The CAA Today Blog

CAA is represented in the title game after all...by the officiating crew.

Penalty halted the SHS momentum and then the Bison defense asserted itslef. Good punt by the Bearkats though and NDSU starts inside the 15.

Promising start to drive for the Bison but foolish late hit penalty pins them back inside the 20. SHSU looking for good field position but a 68 kick turns the tables and the Bearkats will start inside their own 20.

Largely a sea of orange at Pizza Hut Park, but both teams are well represented in the stands.

There are some games where the "uniform matchup" helps make the game ever more appealing to watch. This is not one of them.

By the way, it's warmer up here in NJ than it is in Texas. Doesn't happen a lot in January.

Quarterback keeper on 3rd and 2 and the Bison defense stops Bell short of the first down. Another great punt, this time from SHSU for 52 yards and a block in the back penalty will push NDSU back even farther.

Not seeing a lot available for Sammy on offense right now. Bison D came to play.

Jensen getting all kinds of time to throw, but the Bearkat defense forces the first turnover of the game! Ojuri fumbles on a 2nd and 10 run. Sammy ball at the Bison 41.

Inches short on 3rd and 2. First decision of the game here for either head coach. Think you have to go for it versus a 48 yard field goal.

That's the decision and stoned by the Bison D!

Great stand by North Dakota State after the turnover. That's the kind of effort needed to win a title.

Nice throw on an outside slant by Jensen. Almost broke free. Followed up by a pretty throw to the tight end for 29 and down to the Bearkat 26. Bison on the move.

Jensen gets tattooed as a 3rd and 6 play, but just gets the throw off for a first down at the 7. Up the middle for 5 on first down. Bison knocking on the door.

Stopped short inside the 1 on second down. Big third-and-goal coming up. Ojuri stuffed again!

Fourth and goal. Interesting decision for coach Bohl. Does he take the points?

Yes he does and a 19-yard field goal gives the Bison a 3-0 lead as the first quarter is just about over.

Big stand by the Bearkat defense to keep them out of the end zone. Field goal isn't a bad result there.

Possible interception dropped on first down on a deep attempt from Sammy but Flanders comes back for 5 on second down. Bearkats could use a first down here and Sincere keeps it and picks up a fresh set of downs.

Flanders stuffed on a draw on 3rd-and-16 and the Bearkats will punt again. Bison defense looking awfully tough so far.

Jensen forces a throw with a defender in his face and can't get it over Jenkins in the secondary. 23rd interception of the season for Sammy and the second turnover of the game already. Good field position for the Bearkats. Need to capitalize.

First Jensen gets pounded on 2nd down and then the only guy pressuring the punt gets a hand on it. Great field position again for the Bearkats. Can they do something with it this time?

Reviewing the punt to see if SHSU touched it after the block. Play stands. Start at the NDSU 48.

Flanders finally starting to find some space. Three separate runs for big chunks gets Sammy a first down at the 6. Can the Bearkats punch it in when the Bison couldn't?

Flanders stuffed twice. Bell rolls out and hits receiver in the hands at the goal line but dropped by Ryan Wilson! 24-yarder good and we're tied at 3!

Another good stand by the Bison defense.

Jensen back in the game after missing third down on the last drive. Apparently very stiff on the sideline, but he played through the flu in the semis and it's a title game so he'll keep playing.

Almost another turnover as a near pick on a deflection. Bison offense out of sync a bit and Sammy will use their second timeout to stop the clock before the punt with 2:04 to play.

Great 25-yard return on the kick and the Bearkats are in business again at the Bison 38.

Huge third down throw by Bell. Williams spins away and almost breaks free but a shoestring tackle stops him around the 20.

Bell throws a jump ball in the end zone by Diller can't quite bring it in in traffic. Incomplete on second down as well with 50 ticks left before halftime.

31-yarder good for a 6-3 Bearkat advantage with 41 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. We'll see if the Bison can get a decent return and try to make something happen before the break. COach Bohl could decide that he doesn't want to push things, though, if Jensen is still stiff.

Bison try to get something going but Jensen is really off and Bearkat defense is playing aggressively right now. Stopped on third down and Sammy uses last timeout with 14 seconds left to force another punt.

Bearkats sellout for the block but another booming kick should take us to the half.

And it does as SHSU takes a knee.

Intersting first half with the defenses seeming to be in control for the most part. Two turnovers and the blocked punt for the Bison really were the difference in the 6-3 lead. If Jensen can't get right at halftime, North Dakota state will be in trouble because the offense really looked ragged for much of the second quarter.

NDSU controlled the run of play early but the goalline stand by the Bearkats really seemed to halt the Bison momentum and SHSU played a lot more confidently after that.

Top two scoring defenses doing their jobs for the most part. Sam Houston seemed to be finding some openings on offense as the half progressed so we'll see if they can build on that in the second half.

stupid Loopy Holdz in halftimr........ shutup and lay in bed after your meds