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NDSU Notes
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THIS WEEK:  The second half of Missouri Valley Football Conference play begins this week when top-ranked North Dakota State (8-0, 4-0 MVFC) hosts No. 18/19-ranked South Dakota State (5-3, 2-2 MVFC) in the annual Dakota Marker game on Saturday, Nov. 1.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:37 p.m. at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).
 
TELEVISION:  NBC North Dakota, Midco Sports Network, ESPN3 and ESPN GamePlan will have live coverage with Brian Shawn calling the play-by-play, Lee Timmerman and Sean Fredricks providing analysis from the booth, and Jamal Spencer and Beth Hoole reporting from the sidelines.  Live video will be available by subscription at GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
RADIO:  KFGO-AM 790 and KRWK-FM 101.9 of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 2 p.m.  KFGO's Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sidelines.  A live audio stream will be available free of charge on GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
THE SERIES:  North Dakota State leads the all-time series 56-40-5 dating back to 1903 and has won five straight after last year's 20-0 win in Brookings.  This is the 11th meeting for the Dakota Marker, which was introduced as the traveling trophy in 2004 when the teams moved to Division I.  NDSU has a 6-4 edge in Dakota Marker games with four straight wins.  The 2012 NCAA second round playoff game did not count.  The Bison lead the series 33-14-3 in Fargo including an 11-1 mark in the Fargodome.
 
GOLD RUSH:  Saturday's game will be the second "Gold Rush" of the season with NDSU wearing its alternate yellow jersey and Bison fans encouraged to wear yellow in every section of the Fargodome.  NDSU has a 16-0 record in its yellow jerseys since 2011 including a victory over Incarnate Word in the home opener this season.
 
RECORD WINNING STREAKS:  North Dakota State's 32-game winning streak is an MVFC record, the longest in NDSU and Football Championship Subdivision history, and the third longest winning streak in Division I football over the past 50 years.  NDSU has beaten 15 ranked teams and outscored its last 31 opponents by an average of 35-11.  The Bison have also set an MVFC record with 17 consecutive victories in conference play.
            Active Division I Overall Winning Streaks
            32 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            23 - Florida State (ACC)
            10 - Mississippi State (SEC)
            10 - Harvard (Ivy)
 
            Longest Division I Winning Streaks (Ended)
            47 - Oklahoma, 1953-57 (Notre Dame, 7-0)
            39 - Washington, 1908-14 (Oregon St., 0-0)
            37 - Yale, 1890-93 (Princeton, 6-0)
            37 - Yale, 1887-89 (Princeton, 10-0)
            35 - Toledo, 1969-71 (Tampa, 21-0)
            34 - Miami (Fla.), 2000-03 (Ohio St., 31-24, 2ot)
            34 - Penn, 1894-96 (Lafayette, 6-4)
            32 - North Dakota State, 2012-present


SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN:  NDSU's school- and FCS-record 32-game winning streak has been marked by second-half dominance.  The Bison have shut out 10 of their last 17 opponents after halftime allowing just 48 second-half points in those 17 games.  The fourth quarter has been even better with NDSU allowing just 30 points in the last 28 games.
 
IN THE POLLS:  North Dakota State has received votes in the AP Top 25 each of the past nine weeks since beating Iowa State in the season-opener.  The Bison also garnered votes after all three FCS national titles.  NDSU has been No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll for 29 straight weeks and the Sports Network poll for 37 of the past 44 weeks.
 
BISON ROLL PAST COYOTES:  North Dakota State had dual 100-yard rushers for the first time this year in last week's 47-7 win at South Dakota.  John Crockett had 109 yards by halftime and finished with 123 yards on 23 carries alongside King Frazier, who ran 10 times for 106 yards.  Carson Wentz was 14 of 26 passing for 231 yards and three touchdowns, and Adam Keller kicked four field goals for the Bison.  NDSU had a season-high 524 yards of total offense and 25 first downs.
 
DeLUCA SHINES IN FIRST START:  Sophomore Nick DeLuca made his first career start at middle linebacker against South Dakota in place of injured outside linebacker Travis Beck and led all players with a career-high 12 tackles including eight solo stops.  DeLuca also got his first collegiate interception at the USD 35-yard line early in the third quarter.  NDSU's touchdown three plays later opened up a 30-7 lead.
 
STOPPING THE RUN GAME:  North Dakota State ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 10th in the FCS in rushing defense allowing 102.1 yards per game.  The Bison will be tasked with stopping Zach Zenner, the MVFC all-time rushing leader and FCS active career rushing leader who is sixth in FCS history with 5,666 rushing yards for an average of 123.2 yards per game.  Last year, NDSU outgained SDSU 262 to minus-32 on the ground and the Bison did not allow a rushing first down all day.
 

