South Dakota

Bison RB Williams hoping to again find ‘extra gear’ against South Dakota in FCS quarterfinals

Published

7 months ago

December 5, 2023

Bison RB Williams hoping to again find ‘extra gear’ against South Dakota in FCS quarterfinals

FARGO — North Dakota State running back TaMerik Williams flashed his big-play ability last weekend at Montana State with two long touchdown runs in a dramatic overtime victory in the second round of the Division I FCS playoffs.

The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Williams had scoring runs of 44 and 75 yards in a 35-34 victory against the No. 6-seeded Bobcats.

“Everybody wants to label me as a power back,” said Williams, from Angleton, Texas. “I think I’m pretty well balanced. I think I do everything really well as far as pass protection and being able to hit that extra gear to take it to the house.”

The Bison (10-3) are hoping Williams can hit that extra gear this weekend. NDSU plays No. 3-seeded South Dakota (10-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the FCS quarterfinals at the DakotaDome. The game is a rematch.

North Dakota State’s TaMerik Williams breaks free on a 44-yard touchdown run against Montana State during the NCAA FCS playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.

David Samson/The Forum

The Coyotes scored a 24-19 victory at the Fargodome during the regular season. South Dakota limited the Bison to 189 rushing yards on 40 attempts in that game. NDSU is averaging 244.7 rushing yards per game — good for No. 4 in the FCS — heading into Saturday.

“Any opponent that we play is going to be a different challenge because we know we’re going to get their best shot,” Williams said.

The senior gave his best shot against the Bobcats. Williams rushed for a career-high 162 yards and the two scores on 11 attempts. It marked the first time this season the Bison had a true running back reach 100 rushing yards in a game.

“It was only a matter of time,” Williams said. “I’ve always been a patient guy. I don’t question anything that happens in life. I will always be ready for the opportunity and whenever it presents itself, I was good to go.”

120523.S.FF.NDSUWilliams — North Dakota State’s TaMerik Williams runs past Montana State’s Blake Stillwell for a 75- yard touchdown to open the second half during the NCAA FCS playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.

Williams moved into the team lead in rushing after last weekend’s performance. He’s rushed for 657 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 attempts through 13 games.

Bison quarterback Cam Miller is second, rushing for 640 yards and 12 touchdowns in 122 carries. Backup QB Cole Payton has rushed for 508 yards and 10 TDs on 71 attempts.

Williams credited the Bison offensive line — often referred to as the ‘rams’ — for his big game at Bobcat Stadium.

“The preparation part, I just tried to keep it as normal as possible,” Williams said. “I’m a big routine guy. I try to be as consistent with everything that I do every week, leading up to that game. … I felt like we were getting a lot of movement up front. The rams were doing a great job, the tight ends were doing a great job.”

Williams scored on a 44-yard TD run that gave the Bison a 14-7 lead with 4 minutes, 7 seconds to play in the second quarter against Montana State. He added his 75-yard scoring burst for a 21-14 lead on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.

“He’s a big kid that can run,” said Bison head coach Matt Entz. “He was able to outrun their defense and two huge runs during the course of the game. He ran hard. We need that out of our veteran players.”

Both plays had a similar look. Williams angled through a seam off tackle before racing past a Bobcats defender on his way to the end zone.

“I know I have the ability, the talent and everything else,” said Williams, an SMU transfer in his third year with the Bison. “Once I caught the seam, I was just able to make a big play. … I’ve always prided myself on being able to have an extra gear. I feel a lot of people don’t really know that about myself.”

TK Marshall added to the big day for the Bison running backs with a 29-yard TD run that tied the scored at 28-28 with 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. That forced overtime. NDSU rushed for 296 yards on 43 attempts.

“We all contribute to the running game in a different way,” Williams said. “It’s special when you can find those different moments in the game for each of us to contribute at the right moment. It’s a matter of all of us just feeding off each other.”

The Coyotes have been stingy all season. They have one of the top scoring defenses in the FCS, limiting opponents to 15.4 points per game. South Dakota limited Williams to 19 yards on seven attempts during the regular-season matchup.

“They’re a great team,” Williams said. “I think their D-line is very solid.”

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Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.

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South Dakota

Sioux City and McCook Lake clean-up underway

Published

6 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Sioux City and McCook Lake clean-up underway

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KELO) — We have an update in North Sioux City.

