FARGO — The results are in for North Dakota State’s defensive performance in its four non-conference games. The Bison won’t have to see Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter again, or have to travel to Johnson City, Tennessee. If there was a hope of regaining some sort of shut-down performance, that didn’t happen Saturday afternoon against Towson University (Md.
). Still, NDSU held off a strong second half from the Tigers to take a 41-24 homecoming victory in front of 17,185 fans at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. "Happy homecoming," said NDSU head coach Tim Polasek.
ADVERTISEMENT NDSU improved to 3-1 with Missouri Valley Football Conference play up next, the only loss at Sanders and Hunter-led University of Colorado. The Towson win came after NDSU surrendered 270 yards rushing at East Tennessee State last week, which had the Bison in the middle of the pack in FCS rushing defense. NDSU rallied in that game to win 38-35, although a better defensive performance was an emphasis this week.
Towson finished with 205 yards on the ground. Dependable senior quarterback Cam Miller was once again sharp, completing his first 14 attempts and finishing 17 of 19 yards passing for 219 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt freshman running back Marty Brown ran 24 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns and "He is a tough out," Polasek said.
"I'm sensing a rhythm with him. The more pictuers he gets the better he'll be. I'm pleased with where's he's at and hopefully he can build on that.
" Tue freshman Jackson Williams returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to help the Bison build a 24-3 halftime lead. It was Jackson's first starting assignment as a punt returner. And it looked like cruising mode was in order.
That didn’t happen. Towson cut it to 24-10 midway in the third quarter with its best drive, 74 yards in eight plays. Backup quarterback Nathan Kent, on his first play of the season, scored from two yards out.
ADVERTISEMENT At that point, with a chunk of NDSU’s crowd including around 75% of the student body having left the building, Towson had the momentum. The Bison offense regained the flow, however, taking its ensuing possession 82 yards and it was 31-10. Brown got the touchdown with a two-yard run.
Towson didn’t reach 100 yards rushing until a 12-yard scramble by quarterback Carlos Davis in the fourth quarter. It came on a drive that pulled the Tigers within 31-17, with Davis scoring untouched on a QB draw from 14 yards. After Towson forced its first three-and-out and NDSU’s first punt, the Tigers were still in the game getting the ball with 10:16 remaining.
They were really in it after Tyrell Greene Jr. went 72 yards up the middle virtually untouched on the first play and it was 31-24. It was the longest run against NDSU since Montana State’s Tommy Mellott went 76 yards in last year’s FCS playoff game.
The Bison made it a two-possession score game, however. Griffin Crosa’s 34-yard field goal put the Bison up by 10 with 4:28 remaining. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter, with the Bison getting theirs on the opening drive of the game.
Crosa was good from 37 yards. NDSU created some distance the next time it got the ball. ADVERTISEMENT The big play in an 11-play, 80-yard drive was a pass from Miller to Chris Harris, a beauty of the toss over the middle that Harris almost broke to the end zone.
As it was, the 49-yard play on third-and-10 reached the Towson 21-yard line. "I've watched a lot of film on a lot different and he's fantastic," said Towson head coach Pete Shinnick. Brown got the touchdown on fourth-and-inches and it was 10-3 early in the second quarter.
Each team was on the other end of special teams plays. NDSU’s Nick Kubitz blocked a Tiger punt and the Bison had the ball at the TU 41-yard line. But the Bison returned the favor when holder Kaedin Steindorf, on a fake field goal attempt, bobbled the snap and was gobbled up in a hurry.
Williams mended any wounds with his punt return and Miller’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Lance late in the second quarter gave NDSU the 24-3 halftime lead. "You can't be down 24-3 to the No. 2 team in the country," said Shinnick said.
"We had too many mistakes to play with a team like this. We got it close, just need to find a way to put it away.".
