GDT - UNH Wildcats @ (1) NDSU Bison

[Gil Dobie]

[Gil Dobie]

This is NDSU’s 3rd Friday night game in the past year, they have won the other two (Georgia Southern and Kansas State)

This is the first time in the history of the FCS Playoffs that the semifinal hosts are the same from previous year (NDSU and Eastern Washington hosted in 2012 as well)

Friday night will mark the 73rd home game for Craig Bohl at NDSU, the Bison are 60-12 heading into the game with UNH. NDSU has won 22 straight games, the FCS record is 24 set by Montana and Princeton.

NDSU has allowed 6 points in the 4th quarter: 6.

[Gil Dobie]

From the Bison Blog

New Hampshire enters Friday’s game winners of six straight and nine of its last ten games, the Wildcats started the year 1-3, with losses to Central Michigan, Lehigh and Towson, who plays in the other semifinal on Saturday. During this winning streak, the Wildcats haven’t scored less than 20.

UNH’s offense is humming as addressed in the last point, they are averaging 32 points per game on the season, but the defense has been vulnerable, allowing 20 points per game. For point of reference, Towson racked up 731, yes 731 total yards against New Hampshire, Terrance West, who last we saw, was running all over Eastern Illinois, ran for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns. Now since then, UNH has dramatically improved, their only other loss was to William and Mary, who for a time had the best scoring defense in the country.

A closer look at UNH’s quarterback situation is interesting, sophomore Sean Goldrich has been the starter for the majority of the year, but he started the year on the bench behind junior Andy Vailas, each rotated snaps last season. Goldrich was devastating with his legs last week against Southeastern Louisiana, rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to an impressive win.

UNH has perhaps the most impressive playoff pedigree in the FCS, they have made the playoffs 10 consecutive years, the longest streak going, but this is their first trip to the semifinals. Consider also the league that UNH plays in, the CAA, traditionally the top in the country, this is the 4th time in the last 6 years that the league has two teams in the semifinals.

Lastly, this is a stat that everyone knows, UNH’s most famous football alum is clearly Chip Kelly, the current head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelly is a UNH grad, he coached there for years, rising to offensive coordinator from 1999-2006, he left Durham to take the OC job at Oregon and the rest is history. - See more at: http://bisonmedia.areavoices.com/?tag=n ... fIxi2.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gil Dobie]

Fast and Furious
Allen Lessels' UNH Notebook: Bison are fast and furious
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Dec 14, 2013; Hammond, LA, USA; New Hampshire Wildcats head coach Sean McDonnell watches during warmups prior to kickoff against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Strawberry Stadium. New Hampshire defeated Southeastern Louisiana 20-17. (Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports)
DURHAM

THEY start fast. They finish fast. They aren't bad at all in the middle of the game either.

The North Dakota State University Bison, to be sure, are going to be a handful for the University of New Hampshire football team in an FCS semifinal match at 8 p.m. on Friday (ESPN2) in front of 18,000-plus fans in the Fargodome.

The Wildcats are 10-4, have won six straight games, three consecutive playoff games and are in the national tournament semifinals for the first time.

The Bison have dominated the FCS the last two years.

They are 13-0 this year and have gone 22 straight games overall without a loss and are 9-0 in home FCS playoff games.

"They're a team, if they get ahead of you, it's pretty much over," said UNH senior safety and captain Manny Asam. "They consume time (on offense). They eat up time."

The Bison get ahead of most people, usually by large amounts.

Most of the Wildcats, head coach Sean McDonnell included, watched North Dakota State clobber Coastal Carolina, 48-14, in the quarterfinals last Saturday afternoon on ESPN while they rested up for their own game that night against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Bison led 17-0 after one period and 31-0 before Coastal Carolina scored in the closing seconds of the first half.

"It was a fast start and it wasn't just the offense," McDonnell said. "It was defense and special teams, too. That was something to behold. I was sitting in the hotel room and it was like, 'Oh my.' Everyone on the team plays downhill. It was pretty impressive."

The numbers are staggering.

The Bison have outscored their opponents 131-20 in the first quarter of games and 153-71 in the second for a halftime edge of 284-91. The margin is 121-51 in the third period and a difficult-to-imagine 89-6 in the fourth.

The pressure will be on the Wildcat defense to at least slow senior quarterback Brock Jensen (30 TDs passing, eight rushing and six interceptions) and his talented group of weapons. Senior Sam Ojuri has rushed for 1,239 yards this year and junior John Crockett needs four yards to hit 1,000. Junior wide receiver Zach Vraa has 59 catches for 1,064 yards and 13 scores.