In a news release from the city, power has been restored to Suncoast Drive and temporary roads have been completed. No access order remains in effect on Northshore Drive and Penrose Drive.

Power is also being worked on so people can light their homes in the McCook Lake area, while the lake itself is to remain closed as per GFP regulation.

Temporary gas services are expected to light residents by the end of June 30.

Penrose Drive is working on temporary sewage replacements.

To read the full press release, click here.

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South Dakota

Eight students receive Hagen-Harvey Scholarships

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Eight students receive Hagen-Harvey Scholarships

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Education announced that Eight students have received Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarships.

The scholarships provide up to $6,000 over four years to members of American Indian Tribes to pursue a college education at an accredited institution in South Dakota.

The scholarship program is funded by the estate of Minerva Harvey, in memory of Richard Hagen, who was a state legislator from Pine Ridge.

Scholarship recipients for the 2024-25 school year include:

Linkin Ballard, Caputa
Kira Dermatis, Edgemont
Alejandra Juarez, Fort Pierre
Makana Little Sky, Porcupine
Nevaeh Morgan , Armour
Alexander Poitra, Sioux Falls
Hannah Tronvold, Lake Andes
Caleb Zephier, Pickstown.

You can learn more about the scholarship here.

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South Dakota

Sharks take final bite out off Storm’s playoff hopes

Published

20 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Sharks take final bite out off Storm’s playoff hopes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A year that is on it’s way toward becoming the worst season in the 24-year history of the Sioux Falls Storm officially saw it’s faint playoff hopes extinguished by the team that entered the game with, ironically, the worst record in the Indoor Football League.

The Jacksonville Sharks scored nine points in the fourth quarter to upend the Storm 36-28 and officially eliminated them from IFL playoff contention on Saturday night at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

It might be the lowest point of the season for a Sioux Falls (3-10) who, having won May 18th 52-42 at Jacksonville (3-10), knew they needed a victory tonight against the Sharks at home to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, and instead join them with what now is the second-worst record in IFL (only Tucson and Duke City are worse in the Western Conference with 2-11 marks).

Things got off to a wild start even before kickoff when EVERY player on each team was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty due to a pregame altercation.

The start of the game would see the teams trading touchdowns with Sioux Falls starting a new quarterback for the first time in seven games. Louisiana-Monroe alum Jiya Wright replaced Lorenzo Brown and led the Storm to touchdowns on their first three drives to help them open up a 21-13 lead.

The Sharks proved just as efficient with touchdowns on their first three drives too and, when the Storm failed to convert a fourth and six, Jacksonville made it 4-4 on opening drives when Kaleb Barker hit DJ Stubbs with for an eight yard touchdown with 11 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Sharks a 27-21 halftime lead.

Surprisingly the game would turn into a defensive battle in the second half thanks to several long, clock-eating drives. Sioux Falls started things by blocking a Jacksonville field goal following a 5:06 minute opening drive. Sioux Falls took advantage with a ten play, 45-yard drive that chewed up 5:30 of game time and was capped off with a Wright to Kentrez Bell four-yard touchdown pass that put the Storm in front 28-27.

Jacksonville’s next possession stretched between the end of the third quarter and into the fourth and would end when Kaleb Barker was sacked on fourth down at the Storm 15 by Dajon Emery and fumbled into the waiting arms of Logan Swanson.

The Storm failed to get any points, though, when Sarris missed a 31-yard field goal. The Sharks marched down field 45 yards in 5:50 and went back in front when, on 4th and 3, Barker connected with Jaedon Stoshak for an 18-yard touchdown. To make matters worse for the Storm on the ensuing kickoff Kevin DiDio-Weber was able to boot it through the uprights for a “deuce” (additional two points) which upped the Sharks lead to 34-28.

Starting at their own five Sioux Falls drove down to the Jacksonville four only to see Wright stuffed on a 4th down and 1 run. The Sharks took over and ran out the clock.

In his debut Wright went 12-18 passing for 146 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 9 times for 22 yards and a score. Lorenzo Thompson hauled in five passes for 51 yards while Bell and Draysean Hudson each caught touchdowns.

The Storm visit Quad City next Saturday at 7:05 PM.

Click on the video viewer for tonight’s highlights.

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