NINE PAGES OF BISON COVERAGE INSIDE
NATIONAL
SUNDAY EDITION
The Forum
GOLDEN BOYS NDSU CLAIMS FIRST DIVISION I TITLE
North Dakota State University football players celebrate their 17-6 win over Sam Houston State during the Football Championship Subdivision title game Saturday at
FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The title is the school’s first since moving up to Division I in 2004.
In Frisco and Fargo,
Bison love is in the air
Frisco, Texas
R
ocky Hager has always
been an emotional guy.
But it was certainly
understandable when
tears welled up in his eyes as he
overlooked the stadium where
North Dakota State University’s
football team claimed a national
championship Saturday.
“Just look at this,” Hager said,
pointing to the 21,000-seat
stadium that was more than half
full of green-and-yellow-clad
Bison fans. There had to be
anywhere from 11,000 to 12,000
Bison fans cheering on a 17-6
victory over Sam Houston State
University.
“The volume of people, the
intensity of the enthusiasm is
really special,” said Hager,
NDSU’s all-time-winningest
coach who was dismissed back in
1996, much to the disliking of
many of those same Bison fans
yelling Saturday. “I know we had
a pretty good thing going when I
Mostly sunny
Copyright 2012 The Forum
O F FA R G O - M O O R H E A D
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012
KEVIN
SCHNEPF
The Forum
쑽
was there, but nothing like this.”
Hager, who had 91 career wins
at NDSU, won NCAA Division II
national championships in 1988
and 1990. Not only did Saturday’s
win mark NDSU’s first national
title since 1990, but its first since
making the move to Division I in
2004.
“We barely hatched at that
time,” Hager said. “I don’t know
what the limit of this program is.
I don’t know if there is a limit.”
After Saturday’s win that had
Bison fans filling half the field
SCHNEPF: Page A7
Today’s weather
왖 42°
왔 28°
Details, D10
CHAMPIONS
INFORUM.COM
Carrie Snyder / The Forum
MORE TITLE GAME
COVERAGE INSIDE
Herd welcomed home
Title trophy in hand, Bison greeted by about 1,500
왘 A tight game early, NDSU
used big defensive plays to turn
tide in second half. D4
boisterous fans Saturday night at Fargodome, Page A7
왘 The Bison defense more
than held its ground against
one of the most explosive
offenses in FCS. D5
왘 NDSU’s hopes turned on a
fake punt in the third quarter
that led to go-ahead score. D5
왘 Munich, N.D., native Travis
Beck named game’s MVP. D7
왘 All around the region, fans
gathered to watch title game. A8
왘 Forum editorial: To make
title game in only fourth year of
Division I eligibility a
remarkable achievement. C4
COMING NEXT SUNDAY
Watch for a special
commemorative edition
reflecting on NDSU’s historic
season.
Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
The Bison football team presents the championship trophy to
fans Saturday night outside the Fargodome.
Fin
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A6 Sunday, January 8, 2012 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The Forum

Championship memories
The North Dakota State University football team capped off a memorable season with a 17-6 win over Sam Houston State
in the Football Championship Subdivision title game Saturday. There to witness it were thousands of Bison faithful who
traveled from near and far to see the school win its first football national championship since a Division II title in 1990.

Carrie Snyder / The Forum

Thousands of North Dakota State University fans filled FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, Saturday for the Football Championship Subdivision title game against Sam
Houston State.

David Samson / The Forum

Members of the Gold Star Marching Band go crazy

Saturday before the FCS championship game.

LM Otero / Associated Press

North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl is doused with water in the final seconds of their 17-6 win over
Sam Houston State in the FCS championship game.

MORE AT
INFORUM.COM
See photo
galleries from
the game,
pregame
festivities and
post-game
party.

