The Bison’s 35 point win was not as close as the score suggested

I could copy and paste any stat line from 90 percent of the other Bison football games into this article and nobody would know the difference. Newsflash: Trey Lance was efficient, the running backs ran for a bazillion yards and the defense was once again an immovable object. There was nothing new. What the Bison’s 49-14 win over the South Dakota Coyotes was, was a reminder that this team will not quit. They have no letdown games. They are a marching machine that tells teams to move or be moved.

The Bison are now 11-0 and are now the champions of the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the ninth straight season. And perhaps more importantly (depending on who you ask), NDSU has now won 32 straight games. The Bison can almost taste the current FCS record of 33 straight wins (also held by the Herd).

One of the cool parts of Saturday’s drubbing was the Bison uniforms. The Herd played homage to some of the greatness of their past by sporting the old fashion Bison logo on their helmets. It was a reminder that the NDSU tradition of winning has been around for decades.

Saturday was also Senior Day. The Bison have 14 fifth-year seniors on their roster. Although this almost certainly will be the Bison’s last home game of the year, this was the last regular-season home game for the Herd in 2019. All 14 seniors were honored by being introduced in front of the appreciative Fargodome before the game. This senior class has been through three championships, a 39-3 record at home and a 64-5 record overall since joining the Bison program in 2015.

Saturday was also a day of firsts for the Herd. Zeb Noland notched his first career touchdown pass as a Bison. Noland’s touchdown pass went to fullback Hunter Luepke who notched his first two touchdowns of his career, one on the ground and one through the air. On the defensive side of the ball, Tony Pierce was able to get in on the fun. The redshirt freshman from Lake Alfred, Florida secured his first career sack with five minutes left in the third quarter.

The Herd was also able to cumulate 700 total yards on offense. This was just the third time in the history of NDSU that the Bison have secured 700 yards on offense. This is also coming a week after the 690-yard performance against Western Illinois. This Trey Lance-led Bison offense is clearly feeling themselves. The Bison will score points through the air, but break your spirit with their stable of running backs in the backfield.

The last thing this win did is all-but guarantee a home-field advantage in the FCS playoffs for the Bison. Graduating the most seniors in school history before the season has started is a heck of an accomplishment. However, it is well known this team won’t be satisfied until they’re celebrating in Frisco.