Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
NDSU Notes
Northern Iowa Notes

THIS WEEK:  No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (9-0, 5-0 MVFC) looks to keep sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference when the Bison play Northern Iowa (5-4, 3-2 MVFC) at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the UNI-Dome (16,324) in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  The Bison have a one-game lead over Youngstown State and previously unbeaten Illinois State, which fell 42-28 at Northern Iowa last week.
 
TELEVISION:  NBC North Dakota and Comcast SportsNet Chicago will carry the Panther Sports Network broadcast beginning at 4 p.m. with Eric Braley and Brad Wells describing the action. A live video stream will be available by subscription on UNIPanthers.com.
 
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 3:30 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 47th meeting between North Dakota State and Northern Iowa dating back to 1938 but just the seventh meeting as Division I opponents since 2008.  UNI leads the series 25-21, but NDSU has won the last three to even the series 3-3 at the Division I level.
            NDSU-UNI Series, Division I
            2008 in Cedar Falls - #4 UNI 23, #16 NDSU 13
            2009 in Fargo - #3 UNI 42, NDSU 27
            2010 in Cedar Falls - #13 UNI 16, #21 NDSU 9
            2011 in Fargo - #3 NDSU 27, #2 UNI 19
            2012 in Cedar Falls - #1 NDSU 33, #14 UNI 21
            2013 in Fargo - #1 NDSU 24, #4 UNI 23
 
RECORD WINNING STREAKS:  North Dakota State's 33-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 16 ranked teams and outscored its last 33 opponents by an average of 35-11.  The Bison have also set an MVFC record with 18 consecutive victories in conference play.
            Active Division I Overall Winning Streaks
            33 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            24 - Florida State (ACC)
            11 - Mississippi State (SEC)
            11 - 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)
            33 - North Dakota State, 2012-present

SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN:  NDSU's school- and FCS-record 33-game winning streak has been marked by second-half dominance.  The Bison have shut out 10 of their last 18 opponents after halftime allowing just 55 second-half points in those 18 games.  The fourth quarter has been even better with NDSU allowing just 37 points in the last 29 games.
 
IN THE POLLS:  North Dakota State has received votes in the AP Top 25 each of the past 10 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 30 straight weeks and the Sports Network poll for 38 of the past 45 weeks.
 
BISON BURY JACKS IN SECOND HALF:  North Dakota State scored 31 second-half points to come back from its first halftime deficit in 17 games and beat South Dakota State 37-17 last week in Fargo.  The Bison scored on all five second-half possessions and controlled the ball for more than 21 of 30 minutes, finishing with a 38:20 to 21:40 edge in time of possession.
 
WENTZ HAS BIG RUSHING DAY:  Quarterback Carson Wentz had career highs of 16 carries and 100 yards with one touchdown against South Dakota State to give NDSU dual 100-yard rushers for the second time this year behind John Crockett's season-high 152 yards and two TDs on 28 carries.  Wentz accounted for 215 yards of total offense finishing 12 of 20 passing for 115 yards and a score.
 
EMANUEL SACKS JACKS:  Defensive end Kyle Emanuel was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star, and Sports Network co-Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss against South Dakota State.  Emanuel had three sacks and eight tackles by halftime and had a forced fumble and quarterback hurry in the game.  He stopped SDSU leading rusher Zach Zenner five times totaling six yards and caught Zenner after a 34-yard gain in the NDSU secondary.  Emanuel's strip sack with 4 minutes left gave NDSU the ball at the SDSU 23 and led to a touchdown five plays later for the final score.
 
LeCOMPTE BIG IN WIN:  Ben LeCompte averaged 64.5 yards on two punts and got touchbacks on 6 of 8 kickoffs against South Dakota State.  LeCompte boomed a 63-yard punt from NDSU's 13 in the first quarter and a season-long 66 yards for a touchback in the second quarter.  He helped limit SDSU to an average starting position of its own 24-yard line on 10 kicks.
 
