FCS playoffs: South Dakota State falls to top-ranked North Dakota State in semifinals

FARGO – The semifinal round of the FCS playoffs remains the high-water mark for the South Dakota State football team, as for the second year in a row their season ended one win shy of a trip to Frisco, this time to the dynasty that is top-ranked, defending national champion and bitter rival, North Dakota State.

Playing for outgoing coach Chris Klieman for the last time at the Fargodome, the Bison remained unbeaten and advanced to their seventh national championship game in eight years, looking for their seventh title. The 44-21 win over the Jackrabbits was their 20th straight win. The Bison’s last loss came to the Jacks last year in Brookings.

But beating NDSU in the regular season is something the Jacks have proven they can do. Beating them in the playoffs is another thing, as SDSU fell to 0-4 in the FCS tournament against their rivals. The Bison have ended SDSU’s season in the playoffs in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

There was a school of thought going into this one that with Klieman leaving to take over Kansas State after the season, and even traveling to Kansas this week to meet his new team, the Bison would be knocked off their game by the potential distractions or emotions of losing their coach.

There was another school of thought, though, that suggested the Bison would be emboldened by the situation, extra motivated to make sure their coach won his last home game and rode off to the Big 12 as a national champion.

It was the latter that won out.

“Never underestimate the power of people that love each other and support each other,” Klieman said. “All the things that happened this week – all it did was galvanize this locker room and bring it closer together.”

Of course Klieman wasn’t the only one taking the field at the Dome for the last time. There was NDSU’s decorated senior class, led by quarterback Easton Stick, and they wanted to walk off the turf for the last time as winners, too.

Stick, a finalist for national player of the year, gave a command performance. He rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 12-of-15 passes for 169 yards and a score. The Bison gained 608 yards of offense, rushed for 439, never turned the ball over and completely wore down SDSU in the second half, turning what was a competitive game for a half into a second half rout. It was eerily familiar to the teams’ last playoff meeting, when NDSU scored 36 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0 early.

“A tough game for us – give credit to them,” said a somber John Stiegelmeier, who fell to 158-100 as the Jackrabbit coach. “Easton Stick was the big difference in the football game. I thought he played like a champion.”

SDSU fought. Certainly on offense. Taryn Christion did not go out with one of the best games of his career, but he certainly didn’t hold anything back in his final college game. He took a beating, leaving the game twice, and admitted after the game it was the most punishment he’s taken.

Christion threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns, including a gorgeous 52-yard bomb to Cade Johnson that briefly gave SDSU some life late in the third quarter, cutting a 35-14 lead to 35-21. NDSU answered with a 15-play, nine minute drive, and while it only ended in a field goal, the Jacks were down 17 with only six minutes to play by then.

“We knew their plan was running Stick,” said Jacks cornerback Jordan Brown. “That’s what they do. They run Easton. He’s a heck of a player. You’ve got to make tackles.”

Missed tackles are always present when Stick is under center, but the Jacks got pushed back in the trenches, too. It wasn’t a good night for SDSU up front on either side of the ball.

“We got handled a little bit,” Stiegelmeier said.

After a hard fought and extremely physical first half, in which NDSU built a 14-7 lead, the Bison offense went into full beast mode in the second half, scoring on four consecutive drives. The first three ended on Bruce Anderson touchdown runs, allowing the Bison to take control. The touchdown pass from Christion to Johnson breathed some life back into SDSU, but then came the nine minute march.

The Jacks finish 10-3, their second straight year of double digit wins, and second ever. That certainly suggest a program on the upswing.

But the Bison machine keeps rolling on. Even when Klieman leaves.

“Let’s not take away from (the seniors), it was their last game, too,” Klieman said when asked about the emotions of coaching in Fargo for the last time. “I definitely soaked it all in. I wanted to make sure I thanked those fans. It was extremely loud and they were into the game.”

S. Dakota St. 7 0 14 0—21

N. Dakota St. 7 7 21 9—44

First Quarter

NDSU_Stick 5 run (Pedersen kick), 5:11.

SDST_Strong Jr. 30 run (Vinatieri kick), 0:51.

Second Quarter

NDSU_Stick 34 run (Pedersen kick), 1:35.

Third Quarter

NDSU_Anderson 1 run (Pedersen kick), 14:25.

SDST_Kunz 8 pass from Christion (Vinatieri kick), 10:57.

NDSU_Anderson 14 pass from Stick (Pedersen kick), 5:52.

NDSU_Anderson 41 run (Pedersen kick), 3:32.

SDST_Johnson 52 pass from Christion (Vinatieri kick), 0:27.

Fourth Quarter

NDSU_FG Pedersen 32, 6:21.

NDSU_Stick 28 run (kick failed), 4:05.

___

SDST NDSU

First downs 17 25

Rushes-yards 31-175 49-439

Passing 182 169

Comp-Att-Int 11-27-1 12-15-0

Return Yards 75 56

Punts-Avg. 6-40.0 2-47.5

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0

Penalty-Yards 5-32 9-70

Time of Possession 25:16 34:44

___

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_S. Dakota St., P. Strong Jr. 20-135, T. Christion 10-32, C. Wilson 1-8. N. Dakota St., E. Stick 16-147, S. Wilson 2-86, B. Anderson 9-79, A. Cofield 6-77, T. Brooks 12-48, D. Shepherd 1-5.

PASSING_S. Dakota St., T. Christion 10-26-1-180, C. Johnson 1-1-0-2. N. Dakota St., E. Stick 12-15-0-169.

RECEIVING_S. Dakota St., C. Johnson 3-89, I. Hill 2-44, J. Brown 1-19, A. Anderson 1-16, B. Kunz 2-10, T. Christion 1-2, P. Strong Jr. 1-2. N. Dakota St., D. Shepherd 4-71, S. Wilson 1-32, B. Ellefson 1-15, N. Jenson 1-15, B. Anderson 1-14, C. Watson 2-11, D. Freeman 1-8, P. Sproles 1-3.

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