Visit the Championship Subdivision News Log & College Sporting News Archives
View RSS Feed

CSN West

North Dakota State @ Illinois State, 2012

Rate this Entry
62 Comments
by
Kent
, 11-17-2012 at 11:39 AM (2352 Views)
NORMAL, Ill--I am in Normal today with this matchup that will decide the Missouri Valley Football Conference autobid. Hancock Stadium is going through a renovation where the east side of the field is completely empty with cement starting to be poured for the foundation of the new side seating. Capacity this year is just 7,700 with seating just on the west and south sides of the field that runs north to south.

It is the winner take all in this match-up with the winner likely getting a seed in the playoffs. NDSU being ranked #1 right now in the GPI and Illinois State ranked #6.

Both of these teams should see their name come up in the 20-field playoff announcement tomorrow but this game will mean a lot for home field advantage. Although if South Dakota State wins today, there would be a three way tie and NDSU would get the Autobid given the three way tie.

NDSU comes into this game with a 3-2 series advantage. NDSU won in Fargo last year 20-10 in a closely contested matchup.

I think this game will be key to what team can win the line of scrimmage. Both teams like to run the ball first. Turnovers will also play a key role into the game. NDSU's quarterback Brock Jensen has turned the ball over several times in the past couple games. Defenses on NDSU seem to be falling eight men back to the cover the passing game and this has caused confusion on the offense and led to a number of the interceptions he has thrown. In total, Jensen has thrown 7 interceptions.

Illinois State's Matt Brown has been also inconsistent especially in ISU's two losses to Missouri State and Southern Illinois. In total, he has thrown 10 picks on the season

I think NDSU will come out on top of this game. Their defense has won the games basically the past two weeks. I think the NDSU offense will get back on track before they head to the playoffs and will use the running game to do so.

This will likely still be a low scoring game as ISU also has a strong defense.

We shall see and I look forward to this game as this should give both teams a good test before both enter the postseason.

Submit "North Dakota State @ Illinois State, 2012" to Digg Submit "North Dakota State @ Illinois State, 2012" to del.icio.us Submit "North Dakota State @ Illinois State, 2012" to StumbleUpon Submit "North Dakota State @ Illinois State, 2012" to Google

Updated 11-17-2012 at 02:24 PM by rwallace

Categories
Uncategorized

Comments

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
  1. Kent's Avatar
    1st & goal at the ISU 5. Crockett runs to the right and makes a nice move to get into the endzone near the sideline. PAT is good.

    NDSU takes their first lead. NDSU 14 ISU 10 with 10:19 in the 1st half.
  2. Kent's Avatar
    The Bison kickoff goes into the end zone and is downed. ISU will take over at the 25.
  3. Kent's Avatar
    Neblett with a nice catch on the sidelines for a 10 yard gain to the ISU 35.

    Dunn gets five on the first down play and Neblett gets eight on 2nd down for another ISU first down. At the ISU 48.
  4. Kent's Avatar
    1st & 10 from the ISU 48. Brown gets six on the first down play to the NDSU 47.

    Tyrone Walker with a nice catch & run to the NDSU 20.
  5. Kent's Avatar
    Dunn gets two on a run and Brown overthrows his man on 2nd down.

    But makes good on third down to Dudley to the NDSU 3. Brown with a fake handoff and runs to the left for the Redbird score. PAT is good.

    ISU retake the lead 17-14 with 6:05 left in the opening half.
  6. Kent's Avatar
    Williams returns the kickoff and gets out to the NDSU 27.
  7. Kent's Avatar
    Jensen is sacked for a five yard loss after not seeing anyone down field open.

    Jensen with a qb keeper and gains just enough for the first down of 15 yards to the NDSU 37.
  8. Kent's Avatar
    Delay of game for NDSU back to the NDSU 27.

    Crocket gets 8 on two plays to set up a 3rd & 7 from the NDSU 40. Okland is injured on the last play.
  9. Kent's Avatar
    3rd & 7 from the NDSU 40. Jensen over throws Smith on the pass to set up a punt.
  10. Kent's Avatar
    ISU will take over at their own 26. We have 2:35 left in the opening half.
  11. Kent's Avatar
    Dunn gets three on a screen pass from Brown and a yard on a run to the ISU 30 to set up a 3rd & 6 from there.

    Nevlett gets the first down to the 37.

    And Walker gets 10 on the next play to the 47.
  12. Kent's Avatar
    ISU with a another five yard gain to the NDSU 48. Time out ISU with 43 seconds left.

    2nd & 5. Brown with a short pass to his tight end for just two. ISU uses their 2nd TO.

    3rd & 3 from the NDSU 46. Razzle dazzle play with Brown trowing to Dudley and he throws back to Brown for a five yard loss.

    4th & 8 and ISU is in the punting and ISU downs at the NDSU 13.

    We have just 15 seconds left. Jensen tries to pass to Ojuri. Ojuri gets a yard on the 2nd down play as we go to the half.

    Illinois State 17 North Dakota State 14.
  13. Kent's Avatar
    The score is much higher than I expected for these two defensive minded teams at the half time break. NDSU's defense has not played up their normal steller way up until now--allowing three long scoring drives of 60, 63, and 75 yards. That is not something the Bison have done much of all season long.

    NDSU's offense has sputtered at times but have looked better than the past few weeks.

    So far, no turnovers so this will be key in the second half.

    At the half, here are some stats:

    Time of Possession: ISU 17:11 to NDSU 12:49.
    Total Yards: ISU 240, NDSU 129.
    Total plays: ISU 38, NDSU 23.
    Kickoff Return: NDSU 144, ISU 15.
    Only one penalty, NDSU for five yards.
  14. Kent's Avatar
    Huge second half for the Missouri Valley.

    NDSU is set to kickoff to ISU. This first drive is key in my opinion for both teams. A score and ISU takes control but a three and out and sets NDSU up well.

    The kickoff is into the end zone for a touchback. ISU will start at the 25.
  15. Kent's Avatar
    Tyrone Walker gets the opening reception for 17 so ISU sets the early tone on this drive.
  16. Kent's Avatar
    Brown gets a qb keeper to the NDSU 45.
  17. Kent's Avatar
    Dunn for five to the NDSU 40. Brown gets five more on second down for another Redbird 1st down at the NDSU 35.
  18. Kent's Avatar
    Brown is incomplete on the 1st down play at the 35.

    2nd & 10 at the NDSU 35. Neblett drops the pass and is nearly intercepted.

    3rd & 10 from the NDSU 35. Brown on the qb keeper right up the middle for 5.

    ISU will try a 47 yard field goal from Aussieker and it is good.

    ISU 20 NDSU 14 with 11:12 left in the 3rd qtr.

    That FG attempt tied a career long for Aussieker.
  19. Kent's Avatar
    ISU wil kickoff to NDSU. The return is by Ryan Smith and he gets to the NDSU 40. Smith was one tackle away from returning that one.
  20. Kent's Avatar
    Ojuri takes the opening play for a three yard gain.

    2nd & 7 from the NDSU 43. Pass incomplete to Smith on a great play by the ISU corner.

    3rd & 7. Jensen scrambles for six.

    4th & 1. Option play to Ojuri to the ISU 19.

    Vraa catches the Jensen pass to the ISU 7 for a gain of 12.
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast