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NDSU Notes | Youngstown State Notes | MVFC Notes

THIS WEEK:  North Dakota State (5-0, 2-0 MVFC) goes on the road for another Top 10 matchup this week when the No. 2-ranked Bison face the eighth-ranked Youngstown State Penguins (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Stambaugh Stadium (20,630) in Youngstown, Ohio.
 
ESPN3 ONLY:  Saturday's game is exclusive to ESPN3 as part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference television package.  ESPN3 is available only through participating Internet service providers on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.  ESPN College Extra will carry the game on DirecTV channel 790.  Brad Wells (play-by-play), Danan Hughes (analyst) and Kelly Burke (sideline reporter) will describe the action. 
 
RADIO:  Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. CT on the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network with Jeff Culhane play-by-play, NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen analyst, and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson sidelines.  A free live audio stream of the Bison Radio Network broadcast is available on GoBison.com/allaccess.  Extended coverage locally on 107.9 The Fox, Bison 1660 and 92.7 FM includes "Bison Tailgate" from 2:30-3:30 p.m. with Brad Jones, "Bison Game Day" from 3:30-5:30 and "Bison Hotline" for 2 hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU defensive end Cole Jirik.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the 12th meeting between North Dakota State and Youngstown State dating back to 1972.  NDSU has won five straight and leads the series 7-4 after last year's 24-3 victory in Fargo.  The Bison are 3-2 in Youngstown and 3-1 at Stambaugh Stadium with victories in their last three trips including a 27-24 come-from-behind win in 2015.  NDSU scored 17 straight fourth-quarter points capped by Easton Stick's 4-yard TD run with 35 seconds left.
 
A STREAK WILL END:  At least one streak will end Saturday when North Dakota State puts its 11-game road winning streak on the line against Youngstown State's 11-game home winning streak.  NDSU was the last team to win at Stambaugh Stadium, a 27-24 victory in YSU's 2015 home finale.  The Penguins were 8-0 at the "Ice Castle" last year including an NCAA first round playoff win over Samford and a quarterfinal win over Wofford.  North Dakota State has not lost on the road since the 2015 FCS Kickoff at Montana, 38-35.
 
BEST ROAD WINNING STREAK:  NDSU has won 11 consecutive true road games, which is the longest active road winning streak in the FCS and fourth best among all Division I programs behind Oklahoma (13), Alabama (13) and Clemson (12).  The Bison have won 12 straight away from Fargo including the 2015 national championship game and are 36-2 since 2011.
 
TOP SCORING RUSHERS:  The top two scoring running backs in the FCS go head-to-head this week.  North Dakota State's Lance Dunn leads the nation with 12 rushing touchdowns and Youngstown State's Tevin McCaster has eight.  Dunn and McCaster are the top two leading rushers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference averaging 113.2 and 107.2 yards per game, respectively.  Dunn's 13 total touchdowns are the most in Division I football this year and he is on pace to challenge the NDSU records of 23 rushing TDs by Jeff Bentrim in 1986 and 23 total TDs by Bentrim in 1986 and Lamar Gordon in 2000.
 
LAST WEEK:  Quarterback Easton Stick passed for a career-high four touchdowns to lead North Dakota State to a 52-0 win at Indiana State last week, the fourth most points scored by NDSU in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game.  Stick finished 18 of 23 for 191 yards and completed passes to nine different receivers led by Darrius Shepherd's six catches for 94 yards.  The Bison scored 24 points off six Indiana State turnovers – three fumbles and interceptions by Tre Dempsey, Jalen Allison and James Hendricks.
 
STOPPING THE PASSING GAME:  North Dakota State is the only team in the FCS that has not allowed a passing touchdown through the first six weeks of the season.  NDSU ranks first in the FCS with 94.2 yards per game allowed through the air, more than 45 yards better than second place Morgan State.  NDSU and Kennesaw State are tied for second in the FCS with 11 interceptions behind Campbell, which has 14 picks in six games.
 
HENDRICKS LEADS TEAM IN INTERCEPTIONS:  Former quarterback James Hendricks leads NDSU with four interceptions in five games since moving to safety during spring football.  Hendricks also had an interception in April's spring game.  Fellow safeties Tre Dempsey and Robbie Grimsley have three interceptions apiece, and Dempsey's 13 career picks are tied for third most in NDSU history behind Marcus Williams (21) and Steve Krumrei (16).
 
STICK TOPS IN FCS PASSING:  Junior quarterback Easton Stick leads the FCS in pass completion percentage (.738) and is second among all Division I quarterbacks behind Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield (.746).  Stick also ranks second in the FCS with a 193.1 pass efficiency rating behind North Carolina A&T's Lamar Raynard (195.6) and fourth among all Division I players including Mayfield (214.1) and Central Florida's McKenzie Milton (203.7).
 