David Samson / The Forum Carrie Snyder / The Forum

North Dakota State fans get fired up at the pep rally Tim Rodger and Race Hoglund dressed head to toe in Bison colors during
Saturday before the game. tailgating outside FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco.
The Forum
Herd receives a hero’s welcome home
1,500 fans gather at Fargodome
to honor championship team
By Ryan S. Clark
rclark@forumcomm.com
FARGO – Green is the color of
money. Gold is the color of the
riches.
The 1,500 Bison fans who
showed up at the Fargodome late
Saturday night let their return-
ing championship football team
know they were priceless.
North Dakota State University
football players were given a
warm and deafening welcome
home about six hours after they
captured the school’s first Divi-
sion I trophy after beating Sam
Houston State University in
Frisco, Texas.
“I said all week we were going
to kick some ass,” NDSU Athletic
Director Gene Taylor told the
crowd. “And that’s what we did:
We kicked some ass.”
Taylor’s comments were just
one of several to fire up the audi-
ence, which numbered in the hun-
dreds even an hour before the
team was slated to arrive.
Lindsay Kauffman was with
five friends waiting for the team
to show. The NDSU sophomore
from Minnetonka, Minn., went to
high school with NDSU defensive
back Marcus Williams at Hopkins
and has been friends with him
since.
She and her friends watched the
afternoon game and then grabbed
some ice cream before coming to
the rally.
So Lindsay, what was sweeter?
The ice cream or the Bison win-
ning a national title?
“Winning a national champi-
onship,” she said. “That was a lot
sweeter.”
Many fans chanted “We’re No.
1” or “Let’s go Bison.” Some fans
even added “Sioux suck,” a slur
aimed at NDSU rival University
SCHNEPF
From Page A1
during the postgame
celebration, the sky
certainly seemed like the
limit. Fans in the north end
zone even chanted “LSU,
LSU” in reference to taking
on Louisiana State, the top-
ranked team in the top
division of college football.
Once Bison fans come
down to earth, talk of
playing with those big boys
will subside. But the
impact a championship
run has on NDSU is
immeasurable – much like
the visibility the school
received when the Bison
men’s basketball team
reached the prestigious
NCAA tournament in 2009.
“It feels like a Final
Four,” said Missouri
Football Valley Conference
commissioner Patty
Viverito, who saw her
league win its first
championship since 1997.
NDSU athletic director
Gene Taylor said it’s hard
to know what kind of
impact this will have on the
school. But if nothing else,
it removes all doubts that
he made the right decision
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Sunday, January 8, 2012 A7
AT INFORUM.COM
See video of the homecoming.
of North Dakota and their recent-
ly retired “Fighting Sioux” nick-
name.
The team arrived at the Fargo-
dome at 9:50 p.m.
As team members stepped off
the bus and toward a stage that
had been set up, the cheering
grew so loud it was hard to hear
anything else.
Camera-phone lights illuminat-
ed the sky as the football team
walked on the stage, the majority
of them wearing cowboy hats.
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dal-
rymple led the crowd in a cheer of
“Here we go Bison! Here we go!”
“It’s amazing, and nothing I
have ever experienced in my life,”
said Bison football player Bran- Photos by Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
don Pierre. “It was great going to A large crowd gathers outside the Fargodome while waiting Saturday night for the Bison football team
Frisco and winning the national
championship. There is nothing
to return from Frisco, Texas, after winning the national championship.
like it. We just want to keep
repeating it.”
Pierre said he and his team-
mates were anxious when they
got on the bus from Hector Inter-
national Airport to make the
barely mile drive to the Fargo-
dome.
He said everyone on the bus was
excited to get home and celebrate
with fans.
“This is why I love being here,”
Pierre said. “This is Bison
Nation. This is why we give back
to the community. These are the Keagan Johnson holds his
best fans in the world.”
The entire team at one point brother Braydan, 11, outside the
was on the stage or spilling off it. Fargodome on Saturday.
Many players talked about how
much the win meant to the school “All I want to say is this: Bison
and North Dakota. rule! Sioux suck!”
When it was Williams’ turn to Readers can reach Forum reporter
Bison fans celebrate the arrival of the football team outside the
speak, he kept it simple: Ryan S. Clark at (701) 241-5548 Fargodome on Saturday night.
What was triggered this
weekend was the lasting
pep rally. It left the hotel
high and dry of any liquid
impression the mammoth refreshments.
Bison following left on “We tried to warn them,”
people – including NCAA said Bresciani, whose
President Mark Emmert, alumni head honchos had a
who was in attendance Minneapolis hotel call the
Saturday. Plano, Texas, hotel about
“I’m very impressed, and the Bison following during
this is not exactly in their last month’s win over the
neighborhood,” Emmert Gophers. “Even I have to
said. “The impact is admit this is a bit
significant. This puts overwhelming.”
North Dakota State on a Rocky Hager was
national stage.” certainly overwhelmed.
Tom Burnett, the Some fans who spotted him
commissioner of the at Friday night’s pep rally
Photos by Carrie Snyder / The Forum Southland Conference that started to cry.
hosts this championship
Jake Axtman of “You know you are
Former North Dakota State University coach game, was blown away, loved,” Hager said.
Rocky Hager watches as the Bison football team Bismarck carries around comparing the Bison And today, Bison football
a life-size cutout of North following to the 12,000
prepares to take the field Saturday against Sam Houston is loved. And it will
Dakota State University Kansas State or 12,000
State at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. continue to be loved,
Arkansas fans that came to
head football coach Craig according to Hager, who
Dallas for Friday night’s
Bohl on Saturday at FC had high praise for Bison
when the Bison made the sit. Cotton Bowl.
Dallas Stadium in Frisco, head coach Craig Bohl.
move to Division I. “You can’t buy that kind “This is a similar-type “Today is like the
“This solidifies of exposure” is always the Texas. following, and to come all construction of the
everything,” Taylor said. comment heard from this way, my gosh,” Burnett building of the pyramids,”
“It closes the book on the school officials basking in the limit there, too – at said. “It’s so great to have said Hager, always good for
transition.” athletic success. least in terms of someday this program at this level. being a bit overdramatic.
And it starts a new era NDSU’s football team has playing in the more This is absolutely what we “But it all started back in
for NDSU, which got some numerous returning prestigious Missouri Valley have to have. I am tickled the 1960s with coaches like
valuable exposure from a starters for next year. A Conference. pink.” Mudra, Erhardt, Wacker,
national television young men’s basketball “This has certainly So was NDSU President Solomonson and Morton
audience on ESPN2 and team is off to an raised the profile in a Dean Bresciani, who was and has continued with
playing in an area where impressive start this year. positive way,” Viverito said. also among the more than Bohl. It’s pretty special.”
three of the nation’s Once the Bison Sports “But it certainly doesn’t 5,000 fans who crammed Readers can reach Forum Sports Editor
largest cities (Dallas, Arena undergoes its lavish trigger any immediate into a nearby hotel Kevin Schnepf at (701) 241-5549 or
Houston and San Antonio) renovation, the sky may be changes.” ballroom for Friday night’s kschnepf@forumcomm.com.
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A8 Sunday, January 8, 2012 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The Forum

