The North Dakota State Bison and Eastern Washington Eagles are battling it out in Frisco, Texas for the FCS National Championship. North Dakota State is looking for its seventh national championship in the past eight years, while Eastern Washington is seeking its second national title, its first since 2010.
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Klieman Soaking In Last Days As NDSU’s HC
Looking at the Eagles’ 2019 Schedule
Looking at the Bison’s 2019 Schedule[divider]
Here’s how the action unfolded in Frisco:
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North Dakota State got on the board first after a 13-play, 60-yard drive stalled in the red zone. Cam Pedersen‘s 36-yard field goal attempt went through the uprights to give NDSU a 3-0 lead.
And @NDSUfootball is held to a FG!#FCSChampionship
1st Quarter
EWU – 0
NDSU – 3 pic.twitter.com/WjxeBDCbg7— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU got the ball back after a defensive stop and immediately drove the field as Ty Brooks took the first handoff of the drive 50 yards to set the Bison up in the red zone.
#FCSChampionship #NDSUBison Big run for RB Brooks, looks like Wide Zone w/Force, AA&agility flashed on blocks to spring RB on the edge, LEGIT WR blocks downfield for a 50+yard gain and sets up their first TD pic.twitter.com/2o1vfIq9z6
— Nick Turchyn (@Tmanic21) January 5, 2019
If you listen closely you can hear the sound of a Bison thundering down the field.
Ty Brooks with a 50 Dash#FCSChampionship | #RaiseTheBar pic.twitter.com/wyEwX62xny
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
Easton Stick kept it himself a few plays later to score the first TD of the game, capping the four-play, 68-yard drive to give NDSU a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
Guess who?!
Easton Stick finds the end zone first for the Bison touchdown and his 14th rushing TD!#FCSChampionship
1st Quarter
EWU – 0
NDSU – 10 pic.twitter.com/dvKi41MVGg— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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Eastern got on the board to begin the second quarter as Roldan Alcobendas hit a 40-yard field goal to make it a 10-3 game, capping a nine-play, 60-yard drive that included a 39-yard completion from Eric Barriere to Nsimba Webster and a 4th down conversion on the ground from Barriere.
Streak broken with one kick!
EWU for ending NDSU’s 2nd quarter point shut out streak.
(Oct. 27th 2018)#FCSChampionship | #GoEags pic.twitter.com/EBa973XsrX— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU answered with another methodical touchdown drive with Stick finding the endzone with his feet for the second time in the first half. His four-yard TD run capped a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive to give NDSU the 17-3 lead.
STICK IT TO EM!
Easton Stick rushes for 4 yards and continues to sharpen his resume! #FCSChampionship
2nd Quarter
EWU – 3
NDSU – 17 pic.twitter.com/CxSFinGOen— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU’s Levi Jordheim came up with the first turnover of the game, but the Bison were unable to capitalize and punted back to EWU.
TURNOVER!
Levi Jordheim you’ve been cleared to fly!#FCSChampionship | #RaiseTheBar pic.twitter.com/7x8FPkVd6t
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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Eastern took advantage of the defensive stop as the Eagles drove down the field and converted a trick play on fourth and goal. The Eagles lined up for a field goal, but the holder — Gunner Talkington — tossed a shovel pass to Jayce Gilder who took it two yards for the score, making it a 17-10 NDSU lead with under 30 seconds left in the half.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES
The Eags open the playbook and find pay dirt and a FAKE FG! #FCSChampionship | #SCTop10
2nd Quarter
EWU – 10
NDSU – 17 pic.twitter.com/dFG5SCfMXK— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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The second half opened with a flurry of turnovers as Barriere was intercepted by James Hendricks immediately followed by Stick getting picked off by D’londo Tucker. Moments later Talkington, filling in for Barriere, was sacked by Stanley Jones and fumbled, and Jones recovered.
Stick capitalized this time, finding Darrius Shepherd for a 23-yard TD to make it a 24-10 game.
Leading the team…
D. Shepherd for 23 yards and a 2 score lead for @NDSUfootball #FCSChampionship | #RaiseTheBar pic.twitter.com/gy9UItNJsL
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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The wild second half continued as Sam McPherson answered for EWU with a 75-yard touchdown scamper to make it a 24-17 game.
What a run.
What a move. @EWUFootball Sam McPherson FOR 75 YARDS on the first play of the drive! #FCSChampionship
3rd Quarter
EWU – 17
NDSU – 24 pic.twitter.com/T7PUZWco6i— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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Another quick score made it 31-17 NDSU as Stick answered with a 78-yard bomb to Shepherd for their second TD connection of the game.
They come up with the longest pass of the year in FRISCO!@NDSUFootball Easton Stick with a 75 Yard to Shepherd #FCSChampionship
3rd Quarter
EWU – 17
NDSU – 31 pic.twitter.com/rKoB8Z5NS1— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU went on a 19-play, 88-yard drive, eating up 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but Pedersen’s field goal attempt was wide left, leaving the door open for EWU.
Cam Pedersen misses his first FG of the season and the Eagles breathe a sigh of relief! #FCSChampionship
4th Quarter
EWU – 17
NDSU – 31 pic.twitter.com/AQe9lhaHxD— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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Eastern capitalized and quickly went down the field to score, as Barriere ran it in to cap a four-play, 80-yard drive that took just a minute off of the clock and made it a one-score game at 31-24 with 2:19 to play.
NOT SO FAST!
Eric Barriere takes it into his own hands and rushes for 5 yards and the TOUCHDOWN the Eagles aren’t going away!#FCSChampionship
4th Quarter – 2:19
EWU – 24
NDSU – 31 pic.twitter.com/y8mPk0lpFi— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU recovered the ensuing onside kick, and on their way to running out the clock, Stick broke free for his third rushing touchdown of the game, a 46-yarder, to make it 38-24 with 1:16 to play.
Easton Stick.
NAIL
IN
THE
COFFIN#FCSChampionship pic.twitter.com/lC03US5deF— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2019
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NDSU managed a pair of sacks on the final EWU drive of the game to seal the victory for the Bison.
