The journey to Texas has 11 pre-scheduled stops with only one break between now & late November. There will be twists, turns & trouble along the route but through it all the Herd will progress. Following each game that progress will be analyzed. As great as the destination is, enjoy the weekly pit stops along the way!
It's been a long time since NDSU was in unfamiliar territory but with the way the season has gone that is exactly the situation. Senior day may actually be the last game the team gets at the Dome before next Fall.
If that is indeed how the dominos fall during the final weekend, they couldn't have made much better of a final impression!
As quarterbacks do, Cam Miller may get the headline with an effective & efficient performance that would win against many possible playoff opponents. But curiously, Cole Payton was once again mostly relegated to inaction. If he was injured they would rest him altogether. Likewise if he had shown regression in practice. Perhaps it is just an extra vote of confidence in Miller as the unquestionable #1 at the position. Or, maybe, Entz & Roehl are getting ready for life without him.
The transfer portal is such that players can leave at any time. He hasn't taken that step, which is commendable, but it's reasonable to think that he's informed them of an intention to seek time elsewhere. This is baseless speculating, don't have any sources in the building. It's just a bit of dot-connecting as to the change in playing time distribution.
That wasn't the only change worth getting into. For the first time this season NDSU had a genuine running attack that was predicated on the quarterback keep. Raja Nelson made the most hay, looking like FCS Deebo Samuel while TaMerik Williams & Barika Kpeenu combined for a 100 yards on 23 carries and a pair of scores by TW. If it can be more than a flash-in-the-pan then the whole dynamic improves significantly!
It helped that they produced seven explosive plays through the air to four different targets. Multiple is one of the new buzz words in football but accurately describes the way the whole offense was able to execute today. Having that many options who can make momentum-changing plays is the best development from that side of the line so far this season. It may have taken too long to get there but if they can do it again and even better in Cedar Falls then the up & down season may dump the down part like so much trash in the ditch!
It would also go a long way in extending their season if the defense can bring keep bringing it like they did today. Jake Kava having the best game of his long career may not be duplicated but they didn't need many more statistical achievements to so effectively shutdown Southern's offense.
Yeah, the 10 points allowed will win many times over but that's just the scroll line.
12 total first downs
206 total yards
3.7 yards/play
21 minutes of possession
The Salukis were suffocated
It won't mean nearly as much if the whole team isn't able to bring it the same way in the regular season finale but of the seven victories none is better, higher, or more substantial. It was a party similar to the days before the legendary run of trophies. That may not meet the elevated expectations but was a welcome reprieve from the see-saw!
Enjoy it
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