Youngstown State Stuns Bison 27-24 - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

The North Dakota State University Bison took on the Youngstown State University Penguins in the last regular season home game for the Herd. The Penguins prevailed against the Bison at the Fargodome 27-24.

In the first quarter, YSU showed they could move the ball very well against a stingy Bison "D". However, when the gun sounded at the end of the quarter, it was the Bison with the lead.

The Penguins scored on their first possession of the game.

On a fourth and two, Youngstown State went for it and made it with a straight run up the middle by junior Jamaine Cook. However, the Bison wouldn't suffer too much from the conversion as YSU couldn't push the ball much further and had to settle for a field goal by David Brown, giving them a 3-0 lead.

The Bison took their initial possession of the game and went 52 yards on three plays for a score to put themselves up 7-3. The Bison drive was lead by D.J. McNorton's 26-yard reception, then two Sam Ojuri runs put the Herd in the end zone.

On YSU's second possession, the again showed that their offense could move the ball, but decided to play with fire on a third and seven on the NDSU 14. They threw at sophomore Marcus Williams which proved a bad decision as he picked the ball off and returned it to the YSU 40.

From there, the Bison took just six plays to score another six points. Again it was Ojuri who punched it in from a yard out for his second score of the game. The PAT by senior Ryan Jastrom made it 14-3 Bison early in the second quarter.

For a third straight drive, YSU showed they could move the ball at will against the Bison defense. Finally, the 'Guins were able to get a touchdown on the board when sophomore Kurt Hess hit fellow sophomore Jelani Berassa on a 12-yard pass. The drive was 10 plays over 74 yards, eating up 5:31 off the clock.

The Bison's first full drive of the second quarter was highlighted by a 28-yard diving catch by sophomore Ryan Smith. An interception in the end zone by YSU was wiped out by a roughing the passer call and the Bison took that gift and turned it into more points. A two yard rush by McNorton put the Bison back up by 11 at 21-10 with only 1:48 left in the half.

Even with that little of time left, the Penguins offense left no doubt that they were not going anywhere. With 17 seconds left in the half, Hess took the ball from one yard out and punched it in. Again, YSU found themselves down only four at 21-17.

The start of the second half was quite ominous for NDSU. On the first play from scrimmage, McNorton took the hand off and appeared to on his way to six. Then, he inexplicably fumbled the ball while running free at the Youngstown's 25-yard line. The Penguins came up with the ball at the 14-yard line.

After the recovery, the Penguins offense picked up right where they left off in the first half. A long eight play 86-yard drive was capped off by a 10-yard reception by Cook. That gave the ‘Guins their second lead of the game at 24-21.

The Bison looked to shake off the strange beginning to the second half. The drive started out with promise after a long run by Ojuri, but stuttered at the 10-yard line. They had to settle for a 27-yard chip shot from Jastrom to tie the score at 24.

The YSU offense was continued to make a mockery of the NDSU "D" by churning up yards in chunks. However, the Bison "bend but don't break" attitude came through as the held the Penguins to only three points on a 30-yard field goal by Brown, making it 27-24 Youngstown.

NDSU needed an offensive drive with some sort of substance, but were stopped on a fourth and one from the Youngstown 47. It appeared McNorton had some room on the right side, but tripped over his own feet and fell just short.

The fourth quarter didn't match the offensive that both teams had shown in the first three quarters. As both teams came up with defensive stops, tensions rose.

NDSU's best opportunity came after sophomore Ryan Smith returned a punt to the YSU 34 with just under four minutes left. The Penguins defense held on and got the ball back after a turnover on downs.

Nothing came of the possession for YSU, but they left only 19 seconds left for NDSU. It proved not enough time and NDSU fell to the Penguins by the final of 27-24.

The Penguins moved their record to 6-4 (4-3 MVFC) while the Bison loss dropped their record to 9-1 (7-1) and most likely will drop out of the number one spot in the nation.