All around area, fans gather to watch Bison

By Sam Benshoof
sbenshoof@forumcomm.com
FARGO – It may not have
been Frisco, but fans around
here were plenty loud when
the final seconds of Satur-
day’s championship football
game ticked down.
Those who couldn’t make
the trek to Texas gathered
with family and friends in
front of TVs to watch the
game, packing living rooms
and bars throughout the
region.
At Allegiance Software in
south Fargo, nearly 30 peo-
ple wearing Bison green and
gold showed up to an
employee viewing party,
complete with a festive
atmosphere, a wide spread
of food and plenty of bever-
ages.
Mark Jensen, the compa-
ny’s CEO, was decked out in
a gold shirt and green-and-
gold sweatpants. Jensen
didn’t go to North Dakota
State University – he’s a
Minnesota State Moorhead
alum – but that didn’t stop
him from cheering on the
Bison.
Marybeth Workin, an
executive assistant at Alle-
giance who helped organize
the party, bought her hus-
band a plane ticket to Frisco
as a birthday present. Every
time the ESPN2 broadcast
showed NDSU fans, Workin
scanned the crowd, looking
for his face.
Though Workin didn’t go
to NDSU herself, she has
plenty of connections to the
school. Her mother, Carol
Nelson, worked in food serv-
ice at the student union for
20 years, and before that,
Nelson’s mother also
worked at the school for 30
years.
Lise Jensen, a 2009 NDSU
graduate working at Alle-
giance, was proud to be sup-
porting her alma mater.
She always attended Bison
games as a student and said
it’s remarkable how much
the town and community
supports the team.
“The whole town gets
together,” she said of game
days.
Meanwhile, at
Bethany Assisted Living
the
Linda Workin, left, cheers a Bison touchdown during the Football Championship drove from Devil’s Lake just the Wild Hog restaurant
Subdivision title game TV-watching party at Allegiance Software Saturday in Fargo. for the game.
home in Fargo, several long-
time NDSU fans gathered to
cheer on the team. Duane
Moe, one of those fans,
wasn’t going to miss the
game for anything.
Moe has been an NDSU
football fan since he was in
high school in Finley, N.D.,
in the 1960s. He remembers
how the teams were pretty
bad back then.
Wally Wolsky, sitting next
to Moe, was predicting a vic-
tory even before the game
began.
“We’re a small school and
a small state, but I bet Fargo
wins,” he said.
Wolsky, from Nome, N.D.,
went to NDSU in the 1940s,
and though he didn’t play on
the football team or always
make it to the games, he’s
followed the football team
since.
Bars and restaurants
throughout the area were
packed during the game as
well. Buffalo Wild Wings
near West Acres mall in
Fargo was filled to the brim
with Bison fans enjoying
glasses of special green and
gold beer and cheering every
play as loudly as if they
were in Frisco.
After the late-game inter-
ception, fans erupted, and
NDSU alum Curtis Crist was
high-fiving and hugging
Photos by Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
anyone around him.
Crist, who led the restau-
rant in cheers of “Let’s go
Bison” throughout the
game, said he and his wife
got their table – one of the
last available – just minutes
after the restaurant opened
at 9 a.m.
Bison fans weren’t just
watching in the Fargo-Moor-
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Rolla, N.D., about 10 miles
from the Canadian border in
the north-central part of the
state, Curt and Cheryl Bonn
opened up their movie the-
ater to show the game free of
charge.
About 70 people showed up
to watch the game on the
theater’s big screen, Bonn
Scott Awalt celebrates an interception by the Bison
during a TV-watching party at Buffalo Wild Wings on
Saturday in south Fargo.
said, including friends who both NDSU and UND garb at
gathered and spontaneously
If NDSU’s success contin- broke into applause for the
ues, showing a big game in Bison.
the theater could become a Shaun Seymour of Grand
regular thing for the town of Forks, a Bison season ticket
roughly 1,200 people. holder, wasn’t surprised that
And in Grand Forks, even Sioux fans were cheer-
though it may have been dif- ing for NDSU on this day.
ficult for some University of “North Dakota is a cohe-
North Dakota fans, the sive force,” she said. “You’re
Bison’s success certainly sure not going to cheer for
didn’t go unappreciated. Texas, are you?”
In the final 15 seconds of Grand Forks Herald reporter Ryan
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 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 17, SAM HOUSTON STATE 6

SPORTS
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
Sunday, January 8, 2012
SECTION D

HERD HEAVEN BISON WIN THEIR FIRST FCS TITLE

Pictured: North Dakota State’s Travis Beck is lifted to the air by teammate Don Carter, left, as Carlton Littlejohn joins in after Beck’s interception Saturday in Frisco, Texas. Photo by David Samson / The Forum 왘 COVERAGE INSIDE. PAGES A1, D4-8
D4 Sunday, January 8, 2012 BISON FOOTBALL The Forum

“It means a lot for our past players and future players. ... It’s been big.”
– Travis Beck, North Dakota State freshman linebacker

NORTH DAKOTA STATE 17, SAM HOUSTON STATE 6

The Bison football team wins its first national title at any level since 1990.

FRISCO TREAT

David Samson / The Forum

North Dakota State running back D.J. McNorton (8) and quarterback Brock Jensen embrace after winning the Football Championship Subdivision title
Saturday in Frisco. The Bison football program won eight national championships in NCAA Division II, but this was its first in Division I.

