NDSU vs Weber State 41 to 14

craigmaas

The 2015 Klieman Project

After the loss to Montana, two weeks ago, coach Klieman had a number of problems to address. Foremost was his star Quarterback, #11 Carson Wentz. Carson had a high ankle sprain that he played through in the fourth quarter of the Montana game. The game might have gone the other way if Klieman had taken Carson out of the game. Two weeks later, is Carson in good health? Can he run when he needs to? When he wants to?

At the 10:13 mark in the first quarter the question was answered: Carson ran 27 yards for a touchdown. Carson was making cuts with his unique style of running. (Think Frankenstein’s monster, only faster.) Now that the question was answered, we saw less of Carson running around. I’m sure coach Klieman didn’t want to push his luck. (Carson did run six more times for a total of 46 yards.)

The second issue for coach Klieman was his young defense. The defense is a big question mark. They were chewed up in the Montana game, especially in the second half. In this game our defense did not look promising, when Weber State’s #1 Cam Livingston grabbed a pass from #10 Jadrian Clark and took it 68 yards for a score at the 4:02 mark of the first quarter. This touchdown came on a fumble by #22 King Fraiser. So by the time the first quarter was over, there was plenty of reason to be nervous in the South End Zone stands. This week saw the return of #6 C.J. Smith in the secondary. The defense found its stride and the Weber offense never scored another point.
This was the week Bison fans got the full measure of Running Back, and Moorhead native, #25 Chase Morlock. Chase took a pass from Carson, with 12:35 left in the half, 55 yards for a touchdown. He did it again at 9:57. This time for 47 yards, and the hometown fans were going crazy. Wide receiver and sixth year player, #82 Zach Vraa finished out the half with a 23 yard pass from Chase for the Bison’s fourth touchdown. Zach had to made some moves on the defenders, juggling the ball as he crossed the goal line.

The third issue for coach Klieman was his kicking game. In the Montana game, #19 Ben LeCompte had to do it all: Kick offs, punts, extra points, and field goals. Ben has the skills but the work load is too much. Freshman #36 Cam Petersen was added to the lineup this week. Cam kicked all the extra points, and two field goals at 7:26 in the 3rd Quarter and 13:58 in the 4th Quarter.

Bandana Boy, who sits behind us, was taunting the Weber players. He was yelling at #13 Eric Wilkes, standing on our goal line. Eric took the kick off 100 yards for a touchdown. I turned to Bandana Boy, “Thanks a lot. You jinxed it. You did this last year too.” He looked pretty sheepish.
At 6:34 in the fourth quarter, Carson Wentz put together a five play drive capped by a 3 yard touchdown run by #22 King Fraiser. Right in front of us. See my video

The NDSU Bison beat the Weber State Wildcats 41 to 14. NDSU has 281 yards passing to Weber’s 153. 305 yards rushing to Weber’s 53. NDSU had possession of the ball for 40:04 minutes to Weber’s 19:56. The Bison were 9/18 on third down conversions to the Wildcat’s 1/13. Looking at these stats and the play on the field, I would say the Klieman’s 2015 project is going in the right direction.
Weber State went on to have a 7–5 Season. The Wildcats beat Montana 24 – 21 in overtime on October 10 in Missoula.

Craig Maas: 2015 Bison Football &emdash; DSC02271

NDSU #25 Chase Morlock was a ‘Beast’ today on offense. –Photo by Craig Maas.

Note: I wrote the above Overview shortly after the game, which I attended and photographed. My photographs cover most of the game and each photo’s description follows the play-by-play, so I recommend you look at the photos in the gallery or use the slideshow for a detailed play-by-play of the game. I wrote an abbreviated Summary of the game below while watching the game on YouTube.com.

First Quarter
On NDSU’s first play, RB #22 King Frazier rushes for 23 yards. After three short runs and two passes QB #11 Carson Wentz runs 27 yards for a touchdown. #36 Cam Pedersen kicks the extra point. 7 plays, 70 yards and NDSU leads 7 to 0.
Weber’s first drive is stalled by penalties and tackles for losses.
NDSU’s second drive is about to score when Weber’s #37 Mitch Tulane strips the football from #22 King Fraiser at the Weber’s QB #10 Jadrian Clark takes advantage of the fumble with a touchdown pass to #01 Cam Livingston, who beat his Bison coverage. 2 plays, 76 yards, and #36 Josh Kealamakia’s kick ties up the game at 7.
The Bison get 20 yards on the next drive but no further. #19 Ben LeCompte punts the ball 49 yards rolling out of bounds as the Weber 6.

