Game Preview: North Dakota State University
The Bison are who they always are. On offense they want to pound their opponents on the ground and then make plays through the air when the defense over commits to the run. On defense they just want to punch you in the mouth, limit the yardage on first and second down, and then send the pressure and force a turnover or incomplete pass. This is who they have been since the beginning of time. 2018 is no different.
Offense:
The Bison offense has a phenomenal stable of running backs in 2018. #10 Lance Dunn and #8 Bruce Anderson are two of the best running backs in the FCS. Dunn missed last years contest in Brookings and while Anderson was held mostly in check on his 8 carries. Anderson was recognized as an All-MVFC preseason selection. On the season Dunn has 158 yards and 3 TDs on just 23 caries while Anderson has 274 yards and 3 TDs on 32 carries. Besides these two, the Bison have #28 Ty Brooks (138 yards) who had a long run negated by a holding penalty in the 2017 Marker game, #18 Adam Cofield (144 yards), and #22 Seth Wilson, who has yet to play this year due to injury and may be looking at using his redshirt. Each one of these backs can take it to the house. Anderson is a little more powerful then Dunn but Dunn possesses a little more speed. This Jackrabbits will have to gang tackle and run to the ball for the entire game. The Bison, like the Jackrabbits, utilize a fullback. This year #34 Brock Robbins and #39 Grant Malstrom have filled that role and can carry and catch as needed but primarily serve as a battering ram.
#12 Easton Stick is a name that Jackrabbit fans should know well. He is 1-2 as a starter against the Jacks and has completed 61% of his passes for just 186 yards and has thrown 3 touchdowns to 4 interceptions in his 3 matchups vs. SDSU. He is a capable passer but is probably more dangerous when he scrambles out of the pocket. His highlights are filled with back breaking third down conversions when he breaks out of the pocket or finds a running lane opened up by an over-zealous pass rusher. On the year he has completed 60% of his passes for 490 yards and 3 TDs vs. 0 INT. As I said, he is very dangerous with his legs. In 2017 he rushed for 663 yards and 12 TDs and has already rumbled for 96 yards and 4 TDs in 2018.
His receiving weapons feature one familiar name and plenty of new targets for Jackrabbit fans to learn in 2018. It seems like #20 Darius Shepherd has been catching passes for years for the Bison. The 5'll speedster has just 6 catches for 109 yards and 1 TD on the season. Shepherd has made plenty of big plays for the Bison in his 4 years. #83 Dallas Freeman is having a nice senior season having recorded 6 receptions for 174 yards. #1 Christian Watson is a 6'3 redshirt freshmen from Tampa, Florida who gives the Bison some much needed size in their receiving corp. Watson is one of the most hyped Bison recruits in recent seasons. He suffered an ankle injury during fall camp but appears mostly healed now. Other players to keep an eye on include #13 Desmond Cain and #11 Phoenix Sproles. Sproles is a true freshmen who has played in all three games. He has yet to record a reception or carry but his high school tape shows a player who is dynamic with the ball in his hands. It would not surprise me if the Bison threw in a gadget play featuring Sproles. The tight ends are also a new group. #82 Ben Ellefson, #85 Nate Jenson, and #87 Noah Gindorff have all played this season with Ellefson earning both starts and recording 3 catches for 41 yards and 1 TD.
The offensive line is a unit where the Bison pride themselves. The 2018 rendition is no different as they start 3 seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. From left to right they go: #75 Dillon Radunz (6-6, 299), #64 Colin Conner (6-5, 309) , #74 Tanner Volson (6-4, 306), #71 Luke Bacon (6-5, 300), and #68 Zack Johnson (6-6, 316). Johnson and Volson were both honored as preseason All-MVFC selections. Radunz is new to the line up but has plenty of talent. Conner is moving inside after 29 consecutive starts at left tackle. Bacon is new to the starting lineup but has appeared in 27 games for the Bison. The unit has paved the way for 297 yards per game rushing and has allowed 0 sacks in three games.
Defense:
The Bison defense is stout as usual having allowed just 3, 7, and 10 points in their non-conference schedule. They are equally adept at stopping the run and pass. However, the Jacks broke through this defense last year when they were able to gash them for 144 rushing yards and 329 passing yards.
The Bison defensive line is very good, especially on the edge. #95 Caleb Butler (3 tackles, 1 Sack), #94 Stanley Jones (11 tackles, 2 sacks), and #96 Greg Menard (7 tackles, 2 sacks) are all seniors have a combined 44 sacks and 277 tackles in their careers. Also in the mix at defensive end are South Dakota
The linebacker crew is very talented but may not be as deep as prior seasons. #45 Levi Jordheim, #48 Dan Marlette, and #42 Jabril Cox are a dangerous group. Marlette leads the group with 17 tackles and a sack while Cox has 15 tackles and 2 interceptions while Jordheim has 12 stops on the season. Cox had a phenomenal freshmen season and earned preseason All-MVFC honors. #3 Jaxon Brown is a converted safety and plays in a hybrid role for the Bison. So far he has 10 tackles in his reserve role.
The corners also feature one familiar name in #21 Jalen Allison (6 tackles and 3 pass break ups). Opposite Allison is #9 Marquise Bridges, a 5-11 junior or #14 Josh Hayes, a 5-11 sophomore . Bridges and Hayes each have 5 tackles on the season. If the Bison go to five defensive backs it sounds like they are bringing in #23 Jaylaan Wimbush, a senior, who has played much of his career at safety and has 5 tackles so far this year. On the back-end the Bison feature the All-American selection #5 Robbie Grimsley who has 22 total tackles and an INT. #6 James Hendricks is a converted quarterback and has a knack for making plays having 2 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery to go with 7 tackles so far in 2018. Again, if needed Wimbush can fill in at safety in a pinch.
Special Teams:
The Bison are always solid on special teams and rarely beat themselves in this area. #36 Cam Pedersen is 2-3 so far this year but was 10-16 last season including a long of 47 yards. On kickoffs he has forced 1 touchback on 13 attempts. The punting duties are now handled by #38 Garret Wegner who has booted 11 punts for a 43.8 yard average and has landed 4 inside the 20 yard line while only having 2 touchbacks. Darrius Shepherd is handling the punt return duties and Bruce Anderson the kickoff duties. Both have had limited opportunities so far this season but should be looked at as dangerous weapons as they have done well on their limited touches.
The Dakota Marker game has really become a marquee match-up for both programs. At the start of the division 1 era it felt like there was plenty of mutual respect. Now the programs are two of the top in FCS football and the dislike for one another seems to have intensified. It starts during recruiting when the programs battle for the same pool of players and continues onto the football field each fall. The Jacks are one of the few teams in the FCS that can stand toe-to-toe with the Bison while delivering and absorbing strikes without getting rattled. I see the Jacks taking this one 27-23.
Go Jacks!
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