NDSU adds to storied past with its first FCS crown

By Eric Peterson
epeterson@forumcomm.com
FRISCO, Texas – North
Dakota State rekindled its
championship tradition Sat-
urday afternoon at FC Dallas
Stadium.
The two-decade wait is over.
The Bison held the most
explosive offense in Division I
Football Championship Subdi-
vision without a touchdown,
and that relentless defensive
effort sparked NDSU to a 17-6
victory against previously
unbeaten Sam Houston State
for the FCS title.
“The people in Fargo love
football,” said Bison senior
linebacker Chad Willson.
“They won’t forget this one.
It’s great to be a member of
this team, and I’m proud to
say that I was a Bison.”
The victory gave NDSU
(14-1) its first FCS champi-
onship. Before Saturday, the
Bison had won eight NCAA
Division II champions, with
the last one coming in 1990.
“It means a lot for past play-
ers and future players,” said
NDSU freshman linebacker
Travis Beck. “We do it all for
past players. It’s been big.”
The Bison buried the Bear-
kats (14-1) with a shade less
than nine minutes remaining
in the fourth quarter. Beck
had a 63-yard interception
return to the 1-yard line to set
up the game’s final points.
“It was an exceptional play
by Travis,” NDSU head coach
Craig Bohl said. “He showed
some great athleticism and
great instincts picking off the
ball.”
Bison quarterback Brock
Jensen scored a play later.
That staked the Bison to a 17-6
lead with 8 minutes, 45 sec-
onds remaining.
The Bison special teams
came up with a momentum-
shifting play early in the sec-
ond half. NDSU ran a fake
punt on its first drive of the
third quarter. Senior punter
Matt Voigtlander, a former
running back, rushed for 27
yards on a fourth-and-4 play
from NDSU’s 34-yard line.
Voigtlander got tackled at the
Sam Houston 39.
The next play, Jensen
dumped a middle screen pass
to senior running back D.J.
McNorton and McNorton did
the rest, weaving through the
Bearkats defense for a 10-6
lead with 12:47 to play in the
third quarter.
“We work all the time on
sudden change,” said Sam
Houston State head coach
Willie Fritz. “It was a good
play call, running a little mid-
dle screen to the back and
caught us in a zone. It was the David Samson / The Forum
right call at the right time.”
The fake punt and ensuing North Dakota State’s Matt Veldman hauls in a reception while being defended by Sam
touchdown sequence also Houston State’s Aaron Mueller on Saturday in Frisco.
came at the right time for the
Bison, whose offense generat- Brandon Closner set up those tially blocked. The Bearkats seconds to play in the first
ed 12 yards in the second quar- three points with a 24-yard turned that blocked punt into quarter.
ter. punt return that moved the their first three points. Those early struggles were
“They were the best defense ball to the NDSU 38. Six plays The Bison missed an oppor- forgotten when the Bison fans
I’ve seen this year,” McNorton later, Alaniz kicked one tunity to score a touchdown in stormed the field after the
said. “And I’m sure a lot of the through the uprights. That the first half. NDSU moved the final seconds ticked off the
offensive players would say gave the Bearkats a 6-3 half- ball to the Sam Houston State clock. A mosaic of green and
the same. Athletically, they time lead. 2-yard line late in the first yellow covered most of the
have a lot of speed. They play “We really felt good about quarter. The Bearkats defense midfield part of the playing
with a lot of heart and pas- things,” Fritz said about tak- stiffened. surface.
sion.” ing a lead into halftime. McNorton was stuffed for a “Typically, we say we have
The Bearkats took their first The Bison had 120 yards at 1-yard gain on second-and- the 24-hour rule,” Bohl said.
and only lead with less than a the half. They went three goal. A play later, sophomore “We won’t have the 24-hour
minute to play in the second plays-and-out on its final three running back Sam Ojuri got rule on this one.”
quarter. Kicker Craig Alaniz possessions of the first half. stuffed for no gain from the 1.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
booted a 31-yard field goal NDSU also committed two NDSU settled for a 19-yard Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.
with 40 seconds to play in the turnovers in the opening 30 Ryan Jastram field goal that Peterson’s blog can be found
opening half. Bearkats senior minutes and had a punt par- gave the Bison a 3-0 lead with 3 at peterson.areavoices.com

North Dakota State football has won

TITLES
nine national titles after Saturday’s
victory. The previous eight titles were
won at the NCAA Division II level.
MVP
North Dakota State freshman linebacker
Travis Beck was named the game’s Most Valuable
Player thanks to his 63-yard interception return
that set up the team’s final touchdown.
The Forum BISON FOOTBALL Sunday, January 8, 2012 D5

FCS TITLE GAME

BY THE
NUMBERS

27
Number of yards North
Dakota State senior punter
Matt Voigtlander rushed for
on a fake punt in the third
quarter. NDSU was facing
a fourth-and-4 when
Voigtlander extended the
drive with a first-down
rush. One play later NDSU
took the lead when Brock
Jensen connected with
D.J. McNorton on a
39-yard pass.

84
The net yards rushing
for Sam Houston State’s
standout running back Tim
Flanders. Flanders, who
averaged 142.3 yards per
game during the FCS
playoffs, was held in check
most of the game by
NDSU’s stingy defense.

63
The number of yards
redshirt freshman
linebacker Travis Beck
returned an interception in David Samson / The Forum
the fourth quarter. Beck, of
Munich, N.D., was stopped North Dakota State defenders John Pike (15), Travis Beck (52), Chad Willson (45), Coulter Boyer (92), and Colten Heagle (20) celebrate
just shy of the goal line, but a fourth-down stop on Sam Houston State on Saturday at FC Dallas Stadium.
his return set up a score
that put NDSU up 17-6.

11
Total number of tackles
NDSU’s ‘Big D’ shines
in Texas title game
recorded by senior
linebacker Chad Willson.
That total was tops for the
Bison defense in the title
game victory.