Second Quarter
Weber QB #10 Jadrian Clark hits WR #01 Cam Livingston for 20 yards and RB #13 Eric Wilkes has a 11-yard run, but the ‘Wildcats’ only get to the 42 before they have to punt.
NDSU WR #16 RJ Urzendowski takes the ball 10 yards from the air and 11 yards on a jet sweep. QB #11 Carson Wentz hits RB #25 Chase Morlock in stride at the 35 yard line; Chase runs it untouched to the end zone. 3 plays, 76 yards, and a #36 Cam Pedersen kick makes it NDSU 14 to 7.
Weber.. a three and out. QB Clark drilled into the ground by #97 Brad Ambrosius.
Starting from the NDSU 39, RB #42 Bruce Anderson for 20 yards. QB #11 Carson Wentz drop off pass to #25 Chase Morlock, who gets past 6 ‘Wildcat’ tacklers for a touchdown. 4 plays, 61 yards, and the #36 Cam Pedersen kick for a NDSU 21 to 7 lead.
Weber State, 8 yards and another three and out. NDSU CB #5 Jordan Champion and CB #6 CJ Smith on the stops. CJ also fair catches the punt.
NDSU RB #25 Chase Morlock takes the pass from the NDSU 30 into ‘Wildcat’ territory. 10 yards to WR #16 RJ Urzendowski and 8 yards to WR #82 Zach Vraa, but the drive stalls on the ground. #19 Ben LeCompte attempts a 43-yard field goal: wide right. On this drive RB #42 Bruce Anderson almost caught the ball for a touchdown.
Weber State: 3 and out. #06 CJ Smith pumps up the crowd.
NDSU WR #20 Darrius Shepherd on a slant route shakes off a tackle for a 41 gain. 12 yards to #25 Chase Morlock and then 23 yards to #82 Zach Vraa for the touchdown. Off the ‘jet sweep fake’, Wentz throws it a little behind Vraa, who has to pull up and reach behind himself, with a little juggling in the end zone. 5 plays, 76 yards, a #36 Cam Pedersen extra point and the ‘Bison’ lead 28 to 7.
Weber gets 9 in the air and 8 on the ground before their drive grinds to a halt. DE #91 Jarrod Tuszka and DE #63 Aaron Steidl put Clark on the turf.
NDSU RB #25 Chase Morlock gets one run for 9 yards before the clock runs out on the half.

Third Quarter
The Bison offense starts three and out. #19 Ben LeCompte punts 73 yards for a touchback.
After a 10-yard run by RB #26 Treshawn Garrett rush for 10 yards, the Wildcats three and out.
NDSU QB #11 Carson Wentz pass down the middle to #82 Zach Vraa for 17 yards, RB #25 Chase Morlock races for the corner and breaks tackles for a 40-yard run to the WEBER 11. The drive stalls. #36 Cam Pedersen kicks a 27-yard field goal. After 9 plays, and 61 yards, the Bison lead 31 to 7.
Bison: MJ Stumpf, Brad Ambrosius, Greg Menard and Aaron Steidl swarm all over RB #13 Eric Wilkes. Eric’s ballet lessons aren’t helping here as the Wildcats go three and out.
NDSU gets 10 on the ground the hard way. Coach Klieman puts red-shirt freshman QB #12 Easton Stick in the game. On his first college play he runs for 21 yards up the middle. Freshman RB #42 Bruce Anderson runs for 11 yards. RB #22 King Frazier get another first down the hard way: on three plays up the middle.

Fourth Quarter
The Bison drive stalls at the Weber 20. #36 Cam Pedersen kicks his second field goal. This one is 37 yard. The drive takes up 13 plays; covers 57 yards, and leaves NDSU with a 34 to 7 lead.
Weber RB #13 Eric Wilkes takes the kickoff 100+ yards for a touchdown. Eric seemed to split the defenders and high step over the tackles. The Wildcats narrow the Bison lead 34 to 14 with Josh Kealamakia’s extra point.
NDSU QB #11 Carson Wentz is back in the game, but the Bison drive stalls at the NDSU 33.
Weber QB #10 Jadrian Clark is sacked for a loss of 11 yards by MLB #49 Nick DeLuca: a three and out. Josh Kealamakia has to punt deep from his end zone. NDSU WR #13 Eric Perkins returns it 10 yards to the WEBER 30.
NDSU RB #04 Dimitri Williams takes the Jet Sweep from QB #12 Easton Stick for 17 yards. NDSU QB #11 Carson Wentz returns to the field and finds WR #16 RJ Urzendowski for 5 yards- just as the Wildcat defenders find Carson. RB #10 Lance Dunn gets the ball to the 3. RB #22 King Frazier takes it ‘untouched’ to the end zone. 5 plays, 30 yards, and a #36 Cam Pederson extra point makes it 41 to 14 Bison.
Weber QB #10 Jadrian Clark pass incomplete to Cody Eyolfson. NDSU LB #44 Matt Plank was all over Cody and batted the ball down. Clark’s next pass is tipped by WR #01 Cam Livingston into the arms of NDSU #28 Andrew Smith at the WEBER 40.
On 4th and 2 NDSU RB #10 Lance Dunn, on the option, runs for 26 yards to the WEBER 6. But the play is called back on a holding call. #19 Ben LeCompte with a touchback. So the drive, which started promisingly, ends with nothing.
On 4th and 3 Weber QB #14 Chad Leckington’s pass is complete to Darryl Denby for 18 yards. WR #26 Treshawn Garrett loses 4 yards to NDSU’s #94 Stanley Jones. The Wildcats go for it on fourth down again but don’t get the yardage needed. Bison take over on downs.
NDSU #07 Cole Davis takes over at Quarterback; handing off to RB #08 Darius Anderson, who rushes for 3 yards and 9 yards before time expires and the Bison win 41 to 14.

