Stick, N Dakota St beat S Dakota St in FCS quarterfinals


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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Easton Stick threw for 188 yards and a score and added 83 yards rushing and two touchdowns and North Dakota State controlled the clock for nearly 41 minutes in its 36-10 win over South Dakota State in the FCS Quarterfinals on Saturday.

The Bison have won 22-straight postseason games.

Stick's first touchdown, a 3-yard run, capped a 20-play, 82 yard drive that consumed 12 minutes, nine seconds and gave NDSU (12-1) a 14-10 lead with 1:48 left in the first half.

"Where it helps us is keeping that offense they have on the sideline," said NDSU head coach Chris Klieman. "It gives our defense time to make an adjustment and gives our offense a ton of momentum."

"That's huge. We talk about staying on the field," said NDSU quarterback Easton Stick. "Guys executed and made some big plays on that drive."

A 5-yard touchdown run by Brady Mengarelli and a 34-yard field goal by Chase Vinatieri gave the Jackrabbits (9-4) a 10-0 lead with 4:33 left in the first quarter. Lance Dunn's 49-yard scoring run about three minutes later was the first of 36 unanswered points for the Bison.

The Bison had 302 yards rushing and 490 total yards. King Frazier had 15 carries for 101 yards and Lance Dunn added 91 yards rushing and a touchdown.

South Dakota State's Taryn Christion, who had 141 yards rushing and 303 yards passing in a 19-17 win over NDSU on Oct. 15, finished with just 155 yards passing with one interception on Saturday.

"Preparation. Coaches put us in great situation," said NDSU safety Tre Dempsey "We played with a little bit of extra fire."

The Jackrabbits had just 192 total yards.

"We didn't get back into the game," said SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier. "So then it becomes advantage defense when you know you have to throw the ball. Even when we ran the ball, they did a nice job of stopping us."

The Bison improved to 3-0 in the playoffs against SDSU since the teams moved to the FCS.

THE TAKEAWAY

NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison will host James Madison in the FCS Semifinals. It will be the sixth straight appearance in the FCS Semifinals for NDSU.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: The Jackrabbits made their deepest playoff run since moving to Division I. They were eliminated from postseason play by NDSU for the third time since 2012.

UP NEXT

NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison play James Madison in the playoffs for the second time. The two teams met in the 2011 FCS Quarterfinals with NDSU defeating the Dukes 26-14. It has yet to be determined if the game will be played Friday, December 16 or Saturday, December 17.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: Season is over.

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DANIEL GUNDERSON

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