NDSU’s win at Montana State similar to the 2010 drama at Eastern Washington

BOZEMAN, Mont. — For one of the few times at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, the noise was turned off, mainly because the 17,000-plus fans had left. Most of them wore Montana State colors and they filtered out in disbelief.

Nick Goeser was on his cell phone outside the visiting locker room, and perhaps the veteran North Dakota State assistant coach was in disbelief also. But he’s also seen a similar scenario in the second round of the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.

Only this time the script flipped.

NDSU outlasted the Bobcats 35-34 thanks to a blocked extra point in overtime. It was late afternoon with an early evening feel to it, the temperature was in the 30s and dropping. The heat of the moment, however, was boiling.

The only element missing in comparing it to NDSU’s 2010 second-round game at Eastern Washington was a red artificial turf field snow falling in the second half. Oh, and the outcome.

“This time we ended up on the good side of things,” Goeser said. “A game that came down to the wire and two very competitive teams. It’s going to go down as one of my more memorable games in NDSU history.”

So was the Eastern Washington game, which came in Goeser’s first year at NDSU. The Eagles defeated NDSU 38-31 in overtime when a controversial fumble call near the goal line went against the Bison. Quarterback Brock Jensen was not ruled down when the ball squirted out of his hands and the ball was recovered by the Eagles ending the game.

Video replay probably dictated otherwise.

“It’s something I’ll never forget,” Goeser said.

That said, that playoff run — NDSU’s first foray into the FCS postseason — was the starter to a program that eventually won nine national championships in 11 years. Jensen went on to be the QB leader of three titles.

“That was one of the times where it propelled us into understanding that we can play at this national level,” Goeser said. “We can play with the big boys.”

Eastern Washington went on to win the national title in 2010. The Bison returned the following season and won their first trophy defeating Sam Houston State in Frisco, Texas. The train is still going, although this season has seen similarities to the 2010 team in terms of an inconsistent regular season.

The Bison defeated Montana State 42-17 in the second round that year, although the score wasn’t indicative of the game. The Bobcats led 17-14 going into the fourth quarter before NDSU unleashed a relentless ground game.

Bison quarterbacks Jensen and Jose Mohler were a combined 5 of 19 passing for 56 yards. On Saturday, Cam Miller and Cole Payton were a combined 6 of 14 for 78 yards. But NDSU backs collected 296 yards rushing, including TaMerik Williams who rushed for a career-high 162 yards and two long touchdown runs.

It wasn’t the output D.J. McNorton leveled on MSU in 2010 with 207 yards and four touchdowns, but it had a similar feel to it.

“Anytime you play playoff football, it just gets cranked up a whole another notch,” Goeser said. “You know every week you’re going to play a good opponent and you have to bring your ‘A’ game. Just know it’s going to come down to the end and you better be ready to go.”

Ironically, also, NDSU was on the other side of a crucial video replay in the MSU second round game. Whereas the Jensen ruling was debatable, Montana State running back Scottre Humphrey was given a first down on a fourth-and-2 play on the last play of the third quarter.

The Bobcats were leading 28-21 and marching with Humphrey’s carry reaching the Bison 36-yard line. A video review between quarters, however, ruled Humphrey was down a half yard short of the first down.

The Bison took over on downs to hang close. Eventually NDSU scored on a 29-yard run by TK Marshall and the game was tied at 28-28. It was the third video replay ruling that played a key factor in a game for the Bobcats this season.

A last-second touchdown pass at South Dakota State was reversed in the booth, giving the Jackrabbits the win. A review in a 24-21 loss at Idaho also played into that defeat.

NDSU advances to a quarterfinal game at the University of South Dakota at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, which will be televised nationally by ABC, including locally on WDAY-TV. The play of note was a blocked extra point by NDSU offensive lineman Hunter Poncius, who was inserted into the defensive field goal block team earlier that week.

Goeser credits NDSU defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps for working the scheme to perfection.

“He did a great job scouting the opponent and knew exactly what we wanted to do,” Goeser said. “And Poncius came up with a big play for us.”

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he’s covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU’s Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: “Horns Up,” “North Dakota Tough” and “Covid Kids.” He is the radio host of “The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack” April through August.