FARGO – North Dakota State opened the spring season with a 25-7 win over Youngstown State from the Fargodome on Sunday afternoon.
Even though the Missouri Valley Football Conference game happened in February, it was typical Bison football.
Solid tackling, hard-hitting and run behind a physical offensive line.
NDSU rushed 40 times for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the defense limited Youngstown State to 171 total yards.
Bison running backs Kobe Johnson and Jalen Bussey combined for 157 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 22 attempts.
“I really enjoy watching the running backs run and the o-line, you have to give all the credit to them today,” said NDSU quarterback Zeb Noland.
Noland went 9-18 for 74 yards passing in his first start.
UP NEXT
YSU hosts Northern Iowa on Saturday, February 27.
NDSU travels to Carbondale, Illinois for a game against Southern Illinois on Saturday, February 27 at 12 p.m.
NOTES
- 6,578 attendance
- NDSU running back Seth Wilson left the playing surface after the opening two plays. Entz said he hasn’t heard anything yet during the postgame press conference on Wilson’s injury.
- NDSU extends its winning-streak to 39 consecutive and the Bison have won 30 straight inside the Fargodome.
BOX SCORE
YSU 0 0 7 0 7
NDSU 8 3 7 7 25
SCORING SUMMARY
NDSU 8 YSU 0 – Kobe Johnson rushes for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:20 left in the first quarter. Jake Reinholz rushes in for the two-point conversion.
NDSU 11 YSU 0 – Reinholz makes a 28-yard field goal with 9:05 left in the second quarter.
NDSU 18 YSU 0 – Jalen Bussey rushes for a 22-yard touchdown with 8:29 left in the third quarter. Reinholz with the PAT.
NDSU 18 YSU 7 – Mark Waid finds Jake Coates for a 12-yard touchdown reception with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. Colt McFadden with the PAT.
NDSU 25 YSU 7 – Bussey rushes for a 7-yard touchdown with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter. Reinholz with the PAT.
TEAM LEADERS
Passing
YSU – Mark Waid went 8-11 for 75 yards and 1 touchdown.
NDSU – Zeb Noland went 9-18 for 74 yards.
Rushing
YSU – Waid rushed for 26 yards on 11 attempts.
NDSU – Kobe Johnson rushed for 114 yards and 1 touchdown on 16 attempts.
Receiving
YSU – Natavious Payne had 2 receptions for 39 yards.
NDSU – Cole Jacob had 3 receptions for 28 yards.
Defense
YSU – Grant Dixon and Griffin Hoak had 8 tackles each.
NDSU – Jackson Hankey had 7 solo tackles and 14 total tackles.
