Saturday Index
Opening game centerBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
Saturday Index
Opening game centerBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
Sat, Sep 5 · CW | The CW Network | ESPN Unlmtd | MW+
FINAL| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NDSU | 3 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 38 |
Updated Sep 8, 3:29 AM EDT
| F | Statistic | NDSU |
|---|---|---|
| 135 | Total yards | 373 |
| 116 | Net passing yards | 245 |
| 19 | Rushing yards | 128 |
| 9 | First downs | 22 |
| 4-12 | Third downs | 7-14 |
| 4 | Turnovers | 0 |
| 26:33 | Possession | 33:27 |
| 7-42 | Penalties | 4-45 |
| F | Statistic | NDSU |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Fourth downs | 3-4 |
| 12-22 | Passing | 21-26 |
| 5.3 | Yards per pass | 9.4 |
| 26 | Rushing attempts | 43 |
| 0.7 | Yards per rush | 3.0 |
| 1 | Fumbles Lost | 0 |
| 3 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 1 | Passes Deflected | 2 |
| 1 | Qb Hurries | 3 |
| 3 | Sacks | 3 |
| 44 | Tackles | 23 |
| 0 | Defensive TDs | 1 |
| 9 | Tackles For Loss | 4 |
| 2 | Total Fumbles | 0 |
| 0 | Fumbles Recovered |
Final
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnar Smith | 12/22 | 116 | 0 | 3 |
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Fordham’s trip to the Fargodome on Sept. 5, televised by The CW, is an opening-week test with an unusual backdrop: North Dakota State is listed as a Mountain West FBS program. Neither side arrives with a publicly settled quarterback order. Fordham’s roster includes Tripp Holley, Thomas Rosso, Gunnar Smith and Crew Colon; North Dakota State lists Nathan Hayes, Trey Drake, Preston Brown, Henry Nelson and Zander Smith. Those are roster facts, not a depth chart, making the handling of the game’s first high-leverage snaps especially important.
The decisive matchup should form between North Dakota State’s ground game and Fordham’s defensive front and linebackers. DJ Scott, still on the Bison’s roster, produced 502 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2025; that is established production, even if his 2026 workload is not. Fordham lists Krystian Pothel, Drew Minich, Joshua Kabaka and Mathani Paul-Swinson among its front and linebacker options. If that group prevents clean early-down gains, the Rams can force an unsettled quarterback room to answer. Reis Kessel, who had 15 catches for 335 yards in 2025, gives the secondary another proven production marker to account for without assuming a starting role.
| 1 |
| 2 | Kick Returns | 1 |
|---|
| 0 | Kick Return TDs | 0 |
|---|
| 32 | Kick Return Yards | 23 |
|---|
| 0 | Passing TDs | 2 |
|---|
| 0 | Rushing TDs | 2 |
|---|
| — | Passes Intercepted | 3 |
|---|
| — | Interception TDs | 1 |
|---|
| — | Interception Yards | 81 |
|---|
| — | Kicking Points | 8 |
|---|
| — | Punt Returns | 4 |
|---|
| — | Punt Return TDs | 0 |
|---|
| — | Punt Return Yards | 26 |
|---|
North Dakota State’s cleanest route to control is to win first down, protect whichever quarterback takes the snaps and use Scott and the offensive line to keep Fordham from creating negative plays. Sustained drives would also reduce the number of possessions in which quarterback uncertainty can swing the game. Fordham’s route is the reverse: compress the field with sound special teams, get off the field on third down and create extra possessions through turnovers or disruptive plays. Offensively, the Rams need their chosen quarterback protected well enough to avoid obvious passing situations and must make North Dakota State’s secondary tackle in space. One or two explosive gains could change the pressure of the night without requiring Fordham to trade long drives.
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vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
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