North Dakota State absolutely stomped Jacksonville State 33-7 on Saturday, officially kicking off their first season as a Division I-FBS program with a massive statement win. After years of dominating the FCS ranks, the Bison just rolled into the big leagues and didn’t miss a beat. They finished the game with a ridiculous 26 unanswered points, letting everyone know they mean business right from the jump.
New Kids On The Block, Same Old Punch
Seriously, this team played like they’d been here forever, not like it was their very first FBS game. Quarterback Nathan Hayes looked sharp, completing 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, though he did throw one pick. He hooked up with tight end Reis Kessel for a six-yard score to open NDSU’s first drive as an FBS member. Jacksonville State tried to counter with their own touchdown, but that was pretty much the end of their fun. Hayes later found wide receiver Jordan McCants for a huge 44-yard touchdown pass, showing off some serious big-play ability. The ground game was churning too, with Myles Mitchell picking up 74 yards on 11 carries, Nyeoti Punni adding 60 yards on 8 carries, and DJ Scott chipping in 51 yards on 13 carries. Kicker Drew Klein was money, drilling four field goals from 34, 44, 42, and 48 yards over the second through fourth quarters. It just felt like a complete team effort.
Defense Locked It Down When It Mattered
While the offense was putting points on the board, the NDSU defense was just stifling. These guys were flying all over the field, and the stats prove it. Linebacker Donovan Woolen led the charge with 10 tackles, seven of them solo. Defensive end Kelton McCaslin got in there with 1.5 sacks, and defensive end Blake Schlitz snagged one sack himself. But Schlitz wasn’t done there: he recovered a fumble in the end zone after a bad snap and took it in for a defensive touchdown! Talk about making an impact! Cornerback Marion Moore also grabbed an interception, putting a cherry on top of a truly dominant defensive performance. It was that kind of lockdown play that allowed the Bison to hang those 26 unanswered points on the board and run away with the win. Remember, this is a program that won ten Division I-FCS national championships over 14 years. It was probably time for them to move up, and they’ve started this new chapter on a fantastic note.
Next up, NDSU is hosting Division I-FBS Fordham this coming Saturday, Sept. 5. Then it’s straight into Mountain West play with their first conference game at Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 12. If this debut is any indication, the Mountain West has a serious contender on its hands. You gotta wonder if this is just the beginning of another dominant run, this time on a much bigger stage. Get ready, Mountain West, the Bison are here!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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