Third Time Charms Illinois State Redbirds in Win Over Bison

FARGO, N.D.- Even before North Dakota State entered the Missouri Valley Football Conference last year, the Redbirds knew they would have their work cut out for them whenever they play the Bison.              

Two years ago, Illinois State stepped onto the Fargodome turf while NDSU underwent a probationary period for its transition to a new conference. The Bison pummeled the Redbirds 54-28 that day and hammered them 25-7 one year later thanks in part to the dynamic running duo of Tyler Roehl and Pat Paschall, who ran for a combined 734 yards in NDSU's two meetings with the Redbirds.

Although Roehl graduated after last season, Paschall still runs in the Bison backfield, leading the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing yards per game with 159.8 before this season's matchup with ISU. However, the Redbirds had a secret weapon in their own backfield by the name of Matt Brown.

In front of a Fargodome crowd of 18,608, the freshman quarterback completed 30-of-42 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Redbirds to a 27-24 victory over NDSU.

North Dakota State running back Sam Ojuri capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run to give the Bison (1-4, 0-2 MVFC) a 24-20 lead with 4:53 left in the game. From there, Brown led the Redbird offense on an eight-play, 68-yard journey toward their first-ever victory over NDSU.

On third down from the ISU 38-yard line, Brown complete a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Eyad Salem, who led the Redbirds (2-3, 1-1 MVFC) with 172 receiving yards and tied a school record by catching 14 passes. The Bison's Garrett Johnson added 15 yards to the play with a roughing the passer penalty.

After two more completions to Salem, Brown ran for 20 yards to get to the NDSU six-yard line. Two rushes for four and two yards by running back Geno Blow pushed ISU to the game-winning touchdown.

The Bison drove to ISU's 35-yard line on their ensuing drive, but a personal foul penalty by Paul Cornick drove NDSU out of field-goal range. Two incomplete passes later, the Redbirds took over on downs.

In the early stages of the second quarter, NDSU quarterback Nick Mertens completed a 95-yard touchdown pass to Gary Williams to give the Bison a 7-3 lead. It was the longest touchdown pass in school history.

The Redbirds responded with two touchdown passes of their own to end the first half with a 17-7 lead. With 10:01 left in the second quarter, Salem caught a 17-yard pass from Brown to give ISU the go-ahead touchdown.

With 3:24 left, Brown recovered a bobbled snap and threw to running back Cliffton Gordon for a seven-yard touchdown.

In the second half, NDSU swung the momentum in their favor by blocking a 40-yard field-goal attempt by ISU's Zach Kutch with 3:41 left in the third quarter. After Paschall, who finished the game with 115 yards, scored on a 19-yard touchdown run, the Bison tied the game with 11:06 left to play on a 23-yard field goal by Shawn Bibeau.

The Redbirds responded with an eight-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a go-ahead field goal by Kutch with 8:32 left in the game. Kutch gave ISU the first score of the game by capping a 12-play, 59-yard opening drive with a 38-yard field goal.

The following list details the Illinois State Redbirds' game-winning drive: 

1st-and-10, ISU 32-yard line: Blow run for six yards.

2nd-and-4, ISU 38-yard line: Incomplete pass to wide receiver Ben Ericksen.

3rd-and-4, ISU 38-yard line: Pass completion to Salem for 10 yards and a first down. Penalty on NDSU; roughing the passer on Johnson.

1st-and-10, NDSU 37-yard line: Pass completion to Salem for six yards.

2nd-and-4, NDSU 31-yard line: Pass completion to Salem for five yards and first down.

1st-and-10, NDSU 26-yard line: Brown run for 20 yards and a first down.

1st-and-goal, NDSU six-yard line: Blow run for four yards.

2nd-and-goal, NDSU two-yard line: Blow run for two yards and a touchdown; Kutch's extra-point attempt is successful.