왎 Scottie Hazelton’s Bison defense turns in another solid performance in the FCS playoffs.
6 Frisco, Texas inches in the first quarter
The final point tally for and NDSU turned that

Sam Houston State, well
below its 39.1 scoring
average this season. The
fewest amount of points
the Bearkats scored all
season was 20 in a win
over Western Illinois
on Sept. 1.
S
cottie Hazelton
grabbed his camera
and started shooting
video of the massive
celebration on the FC Dallas
Stadium field. Thousands of
North Dakota State fans
were singing along to
Queen’s “We Are the
Champions” amid more
momentum into a 19-yard
JEFF Ryan Jastram field goal and
KOLPACK a 3-0 lead.
The Bearkats got a pair of
The Forum
쑽 second-quarter field goals,
but even those were a moral
victory of sorts for the
Bison. The first came after
defensive coordinator, put a partially blocked punt

4 screaming and yelling than a

The number of third-down
conversions for Sam
Houston State in 18
attempts on Saturday. The
Bearkats also had a 1 of 4
conversion rate on fourth
down. NDSU had troubles
on third down as well,
going 1 of 13.
Kenny Chesney concert.
It was quite the Texas-
sized show, cowboys and
cowgirls. With the Bison
players and coaches on a
stage in the north end zone,
fans spanned from the end
zone to midfield.
“Anyone can win a
national championship,”
said Missouri Valley
Football Conference
commissioner Patty
together a staff and players
who gave up just one
touchdown in the last three
Division I Football
Championship Subdivision
playoff games.
“The kids played well,
didn’t they?” he said.
Yes they did.
It was another clinic in
defense, and this one
equaled the masterpiece of
the Georgia Southern
game. The Bearkats
gave the Bearkats the ball
near midfield.
The second came after a
punt return that gave Sam
Houston the ball at the
Bison 38-yard line. A 6-3 Carrie Snyder / The Forum
halftime deficit could have
North Dakota State’s Preston Evans tackles Sam
been 14-3.
“We’ve played well Houston State’s Torrance Williams on Saturday in Frisco.
throughout the playoffs,”
said Bison linebacker Chad he found running room on Fargo.
Willson. “That was the best only one drive all day. NDSU should probably
defensive game we’ve “They had a good worry more about losing its
played this year.” defensive scheme, one we defensive coordinator.

5-1
The FCS playoff record of
North Dakota State head
coach Craig Bohl. Bohl
has led the Bison to back-
to-back appearances in
the FCS playoffs.
Compiled by Tom Mix
Viverito, “but who can
bring 10,000 fans who
traveled 1,000 miles to
celebrate? It’s the world’s
biggest party.”
It was a party made
possible by the Bison
defense, which was
tremendous all day in the
17-6 win over Sam Houston
State (Texas) on Saturday
afternoon. Hazelton, the
averaged 2.3 yards per
carry, and it didn’t look like
it was that much.
NDSU stopped them on
fourth down three times,
and the first one served
notice that it was going to
be a different day for Sam
Houston. Quarterback
Brian Bell was pushed back
by the entire line of
scrimmage on fourth-and-
Willson is one of those
players you win national
titles with: smart and
intense. He led the way
with 11 tackles, bringing
all-world running back Tim
Flanders down by himself
on a few occasions.
Flanders had 287 yards in
Sam Houston’s semifinal
victory; he had 84 on
Saturday. For the most part,
hadn’t seen much on film,” That was some show, both
said Sam Houston center during the game and after.
Travis Watson. “It wasn’t the Sam
It became obvious in Houston home game like
December and January that we were expecting,”
the Bison have a defensive Willson said. “It was
staff that most FCS teams amazing. We’re lucky to
would drool for. An often- have them.”
asked question that you Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be
will hear for the next few reached at (701) 241-5546.
weeks is if head coach Kolpack’s NDSU media blog can be found
Craig Bohl will stay in at www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia

Voigtlander proves he can still run

왎 Former NDSU RB
converted to punter pulls
off successful fake punt.
By Jeff Kolpack
jkolpack@forumcomm.com
FRISCO, Texas – It was
like a Christmas present
that Matt Voigtlander had
to wait four months to
open. The North Dakota
State senior punter finally
got his chance to prove he
can still run with the ball.
A running back his first
three years with the Bison,
he switched to full-time
punter for this season. The
fake was always in the
playbook, but NDSU wait-
ed until Saturday to use it
for the first time this sea-
son.
It was a big play in the
17-6 win over Sam Houston
State (Texas) in the Divi-
sion I Football Champi-
onship Subdivision title
game. The 27-yard burst
came on fourth-and-4,
which gave the Bison a
shot of momentum after
not gaining much in its
first three plays of the sec-
ond half.
“It was wide open,”
Voigtlander said. “My eyes
were wide open.”
It led to a 39-yard touch-
down pass from Brock
Jensen to D.J. McNorton
on the next play and NDSU
never lost the lead.
The play was designed by
assistant coach Tim
Polasek and Voigtlander
said the way Sam Houston
lined up kept the fake in
play.
“We kept it in our hip
pocket,” said head coach
Craig Bohl, “and didn’t use
it until we felt we needed it.
We felt like we needed to
establish some momen-
tum. We were disappointed
we couldn’t come up with a
first down the normal
way.”
The 27 yards put the cap-
per on Voigtlander’s
impressive career yards
per carry statistic. He aver-
aged 8.4 yards per attempt
on 29 career carries com-
ing into the game.
Voigtlander got kidded
by his teammates after the
play; he was tackled by a
solo Bearkats defender.
“They said I shouldn’t
have gone down and I lost
some of it,” he said.
It was a productive day
all around for Voigtlander.
He averaged 44.2 yards on
10 punts including a
66-yarder in the first half
and another that was
downed by Bobby Ollman
on the 1-yard line.
“I was anticipating div-
ing for it, but the bounce
was pretty good,” Ollman
said.
It was part of a field posi-
tion battle that favored the
Bison almost the entire
second half. And the fake
punt started it.
“I can only say when it’s
happened to us and it’s
hard,” Bohl said. “It can
suck the life out of you and
it can be a momentum
changer.”
Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be
David Samson / The Forum
reached at (701) 241-5546.
North Dakota State punter Matt Voigtlander (23) heads upfield following a fake
Kolpack’s NDSU media blog can be
punt that helped the Bison convert on a fourth down during the FCS title game on
found
at www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia Saturday in Frisco.
D6 Sunday, January 8, 2012 BISON FOOTBALL The Forum

