
A WIDE OPEN CHRISTIAN WATSON LOOKS IN A PASS FROM CADE CANNON THAT WOULD LEAD TO A 75 YARD TD
Game Recap: Football | 11/17/2018 7:30:00 PM
Bison Finish Undefeated Regular Season With 65-7 Win Over Southern Illinois
07 2-9, 1-7
65 11-0, 8-0
FARGO, N.D. - No. 1-ranked North Dakota State rolled up 669 yards of total offense and completed an undefeated regular season with a 65-7 thrashing of Southern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 17, the most points and yards by NDSU in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game since joining the league in 2008.
North Dakota State (11-0) became just the third team to go unbeaten in an eight-game MVFC schedule, joining the 2013 Bison and the 2009 Southern Illinois teams. NDSU will be a top-eight seed for the FCS playoffs and await a Dec. 1 game against a second-round opponent to be determined.
A crowd of 18,008 was on hand at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome to witness the final regular-season home game for 24 Bison seniors, the largest outgoing class in NDSU football history.
NDSU was off and running early when Bruce Anderson scored on a 17 yard run to cap the first possession for the Bison.
After the first of nine punts by Southern Illinois NDSU extended their lead to 14-0 via a 24 yard Cade Cannon touchdown run.
Cannon would connect with Dallas Freeman on a ten yard TD pass and add another rushing touchdown before the end of the first quarter, giving NDSU a 28-0 lead when the teams switched sides for the first time.
It was more of the same in the second quarter with Cannon hitting Freeman for a three yard TD then connecting with Christian Watson for a 75 yard score before hitting his younger brother Cody for an eight yard TD. Cam Pedersen added a 29 yard field goal before halftime to make it 52-0 at halftime.
The Cannon's connected for another score in the third quarter, making it 59-0 before they and most of the rest of the starters hit the sidelines for the day.
Pedersen would add a pair of field goals and Southern Illinois was able to get on the board in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from Matt DeSomer to Raphael Leonard.
For NDSU it was the Cade and Cody show with Cade throwing for 390 yards and five scores while running for 78 yards and two more scores. Cody hauled in 11 receptions for 159 yards and a pair of scores.
Cade Cannon's 36 touchdown passes on the season is a new school record, surpassing Brock Jensen's previous record of 34 set in 2013. Cannon needs less than 50 yards to surpass the current school record of 3,111 set by Carson Wentz in 2014. His current season completion percentage of 73% would be a season record as well.
Lance Dunn led the team with 129 rushing yards on 12 carries. Bruce Anderson left the game early on but picked up 40 yards on six carries. Ty Brooks ran three times for 25 yards.
Christian Watson caught three pass for 110 yards including the 75 yard touchdown. Dallas Freeman caught seven passes for 85 yards and two scores. Darrius Shepherd was unusually quiet, catching just one pass for 24 yards.
Defensively the team was led by Stanley Jones' six tackles, he also recorded a pair of sacks. Caleb Butler recorded five tackles and a sack. Jabril Cox recorded five tackles despite playing only the first half. Michael Kelly also added a sack. Jaylaan Wimbush intercepted a pass.
The 24-team bracket for the NCAA Division I football championship will be announced in a selection show on ESPNU beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. The Bison will be making their ninth straight appearance in the FCS playoffs.