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NDSU Notes
Missouri State Notes

THIS WEEK:  North Dakota State (9-1, 5-1 MVFC) returns to action after its first loss in more than two years when the Bison play Missouri State (4-6, 1-5 MVFC) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Plaster Field (18,500) in Springfield, Mo.
 
TELEVISION:  NBC North Dakota will carry the Mediacom production live beginning at 2 p.m. with Don West calling the play-by-play and Jim Powers providing color.  A live video stream will be available at MissouriStateBears.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 1:30 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:  This is the seventh meeting between North Dakota State and Missouri State dating back to 2008.  NDSU leads the series 4-2 and has won three straight including last year's 41-26 homecoming victory.  Missouri State, the last team to score 20 points against NDSU before last week's loss at Northern Iowa, have scored at least 20 points against the Bison in 4 of 6 meetings.  NDSU is 2-1 in Springfield.
            Series History
            2008 in Springfield - #25 NDSU 48, Missouri State 27
            2009 in Fargo - Missouri State 21, NDSU 17
            2010 in Springfield - Missouri State 3, #17 NDSU 0
            2011 in Fargo - #4 NDSU 51, Missouri State 21
            2012 in Springfield - #1 NDSU 21, Missouri State 17
            2013 in Fargo - #1 NDSU 41, Missouri State 26
 
BISON FALL AT NORTHERN IOWA:  North Dakota State had its FCS- and school-record 33-game winning streak snapped with last week's 23-3 loss at Northern Iowa.  NDSU managed only eight first downs and 46 yards rushing against UNI, which leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in rushing defense at 96.4 yards per game.   John Crockett carried 17 times for 41 yards and caught six passes for 32 yards, Carson Wentz was 15 of 25 passing for 132 yards, and Zach Vraa had three catches for 48 yards.  Carlton Littlejohn led the NDSU defense with 11 tackles including six solo stops plus an interception, Kyle Emanuel had eight tackles with one sack, and Mike Hardie had a sack and forced fumble.
 
LeCOMPTE HAS BUSY DAY:  North Dakota State punter Ben LeCompte averaged 48.1 yards on a career-high 10 punts in the loss at Northern Iowa.  LeCompte had three punts inside the 20 and two touchbacks, including a 45-yard punt out-of-bounds at the UNI 1 that set up a three-and-out for the NDSU defense before the Bison scored on their next possession.  His 481 punting yards were the sixth most in Valley Football history.
 
LeCOMPTE 5th IN FCS PUNTING:  North Dakota State's Ben LeCompte has punted 39 times this season for an average of 44.4 yards that ranks first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and fifth in the FCS.  LeCompte has landed 14 of 39 punts inside the 20-yard line with seven touchbacks and 10 punts of 50+ yards including a season-long 66-yarder against South Dakota State.  Opponents are averaging just 3.5 yards on 12 punt returns.  LeCompte's 43.67 career punting average is second in NDSU history, would rank first in MVFC history, and is fifth among active players in the FCS.
 
BOUNCING BACK:  North Dakota State has not lost back-to-back games since a five-game losing streak in the middle of the 2009 season that ended with a 3-8 record.  NDSU bounced back from a 2011 home loss to Youngstown State with a 37-21 win at Western Illinois in the regular season finale (which clinched a share of the Valley Football title) and rebounded from a 2012 home loss to Indiana State with a 54-0 win over South Dakota.
 
TITLE CHASE:  North Dakota State is looking to become just the second school in Valley Football history to win four straight league championships behind Northern Iowa's run of seven straight titles from 1990 to 1996.  NDSU is tied with Illinois State atop the standings at 5-1 with two games each to play.  The Redbirds went 6-0 to win their only league title in 1999.
 
IN THE POLLS:  Unanimously No. 1-ranked North Dakota State fell to No. 4 in the Sports Network Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Poll after having its 33-game winning streak snapped at Northern Iowa.  NDSU's last loss to Indiana State on October 13, 2012, also dropped the Bison from first to fourth in both FCS polls.  NDSU previously held the No. 1 spot in the FCS coaches poll 30 straight weeks and the Sports Network poll for 30 of 31 weeks with a preseason No. 2 ranking this year.  NDSU received votes in the AP Top 25 for 10 weeks after beating Iowa State in the season-opener.  The Bison also garnered AP votes after all three FCS national titles.
 
VRAA MOVING UP:  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 37 of 39 games in his career and ranks fifth in NDSU career receptions (144), and fourth in receiving yards (2,237) and touchdown catches (21).
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 (43g)
            2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 (39g)
            3. 2332 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99 (43g)
            4. 2237 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 (39g)

            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
 
            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. 144 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
 
CROCKETT FIFTH IN RUSHING:  Senior running back John Crockett has vaulted into fifth place on North Dakota State's all-time rushing list with 3,395 yards in just his third season with the Bison.  Crockett is tied for seventh in NDSU history with 15 career 100-yard games including a season-high 152 against South Dakota State and a career-high 195 yards in last year's NCAA semifinal win over New Hampshire.  This is Crockett's third straight 1,000-yard season despite splitting carries each of his first two seasons.
            NDSU Career Rushing Leaders
            1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01 (41g)
            2. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06 (41g)
            3. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, RB, 2009-13 (51g)
            4. 3688 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97 (35g)
            5. 3395 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14 (40g)

