Bison shake off mistake-marred 1st half, power past South Dakota

VERMILLION, S.D. — North Dakota State had three turnovers within the first half and gave up 14 factors within the last minute of the second quarter that led to a seven-point halftime deficit Saturday afternoon on the DakotaDome.

The Bison responded by scoring touchdowns on their first two drives within the second half to rally for a 34-17 victory towards the Coyotes within the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention opener for each groups earlier than 6,530 followers. NDSU leaned on its energy again Hunter Luepke to take over within the last two quarters.

“We received bored with getting in our personal means and began taking part in Bison soccer,” NDSU head coach Matt Entz mentioned.

NDSU (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) bounced again from a 31-28 loss on the College of Arizona final weekend. The Bison have not misplaced back-to-back video games because the 2009 season. NDSU rushed for 356 yards towards the Coyotes, surged into the lead within the second half after which pulled away for the 17-point victory.

“I believed we had been taking part in slightly tense,” Luepke mentioned of the primary half. “I feel individuals had been simply attempting to do some an excessive amount of.”

NDSU scored 24 unanswered factors within the second half.

“We simply wanted to get out of our personal heads,” Luepke mentioned. “We would have liked to step up and play soccer.”

The Bison began quick within the second half with a 75-yard scoring drive that lasted 9 performs. Bison quarterback Cam Miller capped the march with a 13-yard landing run that tied the rating at 17-17 with 10 minutes, 28 seconds to play within the third quarter.

“That first possession drive of the third quarter is at all times an enormous drive and, you recognize, taking that ball down the sector and scoring a landing, I am certain put momentum again of their sails,” USD head coach Bob Nielson mentioned.

NDSU surged into the lead for good on its subsequent drive that lined 84 yards in 9 performs. The 6-foot-1, 236-pound Luepke capped that march with a bulldozing 2-yard TD run for a 24-17 lead with 5:22 remaining within the third quarter.

Bison kicker Griffin Crosa added a 25-yard area purpose for a 27-17 lead with 8:27 to play within the fourth quarter. That capped a 71-yard drive that took 15 performs.

Luepke added a 3-yard landing run for a 34-17 lead with 3:24 to play within the fourth quarter. That rating got here after Bison security Dom Jones recovered a fumble and returned it to the USD 43. Seven performs later, Luepke was ultimately zone. He rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 20 makes an attempt.

Luepke has scored 14 touchdowns in his final seven video games.

“It is all credit score to the offensive line,” Luepke mentioned. “With out them I am not getting wherever. … I am grateful for these guys.”

The Coyotes took an early 3-0 lead after kicker Eddie Ogamba hit an 18-yard area purpose with 30 seconds to play within the first quarter. USD took benefit of a Bison roughing-the-punter penalty that prolonged the drive that lined 79 yards in 12 performs. The penalty moved the ball to the NDSU 46.

The Bison countered on their subsequent drive with a 26-yard Crosa area purpose that tied the rating at 3-3 with 10:16 to play within the second quarter. That drive lined 67 yards in 11 performs. NDSU drove as deep because the USD 4 earlier than the drive stalled.

The Bison then took benefit of a Travis Theis fumble, which security Michael Tutsie recovered on the USD 35. Senior security Dawson Weber compelled the fumble. Six performs later, operating again Kobe Johnson scored on a 2-yard TD run to offer NDSU a 10-3 lead with 7:31 remaining within the first half.

The Coyotes countered late within the first half after a Bison penalty gave USD a drive that began on the 50. Seven performs later, Theis scored on a 2-yard landing run for a 10-10 rating with 58 seconds to play within the first half.

Moments later, Bison operating again Dominic Gonnella fumbled and USD recovered on the NDSU 28. One play later, Coyotes quarterback Carson Camp zipped a 28-yard landing go to receiver Wesley Eliodor for a 17-10 lead with 44 seconds to play within the second quarter.

The Bison had three turnovers within the opening half-hour.

NDSU outgained the Coyotes within the first half with 204 yards on 34 performs. USD had 177 yards on 32 performs. Nevertheless, NDSU turnovers and 4 penalties for 49 yards helped the Coyotes surge into the lead with lower than a minute to play earlier than halftime.

The Bison, nonetheless, countered with a dominant last half-hour. NDSU shut out the Coyotes within the second half.

“I feel the Bison simply received offended and received mad slightly bit and that is OK,” Entz mentioned.