STICK MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS:  Quarterback Easton Stick is just the fifth player in NDSU history to pass for at least 4,000 yards.  Stick is fourth all-time at NDSU with 42 career touchdown passes and ranks fifth in passing completions (321) and yards (4,275).
 
NO PICKS:  NDSU is one of three teams in the FCS along with South Dakota and Wofford who have not thrown an interception this year. Easton Stick has 129 straight passing attempts without a pick dating back to last year's national quarterfinal win over South Dakota State.  NDSU's school record is 143 passing attempts without interception by Carson Wentz in seven games from the 2014 semifinals into 2015.
 
URZENDOWSKI PASSES 2,000 YARDS:  Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski has become the sixth NDSU player to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.  Urzendowski has 2,046 yards and ranks fifth in career TD catches (18) and seventh in receptions (128).  He has caught at least one pass in 44 of 50 career games including the last 10 straight contests.
 
TIGHT END PRODUCTION:  North Dakota State tight ends caught three more touchdown passes at Indiana State and have been a steady weapon in the NDSU passing game this season.  The quartet of seniors Connor Wentz and Jeff Illies, junior Nate Jenson and sophomore Ben Ellefson have combined for 20 catches totaling 278 yards and five TDs.
 
700 WINS:  North Dakota State has played 1,105 games with a 701-370-34 record in 120 seasons of football, good for a .650 winning percentage.  Only four Ivy League teams each with at least 20 more years of football have more wins at the FCS level: Yale (896), Harvard (866), Penn (846) and Princeton (819).  Northern Iowa has the second most wins among Missouri Valley Football Conference programs with 657.  In the FBS, 24 teams have reached the 700-win mark.  NDSU's 88 victories since 2011 are more than any other team in Division I football ahead of Alabama (82), Clemson (76), Sam Houston State (72), Ohio State (72) and Florida State (69).
 
EARLY-SEASON SCORING:  North Dakota State's 168 points scored through the first three games was the most in NDSU's Division I history and second most in the modern era of the program.  The 2000 NCAA playoff team scored 169 over its first three contests.  NDSU's previous Division I high through three games was 140 points by the 2012 team.
 
TOP 10 ROAD GAMES:  NDSU's win at Eastern Washington was the ninth time NDSU has faced an FCS Top 10 team on the road since 2004.  The Bison are 5-4 in those games and have road games this year against current Top 10 teams South Dakota State and Youngstown State.
                FCS Top 10 Opponents on Road
                2017–Won 40-13 at #6 Eastern Washington
                2015–Won 28-7 at #5 South Dakota State
                2013–Won 20-0 at #6 South Dakota State
                2010–Lost 38-31 at #1 Eastern Washington
                2010–Won 42-17 at #6 Montana State
                2009–Lost 24-14 at #8 Southern Illinois
                2008–Lost 23-13 at #4 Northern Iowa
                2005–Lost 37-6 at #9 Cal Poly
                2005–Won 35-7 at #9 Northwestern State
 
RECORD DAY FOR BISON OFFENSE:  North Dakota State set highs for points, rushing yards and total offense in 14 years of Division I football in the 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.  The 683 yards of total offense were the most for the Bison in 29 years and the fourth highest in school single-game history.  NDSU's 498 rushing yards ranked seventh in school history.  NDSU scored touchdowns on its first five possessions with only one drive longer than three plays, and the Bison built a 44-0 lead early in the second quarter.
 
TOP MARKS NATIONALLY:  NDSU's 498 rushing yards against Mississippi Valley State are the second most by an FCS team this season, and the 683 yards of total offense tied for third with Sam Houston State.  NDSU's 72 points are fourth most.  On defense, NDSU's minus-31 rushing yards allowed is second best in FCS and second in NDSU's Division I history (minus-32 at South Dakota State in 2013).
 
DEFENSE HOLDS TWO TOP PERFORMANCES:  North Dakota State's 57 total yards allowed against Robert Morris and 58 against Mississippi Valley State are the second and third best defensive performances in FCS this year behind only Illinois State (41 vs. Butler).  NDSU ranks first in the FCS in scoring defense (6.2), rushing defense (64.8), passing yards allowed (94.2), total defense (159.0) first downs allowed (43) and pass efficiency defense (57.00).
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  North Dakota State has had four first-time Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week this season:
                —Tanner Volson, Offensive Line...Graded 100% assignment and 87% technique with zero sacks against Mississippi Valley State...NDSU averaged 17.5 yards per carry while in the game.
                —Robbie Grimsley, Defensive...Two interceptions, two pass breakups and four tackles at Eastern Washington...Part of a defense that held EWU to 73 yards in the final three quarters.
                —Lance Dunn, Offensive...Scored four TDs on four plays against Robert Morris...Had runs of 61, 5 and 45 yards and a 10-yard catch for 121 all-purpose yards.
                —Jabril Cox, Newcomer...Team-high eight tackles including four on kickoff coverage, made a fumble recovery that led to a touchdown, and was in on a tackle for loss as NDSU held Robert Morris to 57 total yards, four first downs and one trip past midfield in a 56-0 win.
 