North Dakota State allows just 11.4 points a game, which leads the nation.

"We have to put up points fast," said UNH sophomore quarterback Sean Goldrich. "We have to come out of the gate flying around and make a statement to let them know we're not going to be a run-over team ... We have to come out right from the beginning and show them that we're here to play and we're not going anywhere."

North Dakota State has won its first two playoff games by 31 (Furman) and 34 (Coastal Carolina).

The Bison came from behind and Jensen led a late touchdown drive for a big FBS win at Kansas State, 24-21, in their season opener and rallied to beat then No. 4-ranked Northern Iowa, 24-23, on Oct. 5. Kansas State wound up 7-5 and will play Michigan on Dec. 28 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

Nobody else has come closer than 18 points to them.

[Gil Dobie]

Food for thought about the NDSU 2013 football schedule. Out of the 13 games played this season, 8 of their opponents had their lowest scoring game of the WHOLE season. See more at: http://bisonmedia.areavoices.com/?p=900 ... hU1Zl.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

K-State vs. NDSU = 21 points.
Ferris St vs. NDSU = 10 points
Delaware St vs NDSU = 0 points
SDSU vs NDSU = 0 points
Northern Iowa vs. Illinois St = 3 points (vs. NDSU = 23 points)
Missouri St vs Northern Iowa = 10 points (vs. NDSU = 26 points)
Southern Illinois vs NDSU = 10 points
Indiana St vs SDSU = 0 points (vs. NDSU = 10 points)
Illinois St vs. NDSU = 10 points
Youngstown vs SDSU = 13 points (vs. NDSU 17 points)
USD vs NDSU = 0 points
Furman vs. NDSU = 7 points
Coastal Carolina vs. South Carolina (FBS) = 10 points (vs. NDSU = 14 points)

See more at: http://bisonmedia.areavoices.com/?p=900 ... hU1Zl.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ASUG8]

45-20 Buffaloes

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Bison are very good on both lines and that should have a huge impact in the 2nd half.

Good match up for the Bison.

Bison win.

[BlackFalkin]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

[Grizalltheway]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

That must be why it's on in primetime on a network that more than 500 people get.

[luckyintheorder]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

That must be why it's on in primetime on a network that more than 500 people get.

True story: ESPN thought they heard a reference to Alabama and believed Saban was looking at program, next thing you know Gameday shows up hoping to catch Saban meeting with the AD of NDSU... The rest they say is history. Just kidding.

Since when did the mutts at ESPN know a story outside the SEC? Maybe Joe Schad will do an expose' without any credible sources.. too late, been there done that. Would be nice to have an alternative to Disney media because ESPN has become mickey mouse.

[BlackFalkin]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

That must be why it's on in primetime on a network that more than 500 people get.

so bc the bison are ESPN2, that means people who watch fcs CARE MORE THAN THE EWU GAME???? Doubt it buddy. People wanna see Vernon Adams and t west. Not Brock BALD 22YO Jensen.

[Bronco]

Adams is a punk
He should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Jensen

[BlackFalkin]

Adams is a punk
He should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Jensen

Brock Jensen is balding, Vernon has cool hair. Even the refs like him.

[Bronco]

Adams is a punk
He should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Jensen

Brock Jensen is balding, Vernon has cool hair. Even the refs like him.

Everyone knows the refs like Eastern...we've seen the games
NDSU at your place and Delaware in the chipper

[Gil Dobie]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

Lil old FCS school wins ESPN Gameday site of the year

[Gil Dobie]

Adams is a punk
He should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Jensen

Brock Jensen is balding, Vernon has cool hair

Brock Jensen has 2 Rings

[BlueHen86]

I hope that UNH keeps the game close. I expect NDSU to win, but I don't want to see a blowout.

[BlackFalkin]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares.

Lil old FCS school wins ESPN Gameday site of the year

Fargo is not the best gameday experience. And they didn't bother to add that horrendous logo of yours.

[Gil Dobie]

[Gil Dobie]

SVP shows some Bison love

[BlackFalkin]

Fxck all three of your teams. When it's all said and done EWU is gonna be hoisting this year's national championship trophy. Bank it.

[BlackFalkin]

SVP shows some Bison love

Look at that ugly yellow helmet.

[Gil Dobie]

[Gil Dobie]

[Gil Dobie]

Fxck all three of your teams. When it's all said and done EWU is gonna be hoisting this year's national championship trophy. Bank it.

Thnx for your interest in Bison and/or Wildcat football.