North Dakota State rolls, wins 5th-straight championship

It was Carson Wentz’s first game back in months as well as his last collegiate game, and he went out with a bang.

The senior QB threw for 197 yards and a touchdown on 16-of-30 passing as well as ran for 79 yards and two scores to lead North Dakota State to a 37-10 victory over Jacksonville State in the FCS National Championship Game. The victory gave the Bison their fifth-straight championship, a first for any collegiate football program.

It was close early with the Bison leading just 3-0 after the opening quarter, but the Gamecocks just couldn’t get out of their own way, especially in the second frame. Two second-quarter turnovers on their own side of the 50-yard line put the Bison in excellent field position. Both drives then ended with touchdowns for North Dakota State.

The scoring continued from there for the Bison while the Gamecocks just couldn’t get much of anything going. The high-powered offense was barely able to sustain a drive during the game, with their longest being the eight-play scoring drive to start the second half.

For Wentz, the game no doubt saw his draft stock rise with his performance. If he wasn’t the third-ranked quarterback available in the 2016 NFL Draft before the game, there’s no doubt that he is now. Wentz showed the poise and leadership necessary to lead teams to championships.

His coach, Chris Klieman, said it best at halftime, “he’s a kid who loves the big stage.”

Jacksonville State would eventually score their first touchdown of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter when quarterback Eli Jenkins took it six yards to the endzone. The score was set up by a 46-yard Jenkins run.

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On the ensuing North Dakota State drive, it seemed as though the Gamecocks just wouldn’t have an answer for the Bison offense. That was until Brandon Bender jumped in front of a pass for an interception that was returned deep inside Bison territory. That interception led to a 27-yard field goal to cut the lead to 24-10.

However, that’s the closest the Gamecocks would come as they just couldn’t overcome the 24-0 hole they dug themselves in during the first half. The game was iced thanks to a one-yard touchdown by Wentz after a Jenkins interception. It was only fitting that Wentz be the one to cap off the win.

Speaking of Wentz, it took him a little over a quarter for him to throw his first touchdown in eight games when he hit tight end Andrew Bonnett for an eight-yard strike.

Wentz came back just minutes later to use his legs for yet another Bison touchdown. The score was set up by an interception by Nick DeLuca on the first play of the Jacksonville State possession.

He did throw two interceptions, but both came on deep balls that were tipped.

North Dakota State running back King Frasier also had a touchdown of his own, and finished the game with 53 rushing yards on 18 carries. Darris Shepherd led the way for the Bison receivers, catching four passes for 71 yards.

On the Gamecocks side of things, Jenkins finished just 7-of-20 passing for 57 yards, and added 88 yards rushing on 15 carries. Unfortunately for him, he also turned the ball over four times — two fumbles and two interceptions.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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