MORGAN SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY:  North Dakota State defensive tackle Grant Morgan is one of 181 national semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to the top scholar-athlete in college football.  Nominees are in their final year of eligibility with at least a 3.2 GPA, outstanding football ability and strong leadership and citizenship.  The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists in November who will receive $18,000 postgraduate scholarships.  The winner is announced in December and earns an additional $7,000 toward a postgraduate scholarship. 
 
PAIR OF FRESHMEN PLAY:  Two true freshmen have played for NDSU this season.  Defensive end Logan McCormick from Appleton, Wis., and cornerback Josh Hayes from Lakeland, Fla., made their debut in the season opener against Mississippi Valley State.  They were the first true freshmen to play for NDSU since 2015.  NDSU redshirted its entire freshman class in 2016, the only time that has happened in 14 years of Division I football.
 
PEDERSEN TIES PAT RECORD:  Junior placekicker Cam Pedersen tied the 49-year old school record of 10 PAT kicks made in the 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.  The mark was set in 1968 by Ken Blazei against Augustana (S.D.).  Pedersen ranks fifth all-time at NDSU for PAT kicks made (140), sixth in PAT attempts (144) and also ranks fourth in field goals made (31) and fifth in field goal attempts (50).
 
BISON RETURN 16 STARTERS:  North Dakota State returns nine starters on defense and seven on offense from last year's NCAA semifinal team that finished 12-2 and won a sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 7-1 league record.  Included is linebacker Nick DeLuca, a two-time nominee for the Butkus Award, who returns for a fifth season after being limited to three games last year with a shoulder injury.
 
FOUR OUT FOR SEASON:  North Dakota State has lost four players to season-ending knee injuries this year.  Two-time All-America defensive end Greg Menard went out during the opening week of fall camp, but is eligible to return to the Bison for a fifth season in 2018 after playing as a true freshman in 2014.  Redshirt freshman left tackle Dillon Radunz and sophomore running back Demaris Purifoy were both injured in the season-opener against Mississippi Valley State, and junior linebacker Dan Marlette was injured against Missouri State.
 
SIX STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLES:  North Dakota State won a share of its sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship last season, tying South Dakota State with a 7-1 record in league play.  NDSU won outright MVFC titles in 2012 and 2013.  The Bison shared the 2011 title with Northern Iowa and the 2014 and 2015 crowns with Illinois State.  North Dakota State has won 33 football conference championships including 26 in the North Central Conference (last in 1994) and one in the Great West Football Conference (2006).
 
BISON PICKED TO WIN VALLEY FOOTBALL TITLE:  North Dakota State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference by a single vote over second-place South Dakota State.  NDSU earned 21 of 40 first-place votes and had 380 points followed by SDSU with 19 first-place votes and 379 points.  Youngstown State, national finalist a year ago, was picked third ahead of Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Western Illinois, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State.
 
SEVEN ON PRESEASON TEAM:  Junior running back Lance Dunn, senior long snapper James Fisher, senior defensive end Greg Menard, senior defensive tackle Nate Tanguay, senior linebacker Nick DeLuca, senior safety Tre Dempsey, and junior safety Robbie Grimsley were voted to the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason team by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.  Wide receivers Darrius Shepherd and RJ Urzendowski and offensive lineman Austin Kuhnert earned honorable mention for NDSU.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 58-6 at home since 2010.  The Bison have won 56 of the last 58 home games over non-conference opponents including a string of 45 straight before last year's NCAA semifinal loss to James Madison.  NDSU is 16-4 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams.  North Dakota State ranked fifth in the FCS last year with an average home attendance of 18,556 and has drawn 18,000-plus to 49 straight home contests.
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has a 9-3 record against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and has won six in a row against FBS foes since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21), Iowa State (34-14) and 11th-ranked Iowa (23-21).  NDSU has three future FBS games against Oregon in 2020, Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024.  NDSU's first three FBS wins were against Ball State (2006), Central Michigan (2007) and Minnesota (2007).
 
BIG LEAGUE BISON:  North Dakota State will host Butler at Target Field in Minneapolis in the season opener August 31, 2019.  It will be the first Division I football game at the Major League Baseball stadium, which hosted a Division III game this year between in-state rivals St. Thomas and Saint John's.  NDSU has more than 12,000 alumni in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and nearly 26,000 alumni across Minnesota.  The game is in addition to a six-game home schedule at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in 2019, which is a 12-game regular season.