SUMMARY
쑽
North Dakota State 17,
Sam Houston State 6
SHSU 0 6 0 0– 6
NDSU 3 0 7 7 –17

First quarter
NDSU: FG Ryan Jastram 19, :03 seconds
remaining.
Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards, 5:56.
Key plays: Quarterback Brock Jensen hits
Warren Holloway for 13 yards to the 46 on third-
and-8. Jensen and tight end Matt Veldman hook
up for 29 yards on the next play to the SHS 25.
Jensen hits Ryan Smith for 14 yards on third-and-
6 to the 7. Bearkats stop two runs from inside the
2.
NDSU 3, SHSU 0

Second quarter
SHSU: FG Craig Alaniz 19, 2:18
Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 4:11.
Key plays: Bearkats par tially block Matt
Voigtlander’s punt and take over at the NDSU 48.
Tim Flanders gains 15 yards to the 31. He gets
13 yards to the 16 and gains another 10 yards to
the 6. Bison defense holds on two runs and an
incomplete pass.
NDSU 3, SHSU 3

SHSU: FG Alaniz 31, :40.

Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards, 1:04.
Key plays: Trey Diller returns punt 24 yards to
the Bison 38. Quar terback Brian Bell hits
Torrance Williams for 18 yards to the 19.
SHSU 6, NDSU 3

Third quarter
NDSU: D.J. McNorton 39 pass from Jensen
(Jastram kick), 12:47.
Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:13.
Key plays: Punter Matt Voigtlander takes fake
punt 39 yards to the SHSU 39. On next play,
McNorton takes middle screen and bursts up the
middle for touchdown.
NDSU 10, SHSU 6

Fourth quarter
NDSU: Jensen 1 run (Jastram kick), 8:45.
Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, :03.
Key plays: Linebacker Travis Beck picks off
Bell pass and returns it 63 yards to the 1. Jensen
sneaks it in on the next play.
NDSU 17, SHSU 6
David Samson / The Forum

North Dakota State’s D.J. McNorton breaks free on his touchdown run during the FCS championship game on Saturday in Frisco. Team statistics
SHSU NDSU
First downs 12 9

Bison fall back on reliable

Rushes-yards 42-95 34-115
Yards passing 115 120
Passes 12-32-2 10-20-1
Total yards 210 235
Punts-avg. 7-47.0 10-44.2
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

‘gap screen’ play for TD

Sacked-yards lost 0-0 2-16
Penalties-yards 3-15 4-35
Possession time 33:05 26:55

Individual statistics
Sam Houston State
Rushing No. Yds. Long TD
Tim Flanders 21 84 15 0
Jensen and McNorton connect for key 39-yard TD pass Richard Sincere
Torrance Williams
Ryan Wilson
9
1
2
14
8
4
5
8
2
0
0
0
By Jeff Kolpack NOTEBOOK Team 1 (-3) 0 0
Keith Blanton 1 (-4) 0 0
jkolpack@forumcomm.com 쑽 Brian Bell 7 (-8) 0 0
FRISCO, Texas – North Dako- Team totals 42 95 15 0
ta State went back to a familiar every minute,” Jensen said. Receiving No. Yds. Long TD
play to score its first touchdown “The docs did a great job of get- Tim Flanders 6 10 8 0
ting me back.” Torrance Williams 3 53 25 0
Saturday. The middle screen, Trey Diller 2 16 10 0
which worked so well last year He finished 10 of 20 passing Richard Sincere 1 36 36 0
but was heavily guarded by for 120 yards, one touchdown Team totals 12 115 36 0
opponents this year, helped the and one interception. Passing Comp Att Yds. Int. TD
Brian Bell 12 31 115 2 0
Bison defeat Sam Houston State Holloway, McNorton Richard Sincere 0 1 0 0 0
(Texas) Saturday afternoon. Team totals 12 32 115 2 0
The 39-yard pass from quarter- join 1,000-yard club Tackles (solo-assisted-total)
back Brock Jensen to running NDSU receiver Warren Hol- Jenkins 6-6-12, Darn. Taylor 7-3-10, Dari. Taylor

