NDSU defense sparks quick start in playoff win over Montana

The Bison’s quest for a fifth straight Football Championship Subdivision title continues at home Saturday against the Montana Grizzlies, who defeated NDSU on the final play of the first game of the season 12 weeks ago.

Hoeven is betting North Dakota-made Dakota Growers pasta, and Daines is putting Montana-made Moose Drool beer on the line.

“We’ve been through some ups and downs, so it felt really good to bring this team together and get to this point, and be able to travel to Fargo and play against the four-time defending national champions”. NDSU plays the Portland State-Northern Iowa victor next weekend.

The game is a rematch of the season opener, won by the Grizzlies 38-35 in Missoula.

The Bison limited the Grizzlies to a season-low 235 yards.

The Bison defense pressured Gustafson throughout the game, finishing with three sacks and five quarterback hurries. They had scored 24 in the first half against South Dakota State the week prior. It didn’t end the way anyone wanted it to, but these players should be proud of where they ended up.

The Bison (10-2) had three interceptions in the first half, including a 30-yard touchdown return by Jalen Allison to make it 14-0.

“I thought we did a phenomenal job of showing different looks and having him confused a little bit”, Klieman said. They would follow that up with a three play 56-yard drive capped off by an Easton Stick 49-yard touchdown run. They forced the University of Montana to a three and out on the Griz first offensive drive of the game.

The Bison scored 20 points on returns, though, two interceptions going back the other way along with Anderson’s special teams work. The 6-foot-7 junior from Billings West connected with senior star Jamaal Jones for 16 yards on 3-and-15, then hit Ellis Henderson against 1-on-1 coverage for 39 yards down the sideline. The 6-foot-7 Gustafson finished with four interceptions.

“They got pressure on us every single throw”, Stitt said, a fact that Gustafson refused to use as an excuse. Anderson ran back the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and a 31-6 lead with 8:58 to play in the third. CJ Smith scored on a 32-yard interception return to give NDSU a 37-6 advantage early in the four quarter.

It was 24-0 before Montana got on the board in the third quarter. North Dakota State, the FCS leader in time of possession, finished with 316 yards of offense and controlled the ball for more than 40 of the game’s 60 minutes. The Spanaway, Washington, native entered the game needing 98 yards receiving to surpass Marc Mariani on the career list, finishing agonizingly close with 90 yards.