North Dakota
FCS Playoffs Semifinal Preview & Prediction: No. 3 South Dakota State at No. 2 North Dakota State
No. 3 South Dakota State travels to No. 2 North Dakota State in the semifinals of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ABC. The Bison defeated the Jackrabbits 13-9 in Week 8.
The winner will advance to the FCS National Championship game, where they will face the winner of No. 4 South Dakota at No. 1 Montana State.
2024 FCS Playoff Bracket
2024 Prediction Record: 174-45
2022-23 Record: 207-75
Kickoff: 11:00 a.m. CT (ABC)
Line: South Dakota State (-3)
Series History: North Dakota State leads 64-47-5
Key Players: North Dakota State
Cam Miller (QB): 226-for-310 (72.9%), 2,873 Passing Yards, 28 Passing TDs, 4 INTs, 417 Rushing Yards, 9 Rushing TDs
CharMar Brown (RB): 216 Carries, 1,081 Rushing Yards, 5.0 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs
Bryce Lance (WR): 60 Receptions, 839 Receiving Yards, 13.98 YPC, 13 Receiving TDs
Logan Kopp (LB): 59 Total Tackles, 6 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 3 INTs, 6 PBUs, 1 FF
Eli Mostaert (DL): 53 Total Tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6 Sacks, 4 QBHs
Key Players: South Dakota State
Mark Gronowski (QB): 192-for-312 (61.5%), 2,515 Passing Yards, 22 Passing TDs, 7 INTs, 330 Rushing Yards, 9 Rushing TDs
Amar Johnson (RB): 178 Carries, 1,145 Rushing Yards, 6.4 YPC, 13 Rushing TDs
Griffin Wilde (WR): 66 Receptions, 1,081 Receiving Yards, 16.4 YPC, 12 Receiving TDs
Adam Bock (LB): 94 Total Tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 2 INTs, 4 QBHs, 1 FR
Tucker Large (DB): 30 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 1 FR
The stage is set for another epic battle in one of the most storied rivalries in FCS football. North Dakota State ended a five-game losing streak to South Dakota State earlier this season, but a trip to the FCS national championship is on the line this weekend.
South Dakota State’s defense continues to impress, holding opponents to 4.5 yards per play and only 2.9 yards per carry. The Jackrabbits are led by one of the best linebacker duos in the nation: Adam Bock and Caleb Francl. The defensive line has improved throughout the season, helping the Jackrabbits force a negative play on almost 10% of all defensive snaps. In the first matchup, South Dakota State failed to generate much pressure on Miller and only recorded two tackles for loss. It will be important for the Jackrabbits to keep the North Dakota State offense behind the chains.
North Dakota State could not find any consistency on the ground, but Cam Miller delivered in the biggest moments of the first matchup. He led a 92-yard game-winning touchdown drive and connected with RaJa Nelson for two key touchdowns. The Jackrabbits will have to find a way to make Miller uncomfortable in the pocket and limit his ability to make plays outside the pocket. Miller has completed 72.9% of his passes and ranks No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency.
The inefficiency of South Dakota State’s passing attack was one of the biggest differences in October’s matchup. The Jackrabbits have found their rhythm through the air, passing for 200 or more yards in three of their past four games. In the past three games, Mark Gronowski has thrown for over 500 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Bison must limit wide receiver Griffin Wilde, who has recorded 181 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the first two playoff games.
The Bison defensive line made a massive impact in the first game, generating pressure on over 40% of dropbacks. North Dakota State’s pressure impacted Gronowski’s ability to push the ball downfield, which is something to watch this weekend. The trend has continued for the Bison, who enter this weekend with the highest pressure rate in the postseason. Defensive tackle Eli Mostaert leads the Bison with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
This game may be decided by which team can establish the run, which will be a challenge for both offenses. North Dakota State’s CharMar Brown has been a workhorse for the Bison, leading the team with 1,081 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. South Dakota State enters the game with a more explosive rushing attack, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Amar Johnson leads the Jackrabbits with 1,145 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, but freshman Kirby Vorhees could be a player to watch due to his physical running style.
In the first matchup, I picked the Bison because they appeared to have all the momentum. However, things have changed, as the Jackrabbits have continued to improve down the stretch and seem to be playing their best football. The improvement of the passing attack and explosiveness of the offense will be the difference here as Mark Gronowksi leads the Jackrabbits to their third consecutive national championship appearance.
Prediction: South Dakota State (27-24)
Behind The Numbers: 2024 FCS Playoffs Semifinals Preview
2025 FBS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FBS Football Transfer Tracker
2024 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores
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North Dakota
North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9
BRECKENRIDGE — Coaches, teammates, friends and family gathered in the south parking lot of Breckenridge High School for another state tournament sendoff.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
This year, it was Troy Berndt taking the ceremonial convertible ride. He is headed to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet on June 4-6.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
He will be running in the third heat of the 400-meter prelims, scheduled for 4:52 p.m. June 4. There are seven athletes in each heat, 21 total, and nine will advance to the finals at 6:20 p.m. June 5.
The top two finishers in each heat advance, along with the next three best times. Berndt’s personal best time of 50.67 has him seeded 13th, but the 10th-, 11th- and 12th-seeded runners are less than five hundredths of a second ahead of him. The eighth- and ninth-seeded runners are also close, at 50.33 and 50.39, respectively.
Berndt dropped nearly seven-tenths of a second from his previous personal best at the Section 6A West Subsection Meet on May 21, running 51.35, and shaved another 0.68 seconds off at the Section 6A Championships on May 28 with a time of 50.67. If he keeps lowering his time, he will have a shot at reaching the podium against the best runners in Class A.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
Results and photos will be available online immediately following the race June 4 and in the June 10 print edition of the Wahpeton Daily News.
Corbin Lee is a sports reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Corbin can be reached by calling (701) 291-3551 or emailing corbin.lee@wahpetondailynews.com.
On this day in 1971, Rugby repeated as North Dakota’s high school sand greens golf champion behind medalist Dwight Stempson’s winning performance.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Rugby Repeats As Sand Greens Golf Champion
RUGBY, N. D. — Rugby repeated as North Dakota high school sand greens golf champion here Wednesday, posting a four-man total of 293 strokes for 18 holes.
Led by medalist Dwight Stempson’s medalist 36-35 — 71, the Panthers were eight strokes ahead of runnerup Stanley, which had a 301. Following were Garrison 311, Beulah 315, Leeds 322, Ashley 323, Bottineau 328, Pembina 329, Tioga 332, Parshall 341 and Hettinger 342.
Stempson and teammate Bruce Carlson each had one-under par 71s, but Carlson was unable to be at the regional and wasn’t qualified for individual honors.
Rounding out the Rugby totals were Delwin Wilson 40-37 — 77 and Dennett Hutchinson 35-39 — 74. Gary Kirchoffner, 41-39 — 80, was Rugby’s fifth entrant with the best four-of-five scores counted.
Runnerup Stanley was led by Steve Springan’s 34-38 — 72 and Joe Springan’s 36-38 — 74. Their two-man total of 146 strokes was good enough for the doubles title. Two strokes back with a 148 was the duo of Stempson and Wilson. Stan Saathoff and Mike Stepina of Garrison each had 76s for a 152 total and the Ashley combo of Steve Maier (76) and Dave Kretschmar (78) was fourth with a 154.
Stempson was the driving contest winner with a distance of 280 yards. Chris Knutson of Garrison headed the pitch and putt competition.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.
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