And on Saturday, a bevy of defensive acumen propelled the Bison to its fifth – and possibly most impressive – championship performance in a 37-10 win over Jacksonville State.
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There was little rust in senior quarterback Carson Wentz’s game as he returned from a midseason wrist injury, and that played right into North Dakota State’s well-oiled machine.
Wentz, considered a potential first-round pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, took over at quarterback last season after three-year starter Brock Jensen won an FCS-record 48 games and three national championships. The Gamecocks were down 24-0 at halftime, which Jenkins said limited their options in the second half. North Dakota State (Fargo, North Dakota), enrollment: 14,516. North Dakota State’s Chris Klieman is 27-3; Jacksonville State’s John Grass is 23-3.
If the Bison win, Alabama U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers will treat North Dakota U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer and his staff to lunch.
DeLuca and NDSU’s defense held JSU’s offense to 204 total yards and 57 passing yards. The ensuing drive led to another Bison touchdown.
Wentz already had a passing touchdown and a couple of nice drives under his belt midway through the second quarter when the Bison got the ball back off of a handsome interception. “If we played the way we played all season, the outcome of the game would have been different, and we didn’t do that”, Jenkins added, the emotion in his voice growing.
Wentz ran for two touchdowns and threw for another and the Bison defense turned in another playoff gem. “But I love this game so much and I was just so thankful to get an opportunity with these guys and go out the right way”. “Time of possession is huge, and I know we really owned that the first half, which allowed us to get a big lead”.
A 54-yard interception return by Brandon Bender kept the momentum in JSU’s favor, although the Gamecocks got just a field goal out of it. Still, it was 24-10 midway in the third quarter.
“Hat’s off to coach (Matt) Entz and the defensive staff, as well as all these defensive players, because I think we have the best defense in all of FCS football this year without question”.
Jenkins then fumbled the ball away to Bison linebacker M.J. Stumpf at the Jacksonville State 48. I mean, we’re a great offense and I’m proud of our offense the way we played all season, but we just weren’t clicking today.
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“We prepare every day, we win every day, and that’s a formula that wins championships”, said Bison sophomore safety Tre Dempsey.
