Saturday, January 05, 2019

North Dakota State wins second straight NCAA Division 1 Football Championship

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved
By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 5, 2018) The No. 1 North Dakota State Bison made it two-in-a-
row in downing the No. 3 Eastern Washington Eagles by the score of 38-24 and winning the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The 17,802 fans in attendance witnessed the Bison take their seventh national FCS title in eight years.

The Bison scored twice in the first quarter; first on a 36-yard field goal by Cam Pedersen and later on a 10-yard rush by quarterback Easton Stick and a kicking conversion by Pedersen. The field goal capped a 60-yard, 13-play drive that lasted 8:10. The TD was the result of a four-play 68-yard drive late in the first quarter. The first quarter ended with North Dakota State leading 10-0.


Eastern Washington cut the Bison's lead to seven 1:11 into the second quarter with a 40-yard field goal by Rolden Alcobendas. However, a bit over five minutes later, the Bison completed a 75-yard drive after the Eagles kickoff and again scored Stick a rushing touchdown. Pedersen split the uprights for the extra point to put the score at 17-3 with eight minutes remaining in the half. Eastern Washington finally got the ball in the end zone with 27 seconds left in the first half. The Eagles scored on a fake field goal shovel pass from ball holder Gunner Tarkington to tight end Jayce Gilder for their first touchdown of the game. The score closed put the first half with the BIson leading 17-10.


The second half kicked off with interceptions by both teams, and a fumble by the Eagles, within three minutes time, to give the Bison possession on the Eagles' 25-yard line. Fifty-two seconds, and three plays later, North Dakota State scored on a 23-yard pass from Stick to wide receiver Darrius Shephead. The scoring continued with the Bison's 78-yard pass from Stick to Shepherd and a Stick 46-yard run with 1:16 left in the game. The Eagles added to their score with a 75-yard run by Sam McPherson (11:40-3rd) and a Barriere 5-yard run in the fourth quarter




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