SMITH LEADS LEAGUE IN BREAKUPS:  Junior cornerback CJ Smith leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 11 pass breakups and is second in total passes defended with 12 and fellow NDSU cornerback Jordan Champion is tied for fourth in the league with eight pass breakups.  The Bison are holding opposing MVFC quarterbacks to a 50% completion rate.
 
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.
 
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 36 of 38 games in his career and ranks fifth in NDSU career receiving yards (2189), fifth in career receptions (141), and fourth in 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. 2232 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11 (51g)
            5. 2189 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 (38g)

            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. 141 - 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 MOVES INTO FIFTH:  Senior running back John Crockett has vaulted into fifth place on North Dakota State's all-time rushing list with 3,354 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. 3354 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14 (39g)

            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 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 10.2 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 12.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss through nine games.  He is third in the FCS with 1.39 sacks per game and fifth with 2.1 TFLs per game.  Emanuel is among the top five sack men in NDSU history:
            NDSU Career Sack Leaders (half sacks as whole)
            41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90
            41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74
            33 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14
            31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11

            NCAA FCS Sacks Per Game Leaders
            1.67 - Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (15.0)
            1.61 - Alec May, Georgetown (14.5)
            1.39 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State (12.5)
            1.22 - Derek Rivers, Youngstown State (11.0)
            1.22 - Christopher Robinson, Morgan State (11.0)

HEAGLE SOLO TACKLES LEADER:  Strong safety Colten Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, is NDSU's career leader with 172 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
            172 - 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)
            131 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14
            123 - Jared Essler, FS, 2001-04
            123 - 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 54 career starts, and defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who has played in all 54 games with 47 starts as the Bison have gone 52-2 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 52 contests, and strong safety Colten Heagle and tight end Kevin Vaadeland have each played in 51 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 ninth in the FCS in scoring with 10.3 points per game.  He is second among FCS active career leaders with 7.9 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
            8.3 ppg - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
            7.9 ppg - Adam Keller, K, North Dakota State
            7.8 ppg - Jordan Wiggs, K, Stephen F. Austin
 
FIELD GOAL RECORDS:  Senior Adam Keller has an NDSU single-season record 20 field goals made and is the FCS co-leader with Northern Iowa's Michael Schmadeke.  Keller made a school-record five field goals in the win over Montana.  His 47 career field goals rank second in school history and third among FCS active career leaders.
            NDSU Single-Season FG Made
            20 - Adam Keller, 2014 (20-24)
            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)
            47 - 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
            47 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State
            47 - Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State
            45 - Chris Rogers, Sacred Heart

            FCS Leaders, FGM per game
            2.22 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State (20-24)
            2.22 - Michael Schmadeke, Northern Iowa (20-22)
            1.78 - Peter Yoder, Richmond (16-23)
            1.71 - John Carpenter, William & Mary (12-15)
 
CHEWING UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State ranks second in the FCS converting 53 percent of its third down opportunities, and the Bison are first in time of possession averaging 34:58 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
 
LeCOMPTE LEADS VALLEY IN PUNTING:  North Dakota State's Ben LeCompte has punted 29 times this season for an average of 43.1 yards that ranks first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.  LeCompte has landed 11 of 29 punts inside the 20-yard line with five touchbacks and six punts of 50+ yards.  Opponents have been held to seven punt returns totaling just 32 yards.  LeCompte's 43.35 career punting average is second in NDSU history, tied for second in MVFC history, and is fifth among active players in the FCS.
 
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) and 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)
        - 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 nine games and Grant Morgan has played all nine 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 second 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)
            11 - Florida State (ACC)
            9 - Harvard (Ivy)
            8 - Missouri (SEC)

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 - Auburn (SEC)
            14 - Baylor (Big 12)
            13 - Alabama (SEC)
            12 - Coastal Carolina (Big South)
            12 - Fordham (Patriot)
            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 21 times since 2006 including four games this season.  NDSU ranks fourth in FCS average home attendance.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 25,214
            2. James Madison - 22,515
            3. Montana State - 19,099
            4. North Dakota State - 18,851
            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.  Klieman's 9-0 start is the best by any first-year head coach at North Dakota State, passing the 8-0 start by Ron Erhardt's 1966 team.