Bison defense got challenged this week by coaching staff

By Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson

The Forum

Fargo

North Dakota State went into the Missouri State game last week with the best scoring defense in Division I FCS football and a swagger about it. The Bison, after all, didn’t let two of their three previous opponents inside the 20-yard line.

If there is such a thing as a football brick wall, that was it.

The defense, however, left the 27-20 Missouri State victory with a warning from the Bison head coach. The focus and effort in practice during the week wasn’t up to snuff.

“Thursday I thought we had defensively an average practice,” Matt Entz said. “I don’t want to say bad but it was average for what our standard is so it was probably once-in-a-career moves.”

That move was for last Friday’s practice to be held in helmets and football gear, instead of a traditional walkthrough with sweats.

“Try to rectify it a little bit or to gain some people’s attention,” Entz said. “I think it worked but again, if you want to start fast, you need to start fast on Monday and can’t wait until Thursday.”

The Bison started slow against the Bears, allowing a field goal and touchdown on MSU’s first two possessions. The TD was a 61-yard drive that took only three plays and it was 10-0.

Asked at his Monday press conference how to rectify it this week with Indiana State coming to Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome and Entz said he put the onus on himself. The Bison were giving up just 7.3 points per game heading into the Bears game and are still leading the FCS at 9.0 per game. Montana State is second at 10.4 points. The leader in all of Division I football is Georgia at 6.6 points a game.

“I’m going to challenge the guys and probably get after them a little bit this week,” he said. “Sometimes the truth hurts and that’s my job as the head football coach to make sure that I can be transparent and give them the information that they need.”

Sycamores coming off balanced effort

Indiana State senior running back Peterson Kerlegrand rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts in a 28-17 home victory against Youngstown State last weekend. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Kerlegrand has rushed for 624 yards and five touchdowns on 130 attempts through eight games.

The Sycamores gained 402 yards on 65 plays against the Penguins.

ISU quarterback Anthony Thompson completed 13 of 21 passes for 156 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

“The thing that helped us offensively is we’ve been more balanced,” ISU head coach Curt Mallory said. “I think it was a combination of having everything to work together.”

The Sycamores (4-4, 2-3 MVFC) have three games remaining in the regular

ISU prepares for both Bison QBs

Mallory said the Sycamores prepared for both NDSU quarterbacks this week. Quincy Patterson started the first seven games for the Bison this season, but Cam Miller came on in relief of Patterson last weekend. Miller threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rally NDSU to victory.

Miller’s 24-yard TD pass to receiver Christian Watson in the fourth quarter was the difference in a 27-20 victory against Missouri State. Miller completed 7 of 9 passes against the Bears for 112 yards and the two scores.

“Any time you see two different quarterbacks, you’re certainly going to have to prepare for both,” Mallory said. “You don’t want to go in saying we’re just going to prepare for one. They’re both very good. They’re both different.” season, making Saturday’s game paramount for ISU if it hopes to make a postseason push.

“It’s a big challenge,” Mallory said. “It’s pivotal and it just happens to be playing against in my opinion the No. 1-ranked team in the country. ... We’ve got a lot to play for.”

The Bison and the Sycamores haven’t played since 2017 due to the MVFC scheduling rotation. ISU hasn’t played in the Fargodome since 2016. NDSU has five consecutive games in the series.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Mallory said. “I don’t know if I have anyone that’s ever been there (Fargo) because we haven’t been on each other’s schedule for the last two years.”

Patterson was listed No. 1 on the Bison depth chart at quarterback earlier this week. The 6-foot-3, 246-pound Patterson has completed 55 of 101 passes for 813 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions through seven games. He’s also rushed for 422 yards and six touchdowns on 79 attempts.

Odds and ends

► The Bison defense had five quarterback sacks for the third straight game last week. The Bison lead the Missouri Valley in that category at 3.86 per game, which also ranks them fifth in the FCS.

► Christian Watson leads the Bison in receiving with 22 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns. “He’s a playmaker and (when) the ball is up in the air, he’s going to get it,” Mallory said. “You’ve got to do a great job of covering him and knowing where he’s at at all times.”