Bison Sports Update: January 11th

Really great week for NDSU Athletics!!

Football
NDSU Football won their 9th national championship in 11 seasons this weekend! The Bison started out the game stopping Montana State short of any scoring on the first drive. Also, on the first drive the Bobcats' starter Tommy Mellott injured his ankle and was unable to return to the game. Then the green and gold marched down and scored the game's first touchdown on a run from Hunter Luepke! MSU got the ball back and was not able to capitalize on it. NDSU then marched down for yet another Hunter Luepke touchdown! Montana State was not able to reach paydirt yet again, punting back to the Bison. NDSU responded with a 76 yard breakaway score from Kobe Johnson. MSU was yet again not able to capitalize. Not long after the punt the Bison punched another one into the endzone with Hunter Luepke! 
With the score at 28-0 at halftime, the Bison felt pretty good about their chances that day. Not to mention it was misty in the mid 40's all game. Not long after the start of the 2nd half, Cam Miller got in on the action with his first and only title game TD pass to TE Josh Babicz. On Montana State's next drive, they finally capitalized on a drive into NDSU territory and kicked a 26 yard field goal to get them on the board.
On the next drive for NDSU, it led to the first field goal from Jake Reinholz in the title game from 37 yards out giving NDSU a 38-3 lead with just 38 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter. NDSU fans at Toyota Stadium liked their chances after this and you could tell.
In the 4th quarter it was lot more running for NDSU to spend the clock then anything. However, this quarter saw the first appearance from true Freshman QB Cole Payton since September! Montana State was finally able to reach the endzone with 5 minutes to go in the game, to trim NDSU lead to 38-10. But that would be as far as they go, the clock ticked away and the Bison and NDSU fans rushed the field for their 9th title in 11 seasons! 
This title adds on to NDSU's record amount of FCS titles and continues to build on the legend of the Bison dynasty! What a day to be a Bison! Hunter Luepke received the player of the game trophy for his 82 yards on 14 carries and 3 touchdowns! Its hard to imagine the game would have went any different if MSU was fully healthy given NDSU's offensive line (the Rams) had their way with the Bobcats' front 7 all day. NDSU's defense was also on point on Saturday! Dawson Weber did get his 4th interception of the year in the 2nd quarter not long after NDSU scored the long Kobe Johnson touchdown. 
What a game and what a season for a NDSU team that never once hit the top ranking in the nation since that dreadful day in Carbondale, Illinois in February. There will be another banner raising ceremony in September for this team!
Now after this game the seniors will go their separate ways, but that isn't it for some of them! Both Cordell Volson and Christian Watson will both go to the Reese's Senior Bowl next month, and presumably the draft a couple months after! This team has a bright future!
This will conclude my NDSU Football coverage until the draft in April.

NDSU Football finishes the season number 1 in the country with a 7-1 MVFC record and a 14-1 season overall!

Men's Basketball
This past week, NDSU hit their first Summit League road trip of the season. They first went to Omaha and were able to escape by a score of 71-67. Then they visited Denver on Monday after being reschedule from the previous Thursday due to Covid issues. NDSU had their way with the Pioneers, winning 87-69. 
This week, NDSU comes home to host St. Thomas for the first time as Summit League opponents on Thursday at 7 PM. Then the Bison will host Western Illinois on Saturday at 1 PM.

NDSU Men's Basketball is 3-1 in Summit League play, and 11-5 overall on the year.

Women's Basketball
The NDSU women did not have as much luck as the men this past week. They came home for their first homestand of the young conference season. Starting with Denver, the Bison beat them 74-68. However, Omaha came to town on Saturday and beat the Bison handily, 68-54.
This week, NDSU will hit road yet again to face St. Thomas on Thursday at 7 PM. Then facing off against Western Illinois on Saturday at 2 PM.

NDSU Women's Basketball is 2-3 in Summit League play, and 6-9 overall.

​Go Bison!