back D.J. McNorton gave NDSU loway went over 1,000 passing 2-3-5, Cleveland 2-3-5, Henry 0-5-5, Shaw 1-3-4,
David 1-2-3, Fieilo 1-2-3, Beauchamp 2-0-2,
a lead in the third quarter – an yards for the season, joining T.R. Swanson 1-1-2, Closner 1-1-2, Sneed 0-2-2, Bell
advantage the Bison would McDonald (1993) as the only 1-0-1, Lorance 1-0-1, Littlejohn 1-0-1, Fite 0-1-1,
Bison players to reach that mile- DeCambre 0-1-1, Weaver 0-1-1, Stewart 0-1-1,
never lose in beating the Bear- Sanders 0-1-1, Buse 0-0-0.
stone. Later, McNorton joined
kats 17-6 for the Division I Foot- Sacks: None.
him in the 1,000 club, giving
ball Championship Subdivision Interceptions: Jenkins 1-0
NDSU two running backs to
title at FC Dallas Stadium.
reach the milestone and one North Dakota State
It’s called a gap screen, which Rushing No. Yds. Long TD
receiver – a first for the pro-
almost became a staple play last D.J. McNorton 14 39 6 0
gram. Sam Ojuri eclipsed 1,000
season. Matt Voigtlander 1 27 27 0
yards earlier in the playoffs. Sam Ojuri 10 27 15 0
“But it didn’t work as much
Esley Thorton 1 10 10 0
this year because a lot of teams Etc. etc. etc. Brock Jensen 6 7 5 1
caught on to it,” McNorton said. The 20,586 fans helped the FCS Ryan Smith 2 5 10 0
Jensen said teams often had set a tournament record for Team totals 34 129 27 1
either man-to-man coverage on Receiving No. Yds. Long TD
attendance with 256,384. The D.J. McNorton 2 35 39 1
McNorton or employed a “spy” previous record was 209,761 in Ryan Smith 2 29 15 0
player on him. He also credited 1994. … NDSU became the 21st Warren Holloway 2 15 13 0
offensive coordinator Brent different team to win an FCS Matt Veldman 1 29 29 0
Derrick Lang 1 6 6 0
Vigen for the timing of the call, title. … The title run pushed Garrett Bruhn 1 6 6 0
which came one play after Matt Craig Bohl’s playoff record to Andrew Grothmann 1 0 0 0
Voigtlander’s fake punt run for a 5-1. … In 15 games, the Bison Team totals 10 120 39 0
first down. allowed just 23 points in the first Passing Comp Att Yds. Int. TD
Brock Jensen 10 20 120 1 1
“They were blitzing on every quarter and 34 in the third quar- Team totals 10 20 120 1 1
play, from the first drive on,” ter. Sam Houston was scoreless Tackles (solo-assisted-total)
Vigen said. “Anytime you take in both on Saturday. The inter- Willson 6-5-11, Evans 4-5-9, Beck 4-3-7, Jirik 4-
gambles, the flip of it is you can ceptions by John Pike and 2-6, Perry 3-3-6, Heagle 3-2-5, Emanuel 3-2-5,
Williams 3-1-4, Dudzik 2-1-3, Stoczynski 2-1-3,
get burned on the screen.” Travis Beck pushed NDSU’s sea- Drevlow 2-0-2, Juckem -1-2, Littlejohn 1-0-1, Van
son total to 20. … Quarterback Voorhis 1-0-1, Boyd 1-0-1, Shepherd 1-0-1, Boyer
Big hit left Jensen Brock Jensen finished his sin- 0-1-1, Voigtlander 0-1-1.
hurting in 2nd half gle-season school passing yards Sacks: Jirik, Stoczynski
Interceptions: Beck 1-63, Pike 1-0.
Jensen had a difficult time record at 2,524, besting Steve
walking after the game, the Walker’s 2007 record of 2,327.
result of a hit in the back he But Jensen finished with 219 SUNDAY MORNING
took at the end of the first half. completions, one off of Tony
“Three guys came at me and I Stauss’ school record of 220. … QUARTERBACK WITH
took a helmet to the back,” he Kicker Ryan Jastram tied STEVE WALKER
said. Shawn Bibeau’s single-season
He left the game for one play (a record for made field goals with Steve Walker is
10-yard quarterback draw by 16. David Samson / The Forum the all-time leading
backup Esley Thorton), but Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be reached at North Dakota State’s John Pike leaps for an interception to passer at NDSU
returned in the second half. (701) 241-5546. and was 30-6 as
It wasn’t easy.
seal the win for the Bison against Sam Houston State in the FCS
Kolpack’s NDSU media blog can be found the team’s starting
“It got tighter and tighter at www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia championship game on Saturday in Frisco. QB from 2004-07.
He lives in Fargo.
Check here each
North Dakota State
week for his take on the team’s
quarterback Brock game.
Jensen slides through
the grasp of Sam Bison turn in big win in Texas
Saturday’s game in Texas was
Houston State one for the ages. The national
defender Preston champion Bison continued as they
Sanders as NDSU did all year and played like the best
offensive lineman Billy team in FCS football. Today, it is
official and they are the best team
Turner (77) blocks
in the nation. The entire weekend
during the FCS title was pandemonium in Texas, and
game on Saturday in NDSU capped off the weekend
Frisco. with the win of the year.
Carrie Snyder The game was a total team win.
The Forum When the offense needed to step
up, they did. When the defense
needed to step up, they did. When
special teams needed to step up,
they did. The guys played dinged
up, but came out of the title fight as
champs.
Congrats Bison. Once a Bison,
always a Bison.
The Forum
Home-state kid plays hero
왎 North Dakota product
Beck named game’s
MVP after title-clinching
interception return.
By Eric Peterson
epeterson@forumcomm.com
FRISCO, Texas – Even a
U.S. senator approved this
storyline.
A small-town North
Dakota kid being named
the most valuable player of
a national title game, play-
ing linebacker for North
Dakota State.
That drama played out
Saturday at FC Dallas Sta-
dium.
Bison freshman Travis
Beck had a critical 63-yard
interception return in the
fourth quarter, which led to
a touchdown. That play
helped NDSU slam the door
on a 17-6 victory over previ-
ously unbeaten Sam Hous-
ton State for the Division I
Football Subdivision Cham-
pionship title.
“A freshman from North
Dakota is the MVP of the
national championship
game, isn’t that some-
thing?” North Dakota Sen.
John Hoeven said. “That’s a
