The Jackrabbits (8-0) host the Bison (6-2) in the Dakota Marker Matchup in a game that just feels weird. NDSU has dropped games to USD and UND by a combined score of 73-43, two teams SDSU beat by a combined score of 79-24. However, this is a rivalry and anything can happen. NDSU’s offense has looked explosive at times and the defense has struggled at times but has also put up some impressive performances. Throw the records and the history out the window because in rivalry games anything can happen. This game is big in terms of playoff discussion, MVFC discussion, and the rivalry aspect just puts it over the top.
Offense
The Bison offense has certainly evolved over the past few years but they are still putting up points to the tune of 37.4 per game and are moving the ball on the ground (254 ypg) and through the air (208 ypg). The offensive line is still very good and has allowed just 7 sacks on the season and the Bison still manage to keep themselves in manageable 3rd downs and are converting on 53% of their attempts. In the redzone, they are efficient, scoring on 36 of 38 attempts with 27 being touchdowns.
The Bison offense is again led by #7 Cam Miller (6-1, 213) and he is having a great season. He is the leading rusher for the Bison with 388 yards (5.9 ypc) and 9 TD. He has a long of 28 yards. Passing wise, he has been ultra efficient completing 76% of his passes for 1,411 yards and 10 TD to just 2 INT. Cam Miller takes a lot of heat from Bison faithful but I think he is a good player. The Bison have again split some snaps at quarterback as they did in 2022. #9 Cole Payton (6-3, 230) has improved as a passer and is completing 62.5% of his passes for 254 yards and 3 TDs. Payton is a terrific runner where he has 300 yards (7.3 ypc) and 6 more TDs. Payton has not played as much the last few weeks so I’m not sure if that is based on how well Miller is playing or something else.
The running back room has two familiar faces and then a player that will be new to Jackrabbit fans. The starting back is #22 TaMerik Williams (6-1, 227) and he is having a bit of a weird year. He has 67 attempts for 387 yards (5.8 ypc) and 2 TD with a long of 54 yards. He has just 4 receptions for 23 yards as well. Williams was a player I was really high on TaMarik coming into this season but his usage just doesn’t match the talent, in my opinion. His backup is #28 TK Marshall (6-0, 209) who has 230 yards (5.1 ypc) and 3 TD. His usage has really dipped the last few weeks and he has lost carries to #8 Barika Kpeenu (5-10, 208) who has 306 rushing yards (6.2 ypc) and 2 TDs. The fullbacks are two very good players in #49 Hunter Brozio (6-1, 233) and #33 Logan Hofstedt (6-1, 235). Brozio is a devastating lead blocker and is a capable receiver out of the backfield with 8 receptions for 38 yards and a TD. Hofstedt is another player that I’d designate as a “football player” because he has played defense for NDSU and has been a really good special teams player for them over the years.
The wide receiver group does leave me scratching my head. They have recruited so well at this position over the last 3 years. Why are none of these players emerging as playmakers? One reason could be that #0 Zach Mathis (6-7, 203) is turning into a dominant force. Mathis has always been a matchup nightmare from a physical standpoint but he has become a good route runner and has really improved his hands over the years. He has 33 receptions for 507 yards and 3 TDs. #13 Eli Green (5-11, 185) caught a long touchdown pass last year in Frisco and has stayed hot this season with 18 receptions for 328 yards. He also has been used on a handful of jet sweeps where he has 63 rushing yards. The other receiver that we will see used as a bit of a gadget type is #3 RaJa Nelson (5-9, 186). Raja has 12 receptions for 82 yards and has 11 carries for 150 yards and 1 TD including a 76 yard score. #1 Braylon Henderson (5-9, 177) is a player whose Bison career has not been what I expected. Henderson is fast fast but NDSU has just not found a way to get him the ball consistently. This season he has just 8 receptions for 128 yards and a TD with a long of 33. The highly recruited receiving trio of Bryce Lance, Mekhi Collins, and Carson Hegerle have a combined 2 receptions for 18 yards. I just don’t get it.
