NDSU 24 WIU 12 The Western Illinois 'Leathernecks' won the coin toss and took the ball. DE #95 Caleb Butler promptly sacks QB #18 Sean McGuire; forcing a three and out. NDSU quarterback #12 Easton Stick scrambles ten yards on third down, and then hits wide receiver #20 Darrius Sheppard with a 49-yard pass. The WIU defense manages to hold the Bison to field goal. On Western’s next drive, the offense turned it around. The WIU offense march down the field on Sean McGuire's legs. Kicker Sam Crosa ties the game. LB #50 Pete Swenson hits Stick, on his release, LB #39 Quentin Moon is there to catch the ball. Moon runs it in for a touchdown. NDSU #94 Stanley Jones blocked the extra point. WIU FS #30 Justin Fitzpatrick read Stick's next pass for another interception. Bison D drove the Leathernecks backwards. The Bison O burned through the clock, but a stout Leatherneck defense forced NDSU to turn the ball over on downs. 4th and 1 at the WIU 08. Another WIU three-and-out. Stick hit WR #16 RJ Urzendowski for a 55 yard touchdown. CB Xavier Rowe fell down, and it's 10-9. The Leathernecks got down field with a couple catches from RB #5 Steve McShane. Bison came up with back-to-back sacks, (by DT #53 Cole Karcz and LB #42 Jabril Cox) and the Leathernecks settle for a 52 yard field goal. 12-10 going into the half. Karcz would be named NDSU Player of The Game. The Bison Running Backs (#10 Lance Dunn, and #8 Bruce Anderson) got short yardage. Stick broke a 18-yard run, and RJ caught a 10-yard pass. Stick rolled out for a one-yard touchdown run. A third WIU three-and-out. Stick ran 23 yard, Anderson 16 yards, and RJ a 20 yard catch. Stick was back in the south end zone with an 8-yard spinning run. Western finally got a first down with a 14 yard catch by WR #17 Jaelon Acklin, but only 4-yards further before they had to punt. The fourth quarter, the Bison offense play conservatively keeping it on the ground. WIU QB #18 Sean McGuire came out throwing but could make enough receptions to move the chains. McGuire threw a 45-yards pass to Acklin at the NDSU 5. The Bison Defense held for four downs. Dunn got hurt of the first play and came out of the game with a hip injury. Stick got the Bison out of their end zone with a 22-yard pass to Shepherd. The running game stalled. McGuire pass was intercepted by NDSU FS #3 Tre Dempsey. The Bison ran out the clock for a [24 to 12][1021bis] victory. UNI beat USD, so NDSU sits alone at the top of the MVFC. Qtr |Clock|Scoring Play 1st |9:14 |NDSU, Cam Pedersen 37-yard field goal 1st |3:06 |WIU, Sam Crosa 32-yard field goal 1st |2:13 |WIU, Quentin Moon 43-yard interception 2nd |2:31 |NDSU, RJ Urzendowski 58-yard pass 2nd |0:17 |WIU, Nathan Erickson 52-yard field 3rd |8:57 |NDSU, Easton Stick 2-yard run 3rd |4:02 |NDSU, Easton Stick 8-yard run
