One thing I noticed is that NDSU ran the ball well. That made me think about how, as bad as UNI clubbed McNeese State the previous week, the Panthers did show one weakness. McNeese was able to run the ball very effectively when it did it. On designed running plays the Cowboys had 5 yards per carry. It's just that their passing game was ineffective so they couldn't sustain drives and their defense was awful. So they couldn't exploit being able to run the ball.
Looks like UNI controlled NDSU's passing game pretty well this week. But NDSU has that dominant defense so UNI couldn't pull away and the Bison could keep running the football. I still haven't watched the whole game but I have it recorded and will do that. The stats, though, make it look like that was the story. UNI can be run on.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
JohnStOnge wrote:One thing I noticed is that NDSU ran the ball well. That made me think about how, as bad as UNI clubbed McNeese State the previous week, the Panthers did show one weakness. McNeese was able to run the ball very effectively when it did it. On designed running plays the Cowboys had 5 yards per carry. It's just that their passing game was ineffective so they couldn't sustain drives and their defense was awful. So they couldn't exploit being able to run the ball.
Looks like UNI controlled NDSU's passing game pretty well this week. But NDSU has that dominant defense so UNI couldn't pull away and the Bison could keep running the football. I still haven't watched the whole game but I have it recorded and will do that. The stats, though, make it look like that was the story. UNI can be run on.
Cap'n Cat was at the FargoDome for this one. Bottom line: Better team won. UNI ran the game for 3 quarters then let off the gas. NDSU did what championship teams do, they closed the deal.
Was listening to the post game radio show during which Bohl characterized the NDSU training room as "a M*A*S*H* unit". Sure it was the same thing for UNI. Tough, hard-hitting game befitting two rivals. Hats off to the Herd.
Cap'n Cat was at the FargoDome for this one. Bottom line: Better team won. UNI ran the game for 3 quarters then let off the gas.
Yes I think the game became definitely over when McNeese had the high snap from center, UNI recovered inside the 5, and went up 31-6. But here is an example of what I'm talking about:
McNeese tailback Marcus Wiltz was the game's leading rusher. He had 94 yards at 5.9 yards per carry. But ALL of those yards and carries came before that high snap from center. His last carry came with about 9 minutes left in the third quarter. I can tell because the next play was McNeese's only TD and that came with 8:52 left in the 3rd. What Wiltz got he got before garbage time. It was all in the first half plus the first McNeese possession of the second half. His 5.9 average wasn't unduly inflated by one long run. His longest run was 22 yards and he averaged 4.8 yards on his other 15 carries. He was consistent and had no negative yardage. There was a lot McNeese could NOT do during that game but running the ball effectively with Wiltz was not one of them.
You can see that, almost certainly, he'd have had well over 100 yards IF McNeese's defense had been able to slow UNI down and keep the Cowboys in the game. For all of UNI's overall dominance they did have some difficulty in stopping Wiltz running the ball right at them. But after that high snap and subsequent score made the score 31-6 Wiltz could no longer be a factor in the game.
I'm one of those people who thinks if you can stay in the game and stick with running the football it pays off in the second half. NDSU has the defense. They didn't have to go away from their running game. They didn't get much passing either but it didn't matter because they were able to stay in the game until the running game paid dividends.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
Boy I finally got around to watching the replay and if I were a UNI fan I'd find that REALLY excrutiating. That was a case of really snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And losing that good linebacker for the year to boot. I assumed that North Dakota State just took over physically in the fourth quarter and there may have been some of that. But that thing with first keeping the winning TD drive alive with a hands to the face penalty called on the nose guard (couldn't tell if it really happened as the resolution wasn't good enough). To have that happen on THAT play was really rotten luck. Ouch.
Another thing was #7 not being able to come in and play when UNI had extended the lead to 23-10 then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Had a chance to put North Dakota State away there and the best offensive player couldn't get on the field. No way to know if he'd have meant a TD instead of a FG but the odds of getting a TD sure would've been a lot better with him in. He was clearly a huge difference maker in that game. I am wondering if he was sick or something because he sure didn't touch the ball as much as I would've wanted him to if I was a UNI fan.