	Zenner's Totals				Zenner vs. NDSU
Year	No.	Yards	TD	Year	No.	Yards	TD
2011	107	470	3	2011	7	34	1
2012	300	2044	13	2012	14 15	43 46	0 0
2013	351	2015	23	2013	8	4	0
2014	203	1137	10	2014	—	—	—
Totals	961	5666	49	Totals	44	127	1
		(5.9 ypc)				(2.9 ypc)

 
VRAA SCORES FIRST TWO TOUCHDOWNS:  North Dakota State wide receiver Zach Vraa caught his first two touchdown passes of the year on 48- and 3-yard plays against Indiana State and finished with a career-high nine receptions for 119 yards.  He has caught a pass in 35 of 37 games in his career and ranks fifth in NDSU career receiving yards (2158), fifth in career receptions (138), and fourth in touchdown catches (21).
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93
            3. 2332 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            4. 2232 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            5. 2158 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14

            NDSU Career Receptions
            1. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06
            3. 161 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            4. 147 - Ryan Smith, 2010-13
            5. 138 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14

            NDSU Career Receiving TDs
            1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            2. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88
            3. 22 - TR McDonald, 1990-93
            4. 21 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
 
CROCKETT CRACKS 3,000 MARK:  Senior running back John Crockett is seventh on North Dakota State's all-time rushing list with 3,202 yards in his third season with the Bison after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.  He is eighth in school history with 14 career 100-yard games including a season-high 144 against Montana and a career-high 195 yards in last year's NCAA semifinal win over New Hampshire.  Crockett is on pace to finish as one of NDSU's top five rushers despite splitting the carries in 2012 and 2013.
            NDSU Career Rushing Leaders
            1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01
            2. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06
            3. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, RB, 2009-13
            4. 3688 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97
            5. 3313 - Chris Simdorn, QB, 1987-90
            6. 3212 - Tony Satter, RB, 1987-90
            7. 3202 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14
 
TOP SCORING DEFENSE:  North Dakota State has the top scoring defense in the FCS for the fourth straight year.  NDSU allowed 12.7 points per game in 2011, then 11.5 points in 2012 and 11.3 points last season before limiting opponents to 9.4 points per game this year.  The Bison returned six defensive starters and seven of the top nine tacklers from last year's squad.
 
SACK MAN:  NDSU defensive end Kyle Emanuel is among the national leaders in sacks and tackles for loss.  The Buck Buchanan Award nominee already has a career-best 8.5 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss through eight games.  He ranks eighth in the FCS with 1.06 sacks per game and ninth with 1.8 TFLs per game.  Emanuel is among the top five sack men in NDSU history:
            NDSU Career Sack Leaders (half sacks counted as whole)
            41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90
            41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74
            31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11
            29 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14
            29 - Cole Jirik, DE, 2010-13
            29 - Mike Stratton, DT, 1980-83

HEAGLE SOLO TACKLES LEADER:  Strong safety Colten Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, is NDSU's career leader with 169 solo tackles and passed three current NFL players for the school record.  Free safety Christian Dudzik and linebackers Carlton Littlejohn and Travis Beck are climbing the list.
            NDSU Career Solo Tackle Leaders
            169 - Colten Heagle, SS, 2010-14
            159 - Joe Mays, LB, 2004-07 (Kansas City Chiefs)
            147 - Ramon Humber, LB, 2005-09 (New Orleans Saints)
            132 - Craig Dahl, SS, 2003-06 (San Francisco 49ers)
            127 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14
            123 - Jared Essler, FS, 2001-04
            121 - Carlton Littlejohn, LB, 2011-14
            120 - Travis Beck, LB, 2011-14
            120 - Mike Maresh, LB, 2005-08
 
50+ GAMES:  North Dakota State has six players who have played in at least 50 career games including free safety Christian Dudzik, who has made all 53 career starts, and defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who has played in all 53 games with 46 starts as the Bison have gone 51-2 in that span.  Linebacker Travis Beck missed his first career game at South Dakota after playing all 52 and starting 46 straight.  Linebacker Carlton Littlejohn has played in 51 contests, and strong safety Colten Heagle and tight end Kevin Vaadeland have each played in 50 games.   The FCS record for games played is 62 by Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks, who made 47 starts from 2004 to 2008.
 