Game Day
Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome with 18,801 in attendance.
From 2:38 pm. to 5:37 pm

Quotes

NDSU Quarterback Carson Wentz, “(Chase Morlock) was a beast today and has been for awhile. It’s nice to have him both running the ball and catching.. That’s my best friend. All I do is throw it three yards and he does the rest of the work and I get all the passing yards. It’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.”

NDSU Head Coach Chris Klieman, “(Chase Morlock) He’s bigger, stronger and faster this year. And at 220 pounds, he’s hard to bring down one on one. And as we saw last year, he can run away from people, too.”

NDSU Running back Chase Morlock, “I don’t think (Carson Wentz) or any of us were worried. He’s probably the most competitive guy I know, so I don’t care if his ankle was broken, he was going to play out there.”

NDSU Linebacker Nick DeLuca, “I think we came out hungry. We definitely had a lot to prove.. It definitely gives you that maturated in the secondary. We love having him (CJ Smith) out there, he’s a play maker.”

Weber State Head Coach Jay Hill, “They (NDSU) just outclassed us in all aspects. They were more physical and they executed their schemes better. Give them credit. They looked like the four-time defending national champs today.. Bottom line: you are playing the best team in FCS football. And until someone knocks them off in the playoffs, they are still the team to beat.”

NDSU Individual Stats:

Offensive

  • RB #25 Chase Morlock had 8 carries for 76 yards including a 40 yard run. Add in 7 receptions for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns, and you can see why he was named game MVP.
  • RB #25 King Frazier ran the ball 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown.
  • RB #42 Bruce Anderson had 6 carries for 41 yards
  • RB #10 Lance Dunn got 25 yards on 11 carries.
  • RB #08 Darius Anderson and #04 Dimitri Williams each had 2 carries for 12 and 15 yards.
  • WR #16 RJ Urzendowski has 4 receptions for 33 yards and one run for 11 yards.
  • WR #82 Zach Vraa caught 4 balls for 59 yards.
  • WR #20 Darrius Shepherd had 2 receptions for 46 yards including 41yard catch.
  • WR #80 Nate Moody had one catch for 8 yards.
  • QB #11 Carson Wentz threw 19 of 29 for 281 yards and 3 touch downs. He also kept the ball 7 times for 46 yards and 1 touchdown.
  • QB #12 Easton Stick was good for 3 carries and 25 yards on only a few reps.

Defense

  • LB #49 Nick DeLuca had 8 tackles including a sack for 11 yards.
  • CB #05 Jordan Champion had 5 tackles and a pass breakup.
  • LB #44 Matt Plank had 5 tackles.
  • FS #03 Tre Dempsey, CB #06 CJ Smith, CB #21 Jalen Allison, and LB #41 MJ Stumpf each had 4 tackles.
  • SS #01 Chris Board and DT #99 Nate Tanguay each had 3 tackles.
  • DT #63 Aaron Steidl and DE #97 Brad Ambrosius each had 3 tackles and a Quarterback hurry.
  • SS #28 Andrew Smith had a tackle and an interception.
  • DT #61 Brian Schaetz had a tackle for a 3-yard loss.
  • DE #94 Stanley Jones had a tackle for a 4-yard loss, and a pass break up.

Special Teams

  • P #19 LeCompte had 4 punts for 210 yards with a long of 73 yards! Two touchbacks. He missed on a 43 yard field goal. Ben kicked 8 Kickoffs for 513 yards and three touchbacks.
  • K #36 Cam Peterson made both field goal attempts at 27 and 37 yards. Nice start to his college career.
  • WR #19 Eric Perkins took three punts and returned them for 24 total yards.
  • WR #04 Dimitri Williams had a 15 yard kick off return.

Team Statistics

Game Stats Weber NDSU
Passing Yards 153 281
Rushing Yards 53 305
Total Offensive Yards 206 586
Penalty Yards 4–33 3–30
First Downs 6 27
3rd Downs 1–13 9–18
4th Downs 1–2 2–2
Time Of Possession 19:56 40:04

References

InForum & WDAY

The Fargo Forum has complete coverage of the game by sports writers

Other Media

You can’t beat GoBison.com. I used it extensively to help write my photo descriptions. They have participation rosters, play-by-play guides, team stats, and individual stats.

The NDSU Spectrum has coverage of the game with photos. Stories on Wentz, Morlock, and LeCompte.

Video

Stream the entire game from KVLY (NBC) on YouTube.com

NDSU vs Weber State 41 to 14

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