Final chance to play in FCS title game dream come true for Waege

NDSU defensive end didn’t play in last season’s FCS title game due to injury

By Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson

The Forum Fargo

North Dakota State defensive end Spencer Waege was on the field last January when the Bison earned a ninth NCAA Division I FCS national championship, but not under the circumstances he wanted.

The 6-foot-5, 282-pound Waege was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury he suffered three games into the 2021 (fall) regular season. He decided to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility for a chance to play in one more FCS title game.

“These are games you dream of playing in and being sidelined last year and just having to watch your teammates go out there and playing was kind of hard to sit back knowing that you weren’t going to be able to go out there and help them,” said Waege, from South Shore, N.D. “To be back in this position this year, healthy, is a dream come true.”

The Bison (12-2) play South Dakota State (13-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, for the FCS national championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. NDSU has won nine of the past 11 national titles. Waege played in the 2018 and 2019 championship games.

Waege said rebounding from last year’s injury has made him appreciate this season and a chance to play in another championship game even more.

“Absolutely, especially with this being my senior season,” Waege said.

Waege has 48 tackles and a team-leading nine sacks heading into the title tilt against the rival Jackrabbits. He relishes the chance to play against SDSU’s stellar offensive line that features multiple All-Americans.

“You always want to play the best competition out there and that’s what for sure is going on in this championship game,” Waege said. “Their O-line across the board is really talented.”

Waege said playing for a final time in Frisco feels like a full-circle moment.

The Bison have lost multiple key players to season-ending injuries this fall, including starting offensive linemen Jalen Sundell and Mason Miller, fullback Hunter Luepke, tight end Noah Gindorff and defensive end Jake Kava. Waege can empathize.

“It’s something that I didn’t realize how much it can take on you mentally until I got hurt,” Waege said. “I really feel for them and I try to talk to them and give them advice that I can from when I went through it.”

Marshall, Minn., on both sides of rivalry Terry Bahlmann, the veteran head coach at Marshall High School in southwest Minnesota, can be forgiven if he feels conflicted about Sunday’s title game. He’s got connections to both teams with Bison receiver Bryce Lance (and his older brother Trey Lance for that matter) and SDSU defensive lineman Reece Winkelman.

“He’s a great coach, very old-school approach to football,” Winkelman said. “The type of coach who would say, ‘We didn’t get water back in my day.’ That’s his mindset.”

It’s that type of work ethic that Bahlmann has instilled in Marshall players over the years. In Winkelman’s case, he was encouraged to get into the weight room as soon as fifth grade.

In the case of the title game, Winkelman thinks Marshall is split in the number of Bison and Jackrabbit fans. Marshall is only an hour away from Brookings, S.D., but NDSU is also home to former Marshall standout offensive lineman

Tyler Gimmestad, who was part of three national titles with the Bison. Trey Lance, of course, led NDSU to the 2019 title on his way to becoming the Walter Payton Award winner and a firstround draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

Jerseys of Trey Lance and Winkelman hang next to each other in one of the bars in Marshall.

“I always get pictures of it,” Winkelman said, of people sending him photos. “People on both sides of the spectrum of doing either horns down or bashing the Jackrabbits.”

BISON: Page AA5

Stiegelmeier ‘disappointed’

Luepke can’t play

When NDSU and SDSU played during the regular season, Luepke was in the lineup and rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries and added a 30-yard touchdown catch. The Jackrabbits rallied for a 23-21 victory in mid-October at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The 6-foot-1, 236pound Luepke is out for the championship game with a shoulder injury.

“I’m honestly disappointed for him,” said SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier. “I think he’s a great competitor. I know he’s a great student-athlete.”

Stiegelmeier said NDSU may look to change up some play calling with Luepke — an NFL prospect — unable to play. The Bison may have to lean more on quarterback Cam Miller and their offensive line in the rematch. Miller completed 17 of 22 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns during the regular-season meeting.

“I think there were some plays that were Hunter’s forte,” Stiegelmeier said, “but they’ve got good backs. They’ve got an unbelievable offensive line and tight ends and Cam’s a really good football player.”

Etc. etc. etc.

► NDSU is playing in its 10th FCS national championship game in the are 9-0 in their previous nine title game appearances in Frisco, Texas. NDSU has a 4-0 record against the Jackrabbits in the FCS playoffs. SDSU has won the past three meetings between the teams.

► It will be the 114th meeting between the teams with NDSU leading the series 63-45-5. The Jackrabbits have beaten NDSU five times since 2011 while no other team has beaten the Bison twice.

► The game will not be played for the Dakota Marker, the trophy that was established in 2004. Only regular-season games count toward the Marker.

► SDSU defensive coordinator Jimmy Rogers

2022 FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year. SDSU is first in the FCS in rushing defense allowing 83 yards a game and third in scoring defense at 15.4 points per game.

► Since its first bowl game in 1964, NDSU has won a national championship in 31% of its 54 years of postseason eligibility.

13th straight FCS playoff appearance and SDSU its 11th in a row. Montana has the FCS record with 17 consecutive from 1993-2009. New Hampshire made 14 in a row from 2004-17.

► NDSU is 44-3 in the FCS playoffs and one victory behind Georgia Southern — which has 45 and is now in the FBS — for most playoff wins in the subdivision.