The North Dakota State University Bison took on the Youngstown State University Penguins in the last regular season home game for the Herd. The Penguins prevailed against the Bison at the Fargodome 27-24.

In the first quarter, YSU showed they could move the ball very well against a stingy Bison "D". However, when the gun sounded at the end of the quarter, it was the Bison with the lead.

The Penguins scored on their first possession of the game.

On a fourth and two, Youngstown State went for it and made it with a straight run up the middle by junior Jamaine Cook. However, the Bison wouldn't suffer too much from the conversion as YSU couldn't push the ball much further and had to settle for a field goal by David Brown, giving them a 3-0 lead.

The Bison took their initial possession of the game and went 52 yards on three plays for a score to put themselves up 7-3. The Bison drive was lead by D.J. McNorton's 26-yard reception, then two Sam Ojuri runs put the Herd in the end zone.

On YSU's second possession, the again showed that their offense could move the ball, but decided to play with fire on a third and seven on the NDSU 14. They threw at sophomore Marcus Williams which proved a bad decision as he picked the ball off and returned it to the YSU 40.

From there, the Bison took just six plays to score another six points. Again it was Ojuri who punched it in from a yard out for his second score of the game. The PAT by senior Ryan Jastrom made it 14-3 Bison early in the second quarter.

For a third straight drive, YSU showed they could move the ball at will against the Bison defense. Finally, the 'Guins were able to get a touchdown on the board when sophomore Kurt Hess hit fellow sophomore Jelani Berassa on a 12-yard pass. The drive was 10 plays over 74 yards, eating up 5:31 off the clock.

The Bison's first full drive of the second quarter was highlighted by a 28-yard diving catch by sophomore Ryan Smith. An interception in the end zone by YSU was wiped out by a roughing the passer call and the Bison took that gift and turned it into more points. A two yard rush by McNorton put the Bison back up by 11 at 21-10 with only 1:48 left in the half.

Even with that little of time left, the Penguins offense left no doubt that they were not going anywhere. With 17 seconds left in the half, Hess took the ball from one yard out and punched it in. Again, YSU found themselves down only four at 21-17.

The start of the second half was quite ominous for NDSU. On the first play from scrimmage, McNorton took the hand off and appeared to on his way to six. Then, he inexplicably fumbled the ball while running free at the Youngstown’s 25-yard line. The Penguins came up with the ball at the 14-yard line.

After the recovery, the Penguins offense picked up right where they left off in the first half. A long eight play 86-yard drive was capped off by a 10-yard reception by Cook. That gave the ‘Guins their second lead of the game at 24-21.

The Bison looked to shake off the strange beginning to the second half. The drive started out with promise after a long run by Ojuri, but stuttered at the 10-yard line. They had to settle for a 27-yard chip shot from Jastrom to tie the score at 24.

The YSU offense was continued to make a mockery of the NDSU “D” by churning up yards in chunks. However, the Bison “bend but don’t break” attitude came through as the held the Penguins to only three points on a 30-yard field goal by Brown, making it 27-24 Youngstown.

NDSU needed an offensive drive with some sort of substance, but were stopped on a fourth and one from the Youngstown 47. It appeared McNorton had some room on the right side, but tripped over his own feet and fell just short.

The fourth quarter didn’t match the offensive that both teams had shown in the first three quarters. As both teams came up with defensive stops, tensions rose.

NDSU’s best opportunity came after sophomore Ryan Smith returned a punt to the YSU 34 with just under four minutes left. The Penguins defense held on and got the ball back after a turnover on downs.

Nothing came of the possession for YSU, but they left only 19 seconds left for NDSU. It proved not enough time and NDSU fell to the Penguins by the final of 27-24.

The Penguins moved their record to 6-4 (4-3 MVFC) while the Bison loss dropped their record to 9-1 (7-1) and most likely will drop out of the number one spot in the nation.