dynamic Jacksonville State offense and turned a pair of first half turnovers into touchdowns as North Dakota State jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Jacksonville State students will be keeping up with the championship game at home and in Texas.

“Every year, you hope to get to the national championship game; that’s definitely one of our main goals”, said Miller, a former Peach County standout. The Bison bring a 12-2 record into the game, while Jacksonville State is 13-1.

North Dakota State was able to dominate possession, as the Bison held the ball for over 40 minutes of the game and limited the Gamecocks to running just 51 plays – only 22 in the first half. “They’re really disruptive. They don’t play on the line of scrimmage, they play in your backfield”.

Wentz said he was medically cleared to play earlier this week after a final CT scan revealed he was fully healed.

There are three starters in Jacksonville State’s front seven on defense who started their careers in the Southeastern Conference. “We’re just living in our moment, just enjoying ourselves, just proud to be here”. “Some plays I was amazed”.

Jacksonville State has rushed for six touchdowns in each of its three playoff games. Fans clad in green and gold made up a majority of the stadium-record crowd of 21,836 – and stormed the field to celebrate once again. He and Pope combined for only 122 yards on 39 carries, and JSU relied on the passing game in the near-upset. If the Gamecocks win, Cramer will do the treating. It was 181 under the previous season worst.

And Wentz was more than happy to score from 1 yard out on NDSU’s next drive, making it 34-10 just as the Bison were happy to have their leader back in the saddle for another win.

After Bonnet’s catch, Jenkins threw an interception on the next play.

Wentz finished the day 16-for-29 for 197 yards and a touchdown passing, with two interceptions. After a short drive, Wentz made a decision to use his legs as he took the read option outside to the left.

“I felt good. I felt good for the last couple weeks now”. “The rust people might have wanted to talk about it, that didn’t show”.