Marques Sigle gives Bison physical presence at cornerback

By Eric Peterson and Jeff Kolpack The Forum

Fargo

North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz said cornerback Marques Sigle brings a physical element to that position group, a quality Sigle in part developed in a different sport.

“It helped with wrestling, just being more physical,” said Sigle, who wrestled up until his sophomore year in high school. “I feel that definitely helped.”

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Sigle has been a regular for the Bison in a deep cornerback rotation that also includes seniors Destin Talbert and Jayden Price and junior Courtney Eubanks. The Bison next play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Western Illinois in Missouri Valley Football Conference play.

Sigle is ninth on the team with 20 tackles heading into the game against the Leathernecks.

“The thing that Marques has is he’s a little bit bigger than probably some of the corners we’ve had,” Entz said. “He has some length to him, but he’s put together. A guy that probably as he continues to develop, might be one of those players that can fill more roles than just corner.”

Sigle has a sack, interception, two pass breakups, three passes defended and a forced fumble through eight games.

“He’s very physical,” Entz said. “He gets his hands on you, he can really reroute some players, very disruptive on releases with wide receivers and he’s an excellent tackler.”

A sophomore from Omaha, Neb., Sigle said he’s gaining more confidence in his third season in the program. He likes the depth the Bison have at CB.

“We all rotate,” Sigle said. “We’re trying to figure out who’s the best out there. In certain situations, they want certain guys. ... It’s definitely good to have that depth so when anybody is out there, you know they’re going to make a play when it’s coming to them.” Sigle said players like Talbert and veteran safeties

Michael Tutsie and Dawson Weber are among the teammates who have helped in his development. “DT, just with confidence,” Sigle said of Talbert. “Owning your role and taking full advantage when you get the opportunity.”

Kobe doesn’t miss a beat in his return to the lineup

Bison running back Kobe Johnson left no doubt last week that when he returned from a sprained ankle, he

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From Page F4 was ready to roll. The senior running back, who has a year of eligibility remaining but has yet to declare his intention next season, ran hard and broke a few tackles in the win over Illinois State.

“After Saturday, I can honestly say I’m back in the routine,” Johnson said.

It did, however, take a few snaps to get back into it, he said.

“The game was moving pretty fast for a couple carries,” Johnson said. “So for it to slow down as the game went on was big for me. So I feel like I’m still in that stride pushing on to the next game.”

Johnson was hurt in the Youngstown State game and missed the next two games at Indiana State and at home against South Dakota State. The Bison had a bye week before the Redbirds game, giving him another week of rest.

“It looked like he didn’t miss a beat,” Entz said. “I was really excited for Kobe. You’re always concerned with a high ankle sprain and that it’s going to take time. You feel like guys start running around like they have a peg leg. I didn’t see that at all. Those were some hard yards he was getting.”

Before the injury, Entz had said on a few occasions that Johnson was running as hard as he ever had in his career, which started as a true freshman in 2019 when he was named to the Valley’s All-Newcomer Team. Of note, Entz was impressed how Johnson avoided a tackle for lost yardage against ISU.

“He was able to elude the TFL and gain some positive yards, a big carry for us,” he said. “And being voted a captain, I think that meant

“After Saturday, I can honestly say I’m back in the routine. The game was moving pretty fast for a couple carries. So for it to slow down as the game went on was big for me. So I feel like I’m still in that stride pushing on to the next game.”

NORTH DAKOTA STATE’S KOBE JOHNSON lit that fire where he said I have to be at the forefront and be the best version of myself every week.”

It’s been struggle for Leathernecks

It’s been a tough year for the 0-8 Leathernecks this season and never was that more evident than last week. Being a young team with a first-year head coach (Myers but injuries are another. WIU had 52 inactive players out of a roster of 114 players last week against Missouri State, according to Wyatt Wheeler, who covers MSU for the Springfield News-Leader.

The Bears led 42-7 at halftime on way to a 64-14 win. It came one week after a deflating 28-27 WIU loss at home to Youngstown State, one where the Penguins last 2 minutes, 30 seconds of the game, including a game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired. The Leathernecks, however, have had a couple of bright spots.

Receiver Naseim Brantley is tied for fifth in the FCS in receiving touchdowns with nine and is 15th in receiving yards averaging 92.8 a game. The Leathernecks are also second in the FCS in fewest penalty yards this season with 249. Etc. etc. etc.

► The Missouri Valley may only have two teams ranked in the FCS coaches poll and three in the Stats Perform top has nine teams ranked in the top 34 of the Sagarin football ratings, which includes five of the top 18, and four in the top 12. The same nine MVFC schools rank in the Top 37 of the Massey FCS computer rankings.

► NDSU leads the series with Western Illinois 9-2, including the last seven in a row. Both of the Leatherneck wins came at the Fargodome while NDSU is 6-0 at Hanson Field.

► Bison senior Jayden Price remains tied for second on the school’s career record for punt return for touchdowns with three. Richard Lewis has the record of four in his two years at NDSU in 2000-01.