PAT STREAK: Senior Adam Keller is 29 of 29 this year and has converted 88 straight PAT kicks dating back to the fourth game of 2013 at South Dakota State, a streak which is sixth longest in MVFC history.  Keller ranks ninth in the FCS in scoring with 10.0 points per game.  He is third among FCS active career leaders with 7.7 points per game.
            NDSU Career PATs (made-attempted)
            178 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (178-182)
            162 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (162-168)
            155 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (155-165)

            FCS Active Career Scoring Leaders
            8.3 ppg - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
            7.9 ppg - Jordan Wiggs, K, Stephen F. Austin
            7.7 ppg - Adam Keller, K, North Dakota State
 
FIELD GOAL RECORDS:  Senior Adam Keller's 17 field goals made rank second among all FCS players and just one shy of his own school record of 18 field goals made in 2012.  Keller made five field goals in the win over Montana to snap the NDSU record of four FGs set in 1983 by Ken Kubisz and tied by Keller in 2012 at Northern Iowa.  Keller's 44 career field goals rank second in school history and third among FCS active career leaders.
            NDSU Single-Season FG Made
            18 - Adam Keller, 2012 (18-24)
            17 - Adam Keller, 2014 (17-20)
            16 - Ryan Jastram, 2011 (16-18)
            16 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006 (16-23)

            NDSU Career FG Made
            51 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (51-73)
            44 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (40-52)
            42 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (42-63)
            31 - Ryan Jastram, 2009-11 (31-45)

            FCS Active Career FG Leaders
            53 - Jordan Wiggs, Stephen F. Austin
            46 - Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State
            44 - Chris Rogers, Sacred Heart
            44 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State
 
CHEWING UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State ranks third in the FCS converting 55 percent of its third down opportunities, and the Bison are first in time of possession averaging 34:33 per game.  The Bison held the ball for 41:12 against Indiana State, one of only four games in NDSU's Division I history that has happened:
            NDSU Time of Possession 40+ Minutes
            41:12 - Indiana State, 2014
            40:48 - Southern Illinois, 2012
            40:20 - at South Dakota State, 2013
            40:17 - Cal Poly, 2006
 
JACKRABBITS CONTROL THE BALL, TOO:  North Dakota State leads the FCS in time of possession averaging 34:33 per game and South Dakota State is a close second at 34:07.  The Jackrabbits have held the advantage in time of possession in 17 straight games since last year's 20-0 loss to NDSU when the Bison held the ball for more than 40 minutes and limited the Jacks to nine total first downs and 1 of 12 on third down.
 
PUNT COVERAGE:  North Dakota State's Ben LeCompte has punted 27 times this season for an average of 41.6 yards that ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.  LeCompte has landed 11 of 27 punts inside the 20-yard line with four touchbacks and four punts of 50+ yards.  Opponents have been held to six punt returns totaling just 24 yards.  LeCompte's 43.03 career punting average is second in NDSU history, third in MVFC history, and fourth among active players in the FCS.
 
THORTON SEMIFINALIST: Senior linebacker Esley Thorton is a national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.  The award, a 25-pound bronze trophy in its 25th season, recognizes the best football scholar-athlete in the nation and the winner receives a postgraduate scholarship of $25,000.  Up to 16 of the candidates will receive $18,000 scholarships as part of the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete program.
 
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  The following players were recognized as Player of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, 2x Defense (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries)
        - John Crockett, Offense (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Joe Haeg, 2x Offensive Line (Graded out at 100% in win at Iowa State with six knockdown blocks as NDSU put up 506 total yards of offense including 302 on the ground...Graded 91% technique and 100% assignment at Southern Illinois with four knockdowns)
        - Adam Keller, Special Teams (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over
No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards)
 
NATIONAL HONORS: The following players have earned national recognition this season for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, Sports Network FCS Defensive Player of the Week (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble) and College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries)
        - John Crockett, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Carlton Littlejohn, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Scored go-ahead touchdown on 5-yard fumble return in 24-7 win at Weber State, where one of his 12 tackles came at the NDSU 2 on a fake field goal to preserve a 21-7 lead)
        - Adam Keller, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards) and CFPA FCS Placekicker of the Week (Scored 17 points including four FGs in 47-7 win at South Dakota)
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record and has won five straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents after beating Iowa State 34-14 in the season-opener.  The Bison are 5-0 against the FBS since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14).
 
