2013 NCAA Division I FCS quarterfinal playoffs at the Fargodome. Saturday, 11:00 AM, the NDSU 'Bison' host the Coastal Carolina 'Chantileers' The game was played before 18,219 at the Fargodome and before a national television audience on ESPN.
When I arrived at the Fargodome I was concerned about the Coastal's high powered offense. I had visions of the Bison failing to keeping up. I need not worry. The Bison defense was so tight Lorenzo Taliaferro couldn't run (58 yards) nor could their QB Alex Ross make any meaningful passes. Coastal took the opening kick off.. and fumbled the ball. They recovered but that was only break they caught all game.
NDSU, quarterback Brock Jensen started the Bison off with a 39-run; they settled for a field goal. Next possession Sam Ojuri had a 73-yard rushing touchdown. Jensen completed 19-yard pass to Ryan Smith and a 25-yard pass to Ojuri then kept the ball on a bootleg for a 10-yard score for a 17-0 lead.
Second quarter, NDSU opened up the game with a 23-yard run by John Crockett to the Chanticleer one. Two plays later, Jensen dove in for a one-yard score. Sam Ojuri added a 4-yard touchdown run of his own.
Coastal's offense finally woke up when John Israel made a short catch and turned it into a 46-yard gain to the Bison three. Taliaferro scored from three yards out bulldozing his way through a mountain of linesmen. NDSU got a 37-yard kick return from Crockett, a 29-yard Zach Vraa completion, and with three seconds left in the half a Keller field goal. The Bison lead 34-7 at halftime.
The Bison were unusually flat in the third quarter, Coastal's defense forced a three-and-out and their offense put together a seven-play, 89-yard scoring drive. 34-14.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jensen found Vraa in the end zone. On Coastal's ensuing drive, Christian Dudzik intercepted a Chantileer pass- Dudzik's second of the day. Jensen hit Kevin Vaadeland in the end zone. The Bison starters left the field and QB Carson Wentz and Chase Morlock took over the Bison ground game. The Bison almost scored another touchdown as time expired. The Bison won 48 to 14 and will meet New Hampshire in the semi-finals at the Fargodome on Friday 12/20/2013 at 7:00 PM.
