NDSU Trounces North Alabama in Victory
In what was expected to be one of the North Dakota State Bison's toughest non-conference matchups of the season, it wasn't long before they pulled away from North Alabama for a seemingly easy 38-7 victory.
The NDSU defense was masterful yet again. They shut down an offense led by a quarterback with roughly 500 yards passing and 5 touchdowns in North Alabama's (2-1) first two games. UNA quarterback Christian Lopez could only muster 53 yards passing on 7 completions in 18 attempts before being replaced by backup Chris Weaver in the third quarter. North Alabama had only 210 total yards and just 108 were from the passing game.
Offensively for the Bison, despite a shaky showing by the offensive line in the first half, they were well in command with a 17-0 lead.
The scoring started in the first quarter after NDSU's James Hendricks recovered a fumble at the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Bruce Anderson gave the Bison a 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown. In the second quarter, Easton Stick found a bit of a rhythm and hit wide receiver Dallas Freeman with a 54-yard pass that would put NDSU at the Lions 18-yard line. On the next play, Stick threw to Darrius Shepherd for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. A 20-yard field goal by Cam Pedersen just before halftime was all the scoring for either team in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Bison had a better showing with the running game and used a 7 play, 65-yard drive to go up 24-0 on a 6-yard touchdown run from Stick.
Jabril Cox added a 43-yard pick six of a pass from Weaver early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-0. On the next Bison possession, Trey Lance scampered for 44-yards to the end zone to make it 38-0. UNA didn't score their only touchdown of the game until there was just 1:34 left in the game to end the scoring at 38-7.
Stick finished 10 of 17 for 162 yards and touchdown passing-wise to go with the 6-yard rushing score.
NDSU moves to 2-0 and will host Delaware next Saturday at 1 p.m.