Reusse: Bryce Lance’s ‘famous’ catch propels North Dakota State into FCS title game against No. 1 Montana State

Quarterback Trey Lance and the North Dakota State Bison became the first team in modern college football history to go 16-0 when they defeated James Madison 28-20 in the FCS title game in January 2020.

The decisive touchdown was a 44-yard run by Lance; not surprising as he had 30 rushes for 166 yards, and only passed 10 times. Asked to explain the strategy, offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl said a team that has the best player in FCS should keep the football in his hands.

Roehl and head coach Matt Entz did not employ a similar strategy when receiver Bryce Lance, Trey’s younger brother, arrived in Fargo as a freshman in 2021. He was redshirted that season, mostly played special teams without catching a pass in 2022, and had one reception for 7 yards in 2023.

Entz took a job in December 2023 as assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Southern California. Last month, Entz was hired as the head coach at Fresno State. Roehl was hired as assistant head coach and running backs coach at Iowa State.

Clearly, Entz and Roehl have landed on their feet after leaving NDSU, while Bryce Lance was landing with one foot momentarily inside the end zone to put the Bison back in Frisco, Texas, for Monday’s FCS title game vs. Montana State.

Tim Polasek was hired as Entz’s replacement in mid-December. Six weeks later, he brought in Jake Landry from St. Thomas as the offensive coordinator.

“The top two wide receivers from 2023 were gone and we needed some guys to step up,” Landry said. “Bryce is 6-foot-3, over 200 pounds and fast. He was long and explosive.

“He had one catch for seven yards here, but he showed in the spring he probably could be a ‘guy’ for us. We started the season at Colorado; the player who won the Heisman Trophy [Travis Hunter] was in the secondary. Bryce had three catches.