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A rivalry game, with everything on the line which delivered as well as it could have.
That's what the semi-final was, in short
SDSU showed that they deserved a chance to complete a threepeat but it was NDSU that was the superior team.
Much has been and will continue to be made about Bryce Lance's stellar performance (which likely earned him an invitation to the Combine & possibly a second-day selection). But it was Cam Miller's 280 combined yards which were all the difference.
He was the offense
A truly remarkable fact considering that he really was never supposed to be the starter.
With the performance he is now enshrined in QBU lore. Still workshopping a title but it's a hall or den of some sort because "Mount Rushmore" is played-out and doesn't provide enough space for the Brock Jensen to current.
Some of the shine will be taken off if the teams lays an egg in Frisco but ending the Gronowski era would be a sweet consolation.
That can wait for at least two weeks though.
The defense also deserves considerable recognition
One sack and one turnover is not much to talk about, even though both involved Loshiaka Roques, but they pressure they were bringing yielded 10 tackles-for-loss scattered between eight different guys. Kody Huisman & Logan Kopp were the only two to finish with multiple complete TFLs so it was a true team effort in holding them back!
Those few stats were the difference in the game. It was that razor thin, as it should have been considering the stakes!
So NDSU gets to move to face Brent Vigen again
but make no mistake, NDSU and SDSU are not going anywhere. This only deepened the rivalry between the athletics departments and don't be surprised when it's on display in the League sports the teams compete in over the remainder of the school year!
We're here for it!!
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That also applies to the Purple as they got good news from the Capital out of the noon window of games and then validated that surprise by beating Seattle to stay on track for the deciding game of the season in week 18.
Darnold was up for the moment
Justin Jefferson was his primary recipient and only had two less catches than all of his teammates combined
And Geno Smith did all he could to give the game away, until he finally succeeded.
I'm nervous to say it but this team is ready for the playoffs.
With myriad playmakers on offense and defense no one will want to play them, whether they have home field or end up having to travel for all the games!
That is the clearest lesson to be taken from win number 13
So let's enjoy the ride!
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The week also included the return of Karl-Anthony Towns for meaningful basketball.
The game proved to be another untenable example of how far backwards the franchise has gone since last Summer. The worst part is that there may not be a way to correct the problems this season.
With 14 until the halfway mark of the season, it's not too late but every poor performance will compound the tension and issues which have continued to plague them.
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That was the only gloomy news on the hoops front though
Jacksen Moni was named the League Performer of the Week for the second straight week
Jordyn Kahler also received Conference Honors for the Cobbers following a 20-point performance against Augsburg.
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The honors kept rolling-in as Trey Heinrich & Sydney Arndt were also named the League's Performers of the Week for NDSU's track & field.
MSUM checked-in with a pair of top performers as well, with Jaiden Peraza & Ibrahim Oduong taking it from the Northern Sun.
Concordia completed the sweep as Emily Rengo & Piper Osborne were named by the MIAC.
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All-in-all, it was another shining week for the Fargo area sports scene!
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