            NDSU Career 100-Yard Games
            1. 31 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01
            2. 20 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97
            3. 20 - Chris Simdorn, QB, 1987-90
                 20 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06
            5. 19 - Tony Satter, RB, 1987-90
            6. 17 - Jeff Bentrim, QB, 1983-86
            7. 15 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-present
                 15 - Chad Stark, RB, 1983-86
 
TOP SCORING DEFENSE:  North Dakota State had the top scoring defense in the FCS for the past three seasons and currently ranks second in the FCS.  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 11.5 points per game this year, second only to Harvard's 9.4 ppg.  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 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss through 10 games and leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in both categories.  He is third in the FCS with 1.35 sacks per game and sixth with 2.0 TFLs per game and also ranks 17th nationally with a league-best three forced fumbles.  Emanuel is third all-time at NDSU in career sacks:
            NDSU Career Sack Leaders (half sacks as whole)
            41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90
            41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74
            34 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14
            31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11

            NCAA FCS Sacks Per Game Leaders
            1.61 - Alec May, Georgetown (14.5)
            1.50 - Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (15.0)
            1.35 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State (13.5)
            1.20 - Derek Rivers, Youngstown State (12.0)
            1.15 - Zack Wagenmann, Montana (11.5)

HEAGLE SOLO TACKLES LEADER:  Strong safety Colten Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, is NDSU's career leader with 174 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.  Heagle has also cracked the top 10 in total tackles with 302.
            NDSU Career Solo Tackle Leaders
            174 - Colten Heagle, SS, 2010-14
            159 - Joe Mays, LB, 2004-07 (Kansas City Chiefs)
            147 - Ramon Humber, LB, 2005-09 (New Orleans Saints)
            135 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14
            132 - Craig Dahl, SS, 2003-06 (San Francisco 49ers)
            129 - Carlton Littlejohn, LB, 2011-14
            125 - Travis Beck, LB, 2011-14
 
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 55 career starts, and defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who has played in all 55 games with 48 starts as the Bison have gone 52-3 in that span.  Linebacker Travis Beck missed his only career game at South Dakota after playing all 52 and starting 46 straight.  Linebacker Carlton Littlejohn has played in 53 contests, and strong safety Colten Heagle and tight end Kevin Vaadeland have each played in 52 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 33 of 33 this year and has converted 92 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 11th in the FCS in scoring with 9.6 points per game.  He is third among FCS active career leaders with 7.8 points per game.
            NDSU Career PATs (made-attempted)
            178 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (178-182)
            166 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (166-172)
            155 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (155-165)

            FCS Active Career Scoring Leaders
            8.4 ppg - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
            8.2 ppg - Tyler Varga, RB, Yale
            7.8 ppg - Adam Keller, K, North Dakota State
 
FIELD GOAL RECORDS:  Senior Adam Keller has an NDSU single-season record 21 field goals made and second nationally behind Northern Iowa's Michael Schmadeke.  Keller made a school-record five field goals in the win over Montana.  His 48 career field goals rank second in school history and second among FCS active career leaders tied with South Dakota State's Justin Syrovatka.
            NDSU Single-Season FG Made
            21 - Adam Keller, 2014 (21-25)
            18 - Adam Keller, 2012 (18-24)
            16 - Ryan Jastram, 2011 (16-18)
            16 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006 (16-23)

            NDSU Career FG Made
            51 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (51-73)
            48 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (48-61)
            42 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (42-63)
            31 - Ryan Jastram, 2009-11 (31-45)

            FCS Active Career FG Leaders
            54 - Jordan Wiggs, Stephen F. Austin
            48 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State
            48 - Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State
            45 - Chris Rogers, Sacred Heart

            FCS Leaders, FGM per game
            2.30 - Michael Schmadeke, Northern Iowa (23-25)
            2.10 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State (21-25)
            1.70 - Ryan McCrum, SE Missouri State (17-21)
            1.63 - John Carpenter, William & Mary (13-18)
 
CHEWING UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State ranks second in the FCS in time of possession averaging 34:32 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
 
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.
 
FIVE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT:  Quarterback Carson Wentz, wide receiver Zach Vraa, center Jesse Hinz, outside linebacker Esley Thorton and defensive end Kyle Emanuel were voted to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 football team Nov. 6.  To be eligible, student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve with a 3.30 cumulative GPA and sophomore athletic and academic standing.  Wentz has a 4.0 in health and physical education, Vraa has a 3.51 in sports management, Hinz has a 3.71 in criminal justice and Spanish, Thorton has a 3.91 in exercise science, and Emanuel has a 3.66 in construction management.
 
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, 3x 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...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State)
        - 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, 2x 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...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); 2x 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...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); CFPA FCS Defensive Lineman of the Week (Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State)
        - 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)
        - Ben LeCompte, CFPA FCS Punter of the Week (Two punts averaging 64.5 yards in home win over South Dakota State, including season-long 66-yarder)
 
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 10 games and Grant Morgan has played all 10 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 first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 23rd nationally completing 63.2 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.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State has won 19 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
            19 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            14 - Baylor (Big 12)
            13 - Alabama (SEC)
            12 - Coastal Carolina (Big South)
            12 - Fordham (Patriot)
            12 - Florida State (ACC)
            12 - Marshall (C-USA)
 
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 21 times since 2006 including four games this season.  NDSU ranks third in FCS average home attendance.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 25,214
            2. James Madison - 22,515
            3. North Dakota State - 18,851
            4. Montana State - 18,687
            5. Liberty - 17,947
 
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.  Klieman's 9-0 start was the best by any first-year head coach at North Dakota State, passing the 8-0 start by Ron Erhardt's 1966 team.