great story.”
The story got better in the
postgame news conference
when Beck apologized to
his grandpa, Norman
Wirth, for falling a yard
short of returning the
interception for a touch-
down.
“And grandpa Wirth, if
you’re watching,” Beck
said with a laugh. “I’m
sorry I didn’t get that
touchdown like you said.
But maybe next year.”
Beck grew up near tiny
Calio, went to high school
in Munich and played foot-
ball for Langdon-Munich.
He was jokingly asked if all
30 people from Munich
were going to celebrate the
victory.
“They’re probably all
down here,” Beck cracked.
He estimated around 25 of
his family members were at
the game.
Bison ‘D’ makes a
mark on Bearkats
By Eric Peterson
epeterson@forumcomm.com
FRISCO, Texas – Tim
Flanders had a direct
response when asked if the
North Dakota State defense
was the best he faced this
season.
“No doubt,” said the Sam
Houston State sophomore
running back.
The Bison grounded the
high-flying Bearkats en
route to a 17-6 victory Sat-
urday for the Division I
Football Championship
Subdivision title.
Sam Houston State was
averaging 39 points per
game entering Saturday,
the top scoring offense in
FCS. Those six points in the
title game were a season-
low for Sam Houston State.
“They really played us
well and got us out of our
rhythm and it was hard to
come back from,” said
Bearkats senior center
Travis Watson.
Flanders rushed for an
eye-popping 287 yards
against Montana in the
semifinals. The yards were
North Dakota State players Travis Beck (52) and Cole Jirik (93) stuff Sam Houston
State running back Tim Flanders on fourth down on Saturday in Frisco.
BISON FOOTBALL Sunday, January 8, 2012 D7
Photos by David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Travis Beck is mobbed by teammates after his interception on Saturday in Frisco.
“If we had more tickets Beck raced up the Bison North
I’m sure it would have been sideline and after he got Dakota
more,” Beck said. inside the 10-yard line, State
The Bison held a 10-6 lead launched himself toward linebacker
in the fourth quarter when the end zone. Beck came up
Travis Beck
Beck delivered. short, but that set up a first-
Sam Houston State faced and-goal at the 1. intercepts a
a third down-and-13 from Quarterback Brock pass intended
the Bison 48. Jensen scored on the next for Sam
Beck dropped into cover- play. That gave NDSU a 17-6 Houston State
age. He intercepted Bear- lead with 8:45 remaining in wide receiver
kats quarterback Brian the game.
Bell near the Bison 35-yard “I’m sure it will sink in Torrance
line. maybe on the plane ride or Williams on
After he secured the ball, maybe this week,” Beck Saturday in
Beck cut back across the said. “I hope it will sink in, the Football
field and picked up a not now.” Championship
crunching block from Readers can reach Forum reporter
Bison defensive back Chris- Subdivision
Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.
tian Dudzik, Peterson’s blog can be found title game in
“I heard that,” Beck said. at peterson.areavoices.com Frisco.
SAM HOUSTON STATE
NOTEBOOK
pretty good in those situa-
tions this season, but not
today.”
Dining out
tonight?
쑽
The Bison defense also
much tougher to come by in had key stops on two fourth
the title game. The Bison down-and-short situations.
limited the 5-foot-9, 210-
pound dynamo to 84 rush- Sam Houston State’s
ing yards on 21 attempts. defense stingy in defeat
His longest run from scrim- Sam Houston State’s
mage was 15 yards. defense was solid in defeat,
“They are very assign- holding the Bison to just
ment sound,” Flanders nine first downs.
said. “Their defensive coor- NDSU struggled to sus-
dinator did a very good job tain drives and was 1 of 13
of taking away our option on third-down conversions.
game. Big ups to them, just The Bison were held to 235
an overall good defense, but yards, including 115 rush-
we knew that coming into ing.
the game.”
“A couple great defenses
North Dakota State out there playing today
without question,” Fritz
dominates on 3rd down said. “I think those were
The NDSU defense was at the two top defenses in the
its best on third down.
country without question
Sam Houston State was 4 and the two top teams.”
of 18 on third-down conver- Fritz also liked the way the
sions. That made it difficult Bison carried themselves.
for the Bearkats to sustain “I thought they were a
drives all afternoon.
“We had a tough time,” said.
really classy outfit,” Fritz Access the best deals at
said Bearkats head coach
Willie Fritz. “They closed Readers can reach Forum reporter
Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.
restaurants in the Red River Valley
the door on us on quite a
few occasions. We’ve been
Peterson’s blog can be found
at peterson.areavoices.com on your mobile device
DOWNLOAD
Available in the
Market
Available in the
David Samson / The Forum
App
Store
R001672289
D8 Sunday, January 8, 2012 BISON FOOTBALL The Forum

David Samson / The Forum

North Dakota State defenders congratulate John Pike after his interception sealed the victory against Sam Houston State during the Football Championship
Subdivision title game Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

LONE STAR LIFT

A number of different players stepped up to secure
the FCS championship for North Dakota State on Saturday

David Samson / The Forum

North Dakota State cornerback Marcus Williams is swarmed by

fans as he walks to FC Dallas Stadium on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

Carrie Snyder / The Forum

Carrie Snyder / The Forum
Natalie Stoltman of Minneapolis put off her honeymoon after
North Dakota State’s Chad Willson gets a hug while celebrating the getting married on New Year’s so her husband, Bartt, could attend
victory against Sam Houston State on Saturday in Frisco, Texas. Saturday’s game in Frisco, Texas.