Cease us in case you’ve heard this one earlier than; North Dakota State is one win away from going again to the nationwide championship. As soon as once more the Bison have carried out what they do greatest in December, reeling off a collection of residence wins and now they discover themselves knocking on the door to Texas as soon as extra. Coming into the ring with them on Friday evening is a brand new challenger with one gargantuan process in entrance of them. Incarnate Phrase will attempt to succeed the place numerous others have failed in toppling the mighty Bison within the Fargodome. The one crew that may lay declare to that feat is now not within the subdivision (James Madison). Will the Cardinals lastly rewrite the tortured historical past for guests in Fargo or will NDSU merely add them to the ever-growing listing of failed makes an attempt?

The Fast Hits

North Dakota State (11-2) entered this match because the #3 seed however the chips fell their approach to host each sport up thus far. #7 seed Incarnate Phrase (12-1) is the furthest they’ve ever been within the playoffs after taking down Sacramento State final weekend in absolute thriller of a sport. The Cardinals solely loss this season got here by the hands of Southland foe Southeastern Louisiana whereas NDSU’s two defeats got here to Arizona (FBS) and South Dakota State. The Bison have a staggering 43-3 all time report within the postseason and have solely misplaced one playoff sport at residence of their whole FCS historical past. UIW is new to the semifinal scene however is at the moment fielding the most effective crew its program has ever seen.

The Coaches

Matt Entz has been main the Bison for 4 seasons now and is looking for his third nationwide title since getting promoted to go man in 2018. He has carried the torch handed on by NDSU coaches earlier than him and has carried out it very effectively having strung collectively a formidable 48-6 total report throughout his time in cost. North Dakota State is 11-1 within the playoffs with Entz in command and of all of the coaches left within the playoffs, his trophy case is essentially the most adorned. His groups are persistently outlined by stout protection and a powerful working assault and this yr’s Bison aren’t any totally different.

On the opposite sideline Friday evening can be first-year head coach G.J. Kinne for Incarnate Phrase. Kinne’s run with the Cardinals has been very profitable however that can be why it is going to be short-lived as he’s already accepted a job with Texas State as soon as UIW’s season ends. He received 12 video games with the crew this fall together with this system’s first ever quarterfinal win final weekend. Kinne was named Southland Coach of the 12 months and completed sixth in voting for the Eddie Robinson Award, given yearly to the FCS’ greatest coach.

North Dakota State Offense vs. Incarnate Phrase Protection

It by no means appears to matter who the Bison are lacking; they nonetheless discover a approach to run throughout opposing defenses. Proper now, although, NDSU is with out maybe its largest weapon with All-American fullback Hunter Luepke sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining a shoulder damage. Luekpe, who is predicted to be within the NFL subsequent season, paved the best way for NDSU’s championship run final season and had 621 dashing yards and 9 touchdowns this yr.

Instead of Luepke on the bottom, count on North Dakota State to look to Kobe Johnson and TaMerik Williams. The duo of working backs has been efficient for the Bison all yr with every dashing for over 600 yards and mixing for 13 touchdowns. Two weeks in the past Williams ran for 101 yards and a rating in opposition to Montana whereas Johnson has put up 254 yards and two TDs within the playoffs so far.

Quarterback Cam Miller can even take it himself if wanted. Miller has rushed for 14 touchdowns this season and carried the ball 12 occasions in opposition to Samford every week in the past. He’s equally as efficient as a passer, nevertheless, with 1,710 yards and 11 scores. Though he doesn’t throw the ball fairly as usually, Miller is spot on when he does with a completion proportion of practically 70%.

Stopping the run can be important for Incarnate Phrase’s protection and that may all begin with linebacker Kelechi Anyalebechi. Anyalebechi is tied for ninth within the FCS with 112 complete tackles this yr, 63 of which have been on his personal. He and defensive lineman Parker Steven have mixed for 21 tackles for loss. If UIW finally ends up pulling off the upset, odds are you’ll have the ability to level to those two as a significant motive why.

On the skin, search for NDSU receivers Zach Mathis and Joe Stoffel to get appears when Miller opts to cross. The 2 have been focused essentially the most of any Bison receivers this season and have mixed for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns on 49 receptions.

Incarnate Phrase will counter with a ball-hawking secondary led by DBs Shawn Holton and Elliott Davison. Holton and Davison every have grabbed three interceptions this fall and have come collectively for 71 complete tackles. Between them they’ve 9 PBUs.

Incarnate Phrase Offense vs. North Dakota State Protection

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When quarterback Lindsey Scott has the ball don’t blink as a result of you could very effectively miss one thing. Scott is arguably essentially the most electrical playmaker within the FCS and he’s a scoring risk through the air and the bottom any time he will get a contact. The explosive signal-caller is certainly one of solely two FCS passers to throw for over 4,000 yards this fall and he leads the nation with 59 touchdowns. Final week in opposition to Sac State, Scott slung the ball for 219 yards and 4 touchdowns. He can even do it together with his legs, although, as he’s rushed for 710 yards and 9 scores this yr. All of that’s the reason Scott is a finalist for this season’s Walter Payton Award, an honor given yearly to the FCS’ greatest offensive participant.