However, the Bison do have an excellent group of tight ends and are led by #82 Joe Stoffel (6-4, 242) who has 19 receptions for 244 yards (12.8 ypc) and 5 TD. Stoffel is a fun player to watch and has really improved as a blocker over the past few years. His backup is #82 Finn Diggins (6-4, 247) who has 6 receptions for 45 yards. Finally, Buffalo transfer #88 Carson Williams (6-4, 242) has 4 receptions for 44 yards. This group can block and is certainly a threat in the play action game. The Jackrabbit safeties will need to be disciplined and play their assignments.
The offensive line for the Bison seems to have settled in after some early season shuffling to help guys find their right spots. From left to right they go #72 Jalen Sundell (6-5, 300), #73 Mason Miller (6-7, 300), #77 Brandon Westberg (6-4, 295), #63 Jake Kubas (6-4, 308), and #74 Grey Zabel (6-6, 296). This group of seniors has played plenty of football but it has rarely been together before this season. They have taken some time to gel but it appears they are reaching that point. Again, they have surrendered just 7 sacks on the year and all of the Bison primary ball carriers are averaging over 5 yards per carry. This group may be the strength of the Bison offense.
Defense
The Bison defense continues to operate out of the 4-3 look and has still be dominant at times. Opponents are scoring 18 ppg and are rushing for 120 per game while passing for 166. They have stifled opponents on 3rd down where they are converting just 31% of the time. Opponents are having a hard time reaching the redzone and have only made it there 15 times. However, when they do make it, they come away with points 14 of 15 times and 9 have been touchdowns. The Bison defense has registered 18 sacks, 10 interceptions, and recovered 3 fumbles.
The defensive line for NDSU has many familiar faces. On the interior are #53 Eli Mostaert (6-3, 287) and #58 Javier Derritt (6-2, 280). These two have played a lot of snaps together the last few years. Mostaert has 17 tackles 3 TFL, .5 sack, and an INT along with 4 QBHs. Derrit has 12 tackles. It appeared that #91 Will Mostaert (6-2, 270) was injured (ankle/foot) in the second half against Murray State last week and his status is unknown (***Update: Will Mostaert is out for the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury per Dom Izzo at the Matt Entz weekly press conference). On the season 14 tackles and a sack. Backing up Derrit is the talented #64 Jaxon Duttenhefer (6-2, 282) who has 6 tackles and a sack. He was forced into action due to injuries last season and showed some real promise. If Will is unable to go, I expect to see more of #50 Kody Huisman (6-4, 284) who has 5 tackles and a sack. He was also forced into action last season and showed he is going to be a good player too. #94 Logan Larson (6-3, 272) will also see playing time and he has 1.5 sacks this year. The starting ends for NDSU are both high motor, high intensity type players in #54 Jake Kava (6-1, 247) and #95 Dylan Hendricks (6-3, 245). Kava has 28 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a QBH. Hendricks leads the team with 3 sacks and also has 20 tackles, a forced fumble and 3 batted balls. #56 Loshiaka Roques (6-3, 232) has 10 tackles and a half sack from his reserve role. Former walk-on, #55 Kole Menz (6-2, 234), who also played a ton last year as a true freshman, has 9 tackles and a sack.
The linebackers for NDSU are solid. #43 Logan Kopp (6-1, 222) is emerging as a playmaker from his WILL spot and leads the team with 51 total tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 IN, 5 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles. I really enjoy watching him play. In the middle is either #36 Nick Kuitz (6-2, 226) or #47 Luke Weerts (6-1, 222). Neither has been able to truly separate themselves from the other. Kubitz has 21 tackles and 2 TFL while Weerts has 20 tackles, 2 TFL, a sack, 1 INT, and 2 passes defended. The SAM linebacker is #20 Julian Wlodzarczyk (6-3, 211). He is 3rd on the team with 32 tackles, has 2 TFL, and 2 PBUs. In NDSU games I have watched, teams seem to pick on him at times in the passing game. He has missed the last two games and his status is unknown. #11 Oscar Benson (6-1, 218) has earned the last two starts and has 13 tackles on the season. #26 Marcus Gulley (6-2, 227) is a transfer from MSU Moorhead and has 17 tackles and 2 sacks on the season as a key reserve.
