Missouri Valley Football Conference Week 7 Review

On By Kent Schmidt
NDSU RB Adam Cofield rushed for touchdowns from 1 and 37 yards out in the fourth quarter to help lead the Bison to a 46-14 win over UNI. (Courtesy of NDSU Athletics)

The second week of Missouri Valley Football Conference in-conference game resulted in three teams remaining undefeated in conference play. North Dakota State, South Dakota, and South Dakota State are the three schools that moved to 2-0 in league play. NDSU remained the only MVFC undefeated team in all action.

This week, NDSU looked vulnerable in the first half but scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half to cruise to a 46-14 victory over Northern Iowa. It was the 27th consecutive victory for the Bison–the second best winning streak in the FCS all-time and second just to the a record held from 2014-16 of 33 games won in a row.

The question for the league right now is who can stop NDSU’s streak. Coming into the season, the questions with many new starters and a new head coach in Matt Entz so far have been answered and thensome.

NDSU held an 18-14 lead at halftime and took the momentum early in the third quarter when Bison cornerback Josh Hayes leveled UNI receiver Deion McShane to cause a fumble recovered by NDSU’s Marquise Bridges.

NDSU quarterback Trey Lance was 10 of 18 passing for 145 yards and three touchdowns, including passes of 36 yards to Phoenix Sproles and 19 yards to Christian Watson that gave the Bison a 15-0 lead in the first quarter.

SDSU scored 35 points in the second half, overcoming a sluggish start to defeat Youngstown State, 38-28. The Jackrabbits took the lead for good on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Taking over at its own 9 after a punt, Pierre Strong, Jr. ran for 10 yards before J’Bore Gibbs hooked up with Cade Johnson deep downfield for an 81-yard touchdown pass. Johnson then passed to Blake Kunz for the two-point conversion and a 24-21 Jackrabbit lead.

Gibbs completed 14-of-26 passes for 210 yards and also finished as the Jackrabbits’ leading rusher with 75 yards on 12 attempt

Indiana State scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Western Illinois 201-10. Defense kept the Sycamores in the game through the first half as the ISU offense was stagnant for much of the first 30 minutes of action, converting just three first downs and collecting only 71 yards of offense.

Indiana State outgained Western Illinois 316 to 214, including 191 to 112 on the ground. Peterson Kerlegrand led the team with 70 yards rushing.

Illinois State went 75 yards in its opening possession that was capped off by a two yard run be James Robinson for a touchdown against Southern Illinois and the Redbirds never looked back, as they picked up a tough 21-7 road win in Carbondale.

Robinson finished the game with 150 yards and a touchdown for the Redbirds, marking his third 100-plus yard effort of the season and fifth 90-plus yard performance through six games.

South Dakota quarterback Austin Simmons threw four touchdowns while the Coyote defense forced four turnovers in a 45-10 blitzing of Missouri State. Simmons completed 15 of 21 passes for 228 yards in three quarters of work. He connected with Caleb Vander Esch twice for touchdowns.

See video highlights of the five conference games wih a detailed recap of each in the hyperlink in the score.

North Dakota State 46 Northern Iowa 14 (Fargo, N.D.)

South Dakota State 38 Youngstown State 28 (Youngstown, Ohio)

Indiana State 20 Western Illinois 10 (Terre Haute, Ind.)

Illinois State 21 Southern Illinois 7 (Carbondale, Ill.)

South Dakota 45 Missouri State 10 (Springfield, Mo.)

 

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