One motive Scott’s numbers are so off the charts is his gifted receivers. Taylor Grimes, who caught the game-winner in final week’s contest, has hauled in 76 passes for 1,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s solely certainly one of two Cardinals receivers to have over 1,000 receiving yards this yr, although. Pacing the crew in that class is Darion Chafin with 63 catches for 1,211 yards and 17 scores. When Scott is throwing, odds are it’s certainly one of these two on the receiving finish.

Security Dawson Weber can be NDSU’s greatest protection in opposition to the ultra-powerful passing assault. Weber has snagged a decide in every of the primary two playoff video games and has three complete on the yr. He additionally has pressured three fumbles and registered 5 PBUs. Weber can be joined within the secondary by fellow security Michael Tutsie. On his storied Bison profession, Tutsie has come down with 11 interceptions and has authored 313 complete tackles. The pair may have a tall order in opposition to UIW’s standout receivers and can play pivotal roles in slowing down Scott and firm.

When it isn’t Scott working the ball it possible can be Marcus Cooper. Cooper and Scott had been the one two to register carries final weekend and each ran it very successfully. Cooper has gathered 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns on the bottom this fall. He rumbled everywhere in the area in opposition to Sacramento State final week for 176 yards and two finish zone journeys. Cooper now has six video games beneath his belt this yr by which he’s hit the century mark.

NDSU linebackers James Kaczor and Nick Kubitz can be tasked with slowing down Cooper. Kaczor leads the crew in tackles (81, 45 solo) whereas Kubitz is correct behind him with 58 stops (26 solo). Additionally enjoying an enormous function in stopping the run can be senior defensive finish Spencer Waege. Waege has eight sacks this yr in addition to 15.5 tackles for loss.

The Particular Groups

UIW doesn’t discover itself kicking area targets all that always with the quantity of touchdowns they rating. After they do must strive for 3, although, kicker Carson Mohr is the one which handles that obligation. Mohr is 7-for-9 (77.8%) on his area purpose tries this yr together with his longest coming from 38 yards (his profession greatest is from 48). He’s tried a whopping 89 PATs this fall and has linked on 87 of them.

Mohr received’t do the kickoffs, nevertheless. That job will fall upon Tony Sterner who has simply as sturdy of a leg. Sterner has booted 39 kicks by the top zone for touchbacks this yr. That can be large in conserving the ball away from NDSU’s RaJa Nelson who averages 19.1 yards per runback. When the Cardinals must punt they’ll look to Keven Nguyen who averages 40.7 yards per punt.

Within the return sport Incarnate Phrase’s Kole Wilson is dynamite on punts with two run again for touchdowns this yr. Dekalon Taylor and Ce’Cori Tolds will take kickoffs. Every has 10 returns this fall with a mean of over 18 yards per runback. Wilson may additionally strive his hand at kickoff returns as he has eight on the season.

North Dakota State kicker Griffin Crosa has solely missed one area purpose all yr (8-of-9, 88.9%) and is an ideal 61-of-61 on PATs. The longest make of his profession got here from 46. Will Cardinal will take kickoff duties for the Bison. He has 30 touchbacks this yr however has kicked 4 out of bounds. Kaedin Steindorf has punted 39 occasions with a mean of 38.7 yards per boot. He has pinned opponents contained in the 20-yard line 17 occasions this yr and solely has three touchbacks.

The aforementioned Nelson will take kickoffs as will Johnson. Jayden Worth will area punts and is harmful with the ball in his palms. He’s taken one to the home and has practically 200 punt return yards beneath his belt this season.

Prediction

This sport goes to return all the way down to how effectively NDSU can keep on with their bread and butter: chewing up as a lot time as doable on lengthy, sustained drives. That’s a straightforward factor to do whenever you’re enjoying groups like Western Illinois and Drake. It’s a complete totally different problem in opposition to a gaggle like UIW however the Bison might want to discover a manner as a result of the most effective protection is conserving the ball out of Scott’s palms. They held possession for practically 40 minutes in opposition to Samford final weekend and it looks like they want to do this once more this day trip. The Cardinals have the firepower to stick with and even beat NDSU however profitable in Fargo is a complete lot simpler mentioned than carried out. There’s a motive just one crew has carried out it in December since North Dakota State grew to become an FCS program. It’s a idiot’s endeavor to select in opposition to the Bison at residence within the playoffs.

Rating: Incarnate Phrase: 31 – North Dakota State: 35

The sport will kick off at 7:00 PM (ET) on ESPN2.