THREE PEAT:  North Dakota State is just the second team in FCS history to win three straight national championships joining the Appalachian State teams of 2005-07.  NDSU set a school record for wins with a 15-0 mark and become the first undefeated national champion since Southern Conference champion Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE YOUNG:  North Dakota State returns a pair of defensive ends, all three linebackers, and 3 of 4 defensive backs that all played in last year's FCS championship game, but the Bison have a new look at defensive tackle, where junior Brian Schaetz is the only returner.  Redshirt freshmen Nate Tanguay has started all eight games and Grant Morgan has played all eight at defensive tackle, while sophomore Austin Farnlof has seen action in five contests after being sidelined by an injury last year.
 
TWO FRESHMEN PLAY:  Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski out of Creighton Prep in Omaha and defensive end Greg Menard from Lakeville North in Minnesota are the only true freshmen who have played for NDSU this season.  Urzendowski caught one pass for six yards in his debut at Iowa State in the season opener.  Menard joined the travel squad for Weber State, where he made one tackle in his first game.
 
WENTZ STEPS IN:  Junior quarterback Carson Wentz takes over the reins of the Bison offense in place of All-American Brock Jensen, who went 47-5 as NDSU's starter and totaled an FCS-record 48 victories at quarterback.  Wentz completed 18 of 28 passes for 204 yards and ran eight times for 38 yards at Iowa State in his first career start.  He ranks third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 22nd nationally completing 64 percent of his passes.
 
VAADELAND BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR:  Tight end Kevin Vaadeland, one of 24 seniors on last year's team, returned to the Bison program for a sixth season due to a 2010 injury.  Vaadeland caught 20 passes for 233 yards last year and his eight touchdown receptions ranked third overall in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and second in the FCS among tight ends.  He made a career-high five catches in the win over Montana, including his 11th career TD reception, which ranks second in NDSU history among tight ends.
 
O-LINE SHAKEUP:  North Dakota State has just one returning starter on the offensive line and that is junior Joe Haeg, who is moving from right tackle to left tackle in place of Miami Dolphins third round draft pick Billy Turner.  The Bison expected three starters back, but center Josh Colville gave up his final two years of eligibility due to injuries, and left guard Zack Johnson is missing the season due to injury.
 
PRESEASON PICKS:  North Dakota State, ranked No. 1 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 2 in the Sports Network media poll, was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference ahead of South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.  NDSU had a league-high eight players on the preseason all-conference team including fullback Andrew Bonnet, wide receiver Zach Vraa, left guard Zack Johnson (out due to injury), defensive end Kyle Emanuel, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety Colten Heagle and punter Ben LeCompte.  Free safety and punt returner Christian Dudzik was an honorable mention.
 
ON THE ROAD:  North Dakota State has won 18 straight true road games and 22 including three national championship games in Frisco, Texas, and one neutral site win against South Dakota in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The Bison have won 27 of their last 31 road games and are 19-7 in MVFC road games.  The Bison have not lost away from Fargo since the 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals.
            Division I Road Winning Streaks
            18 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            11 - Ohio State (Big Ten)
            10 - Florida State (ACC)
            8 - Harvard (Ivy)
            8 - Missouri (SEC)

BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State has won 18 straight home games and 46 of the last 47 non-conference home games including 36 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 9-2 at home against Top 10 teams after beating No. 3/4-ranked Montana.  The Bison have the longest home winning streak in Division I football.
            Division I Home Winning Streaks
            18 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            14 - Auburn (SEC)
            13 - Alabama (SEC)
            13 - Baylor (Big 12)
            12 - Coastal Carolina (Big South)
            12 - Marshall (C-USA)
            12 - Michigan State (Big Ten)
 
RECORD ATTENDANCE:  North Dakota State in 2013 set a school record for average home attendance for the third straight year drawing 18,622 over nine games, which ranked sixth in the FCS.  NDSU drew a record crowd of 19,108 for last year's homecoming game against Missouri State, and the crowd of 19,034 for homecoming this year vs. Southern Illinois was the fourth largest in school history.  The Bison have sold out 20 times since 2006 including the first three home games this season.  NDSU ranks fourth in FCS average home attendance.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 25,509
            2. James Madison - 22,761
            3. Montana State - 19,099
            4. North Dakota State - 18,855
            5. Liberty - 18,421
 
THE COACH:  The 30th head coach in team history, Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) takes over the North Dakota State program after spending the past three years on staff as the defensive backs coach and handling the defensive coordinator duties in 2012 and 2013.  The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU after five years at Northern Iowa. He also made coaching stops at Western Illinois (1994-96), Kansas (1997), Missouri State (1999) and Loras (2002-04).  He is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and was a three-time all-conference defensive back at UNI from 1986-90.