The Fargodome will host a top of the standings battle on Saturday as the North Dakota State Bison take on the Youngstown State Penguins. The 2:30 p.m. kickoff is the annual Harvest Bowl, meaning the season debut of the gold uniforms. Since their introduction in 2011, the Bison are 22-0 when wearing gold.
Both teams enter the contest with 4-1 marks in the Missouri Valley. Each team’s defeat came at the hands of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The Penguins lost to the Jacks one week after NDSU’s 17-19 defeat, falling 10-24 in Brookings. SDSU joins the tie for the conference lead after falling to Illinois State last week. NDSU has not lost two straight games in the Fargodome since 2009.
The good news for the Bison is there could be a series of returns from injury in the lead up to the game. King Frazier had x-rays on his ribs after leaving the UNI game last week. Those X-rays showed no bone damage, so it is a cartilage issue for the Bison’s leading running back. He is questionable for Saturday.
Cornerback Jaylaan Wimbush appears to be a go for this weekend. Erik Perkins could return as well on punt returns and receiver. Bruce Anderson will be sit out once again with a sprained ankle, but could return next week.
The Bison backfield will need to be firing on all cylinders to break down a tough Penguin front line. YSU has surrendered just 102 yards per game on the ground. Depth will be very important, seeing as the Bison have failed to move the ball much late in the game.
NDSU gained just 41 yards in the fourth quarter against UNI. That has been an issue the last three weeks. They have scored just 10 points in the fourth in those games.
Once again, the spotlight will be on the Bison defense. YSU comes in with an average of 389.6 yards per game and 23.9 points per game.
Leading the charge is Martin Ruiz, the senior running back. Ruiz is a ground and pound runner, averaging 86.9 yards per game. Ruiz leads the team with seven touchdowns, two more than his backfield partner Tevin McCaster.
Under center, YSU has plenty of options. The Penguins have used four different quarterbacks so far this season. They seem to have settled with Ricky Davis as the starter. The junior has started six games so far this year, averaging 144.0 yards per game. Davis is also a dual threat, adding on another 56.7 yards on the ground per game.
The wrinkle comes in how YSU head coach, former Nebraska head coach, Bo Pelni, uses his other quarterbacks. Like last week, the Bison must prepare for multiple quarterbacks to shut down the Penguins.
Expect the secondary for the Bison to battle again after forcing four turnovers against UNI. Tre Dempsey now is tied for lead in the Missouri Valley with five interceptions. The junior safety had a pair last week to earn Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The winner of the game will control their own destiny in search of a Missouri Valley crown.