FCS North Dakota State came into Saturday’s game against Iowa expecting to win.
So after scoring a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Bison decided to go for the two-point conversion and the win.
But the Iowa defense stepped up and stopped the Bison’s two-point attempt as the Hawkeyes held on to the lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
“If we didn’t make it I thought we could stop them,” North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman said of the two-point conversion attempt.
The Bison defense did just that as the offense got the ball with just under two minutes for one last drive. Quarterback Easton Stick — who threw for 124 yards and a touchdown — scrambled for a 29-yard run to set up a potentially game-winning field goal.
Bison kicker Cam Pedersen then stepped up and drilled a 37-yard field as time expired to give the visiting Bison a 23-21 victory for arguably the biggest win in school history.
You are no joke, @NDSUfootball.
Great game. Congrats on the win. https://t.co/pvl31CuZON
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 17, 2016
The win marked the fifth consecutive win over a FBS opponent for NDSU and was just the fourth loss by a ranked FBS team to an FCS school. But NDSU isn’t just another FCS team as the Bison have won the last five FCS national titles.
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard completed just 11 of 22 passes in the loss, but did throw for three touchdowns. The Hawkeyes didn’t have much of a running game as they tallied just 34 yards on 25 carries for a measly average of 1.4 yard per carry.
With the loss, Iowa’s nine-game home winning streak was snapped as well as its playoff chances.
Next Opponents
North Dakota State: The Bison return home to face a decent Missouri State team in their league opener.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes open the Big Ten season with a trip to Rutgers next weekend.