Man that was a tough loss. UNI fans must feel like I felt after the Central Arkansas at McNeese game last year. Hopefully for UNI's sake they don't let it affect their preparation for the next game.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
JohnStOnge wrote:Boy I finally got around to watching the replay and if I were a UNI fan I'd find that REALLY excrutiating. That was a case of really snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And losing that good linebacker for the year to boot. I assumed that North Dakota State just took over physically in the fourth quarter and there may have been some of that. But that thing with first keeping the winning TD drive alive with a hands to the face penalty called on the nose guard (couldn't tell if it really happened as the resolution wasn't good enough). To have that happen on THAT play was really rotten luck. Ouch.
Another thing was #7 not being able to come in and play when UNI had extended the lead to 23-10 then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Had a chance to put North Dakota State away there and the best offensive player couldn't get on the field. No way to know if he'd have meant a TD instead of a FG but the odds of getting a TD sure would've been a lot better with him in. He was clearly a huge difference maker in that game. I am wondering if he was sick or something because he sure didn't touch the ball as much as I would've wanted him to if I was a UNI fan.
Man that was a tough loss. UNI fans must feel like I felt after the Central Arkansas at McNeese game last year. Hopefully for UNI's sake they don't let it affect their preparation for the next game.
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You know that hands to the face penalty call was really even bigger than I first said. First of all it kept NDSU's winning TD drive alive. But I went back to check and, sure enough, the stud linebacker got hurt two plays later. And as others have said it looks to me like that was a very serious injury and he's gone for the year.
No hands to the face call and the defense is off the field and NDSU is punting. Field the punt and hang onto the ball and UNI is running clock. Instead NDSU is driving and UNI is without their star linebacker.
It's hard to see whether or not the guy really committed the penalty. If he did it was just an unfortunate thing for him. In my opinion he definitely wasn't trying to be dirty. He was just hand fighting with the O lineman in from of him like he did every play. Tough, tough break for him and his team. Stuff like what happened on that play probably happens all the time without anybody noticing. He definitely didn't flagrantly shove the guys face and knock his head back or anything. But as fate would have it an official happened to be looking in the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time and the flag came out.
If this is the kind of stuff that happens to UNI it's not just choking in close big games. There's an element of being snake bit to it.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
JohnStOnge wrote:You know that hands to the face penalty call was really even bigger than I first said. First of all it kept NDSU's winning TD drive alive. But I went back to check and, sure enough, the stud linebacker got hurt two plays later. And as others have said it looks to me like that was a very serious injury and he's gone for the year.
No hands to the face call and the defense is off the field and NDSU is punting. Field the punt and hang onto the ball and UNI is running clock. Instead NDSU is driving and UNI is without their star linebacker.
It's hard to see whether or not the guy really committed the penalty. If he did it was just an unfortunate thing for him. In my opinion he definitely wasn't trying to be dirty. He was just hand fighting with the O lineman in from of him like he did every play. Tough, tough break for him and his team. Stuff like what happened on that play probably happens all the time without anybody noticing. He definitely didn't flagrantly shove the guys face and knock his head back or anything. But as fate would have it an official happened to be looking in the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time and the flag came out.
If this is the kind of stuff that happens to UNI it's not just choking in close big games. There's an element of being snake bit to it.
if there was "hands to the face", it was the type of thing that happens just about every play in the line. Kind of like holding. And if the officials couldn't spot the many obvious holds throughout the game, I don't know why they chose to flag that. (and don't get me started on the PI call).
Yes, UNI failed to capitalize on opportunities to ice the game, and NDSU was able to complete the comeback. But the officiating was very very frustrating.
if there was "hands to the face", it was the type of thing that happens just about every play in the line. Kind of like holding.
I looked at it again a few times and that time I did see the offensive lineman's head move back some near the end of the play. Still a tough break.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