The secondary has LOTS of new faces from what the Jacks faced last year in the regular season. #23 Jayden Price (6-0, 184) is back for his final season and has done a pretty good job. He has 22 tackles, an INT, and 3 passes defended. He does blitz and has 3 QBHs this year. Opposite him is Bowling Green transfer, #10 Marcus Sheppard (5-10, 190). He has 20 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 2 PBUs. He was also banged up towards the end of the game against Murray State but head coach Matt Entz made it sound like it was no big deal in the post-game press conference. The reserves are young and talented in #18 Jaquise Alexander (5-10, 171) and #21 Reggie King (6-2, 186). King moved down to corner after spending his first few years at safety. They have combined for 7 tackles this year. At safety, #31 Cole Wisniewski (6-4, 217) is enjoying a terrific season after moving from linebacker. Wisniewski was a safety in high school and I thought he was absolutely terrific at it. Given his frame, it made sense to try him at linebacker but he looks so good at safety. He is second on the team with 33 tackles and has 4 INT, 6 passes defended and has forced a fumble this year. He is their best defensive player hands down. The starter opposite him is #35 Sam Jung (5-11, 193). Unfortunately, Jung had a second half targeting penalty upheld last week and will miss the first half of this game. He has 28 tackles and 2 TFL. #32 Ty Satter (6-2, 203) will start in his place. He has 10 tackles this season in a reserve role. #27 Ryan Jones (6-3, 203) is a talented sophomore who started for Wisniewski two weeks ago and has 12 tackles this season. #29 Darius Givance (6-3, 207) is another young guy to keep an eye on. He’s pretty talented and has 10 tackles in limited playing time.
Special Teams
The NDSU special teams are solid in 2023. #39 Griffin Crosa is 9/10 on field goals and perfect on extra points. Crosa’s lone miss came from 50 yards against Missouri State. Crosa has had a really nice career for NDSU. #41 Kaedin Steindorf handles the kickoff and punting duties. On kickoff, he has a 62 yard average and has 11 touchbacks on 34 attempts. Opponents are averaging 23.3 yards per return and UND did return the opening kickoff 100 yards to open the game a few weeks ago. On his punts, Steindorf has a 43.6 yard average on 13 attempts. He has a long of 51 yards, forced 4 to be faircaught, has landed 6 inside the 20 and has 2 that have traveled 50+ yards. He has just 2 touchbacks and has had 1 blocked. On his 13 punts, only 4 have been returned for 9.5 average and a long of 24.
#23 Jayden Price is still one of the best punt returners in the FCS as evidenced by his 66 yard punt return for TD last week against Missouri State and his 42 yard return last week against Western Illinois. On his other 9 returns, Price has a 3.6 yard average. He is incredibly dangerous and the punt coverage team will need to be on their A game. #13 Eli Green and #3 RaJa Nelson are the primary kick returners. Green has an 18.6 average and Nelson has a 22 yard average.
Prediction
This is such a weird game. The unbalanced schedule and the weak non-conference schedule (outside of UCA) have me really wondering who this Bison team is. Their stats look just fine but in their two tests against two of the better MVFC programs this year, they crumbled. The Jacks will again need to withstand some early energy from NDSU. They will want to get revenge for what happened in Frisco. They also really NEED this game as it doesn’t get much easier for them in the next two weeks. If the Jacks can handle the initial blow from NDSU, I like their chances to retain the Marker. However, this Bison team still has plenty of talent. In a rivalry game like this, nothing would surprise me.
Jackrabbits 31- Bison 17.
Go Jacks!
Matt
