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!
The last game before the bye-week did not disappoint! In addition to the sterling performances by the quarterbacks throwing the ball, they added three of the four scores on the ground. With nine total already there's no sign of that part of the playbook being reserved for more consequential times. The more they do it, the better they become so it could be good from that perspective - just don't need one or both getting hurt on a play(s) that could go to a traditional ball carrier!
TaMerik Williams replicated the performance he had in the season opener as he averaged better than six yards/carry, finishing with 83 & another score. While he's the most proven of the RBs, WF's Barika Kpeenu had his own break-out performance, turning five totes into 54 yards and Owen Johnson (Chase Morlock 2.0) chipped in with 48 on four. Having three backs plus the QBs is decent from a numbers perspective but if history is any indication, three or five won't be enough to make it all the way until January.
As for the defense, Eli Mostaert had the signature moment of the day (which will also likely find it's way into future hype videos) while the totality of Code Green did far better than the 31 points that Central Arkansas left the field with. Two garbage-time touchdowns might help CA propel into the coming weeks but they did little more than disguise how out-matched the Bears were while the game was in question.
The one player that they couldn't contain was running back ShunDerrick Powell who rattled-off 220 yards & 2 scores in just 18 chances. NDSU hasn't had a back like that since Hunter Luepke. He's the kind of player that can single-handedly win a game so should Central Arkansas make the field, he will be one to keep an eye on.
Beyond Mostaert, Hawk Wisniewski made another momentum-altering play as he created the other turnover opportunity in the game, knocking the ball out of Jarrod Barnes' possession for Jayden Price to secure! To say that Wisniewski has been a revelation would be under-selling it - he has already eclipsed everything he did during the previous three seasons. With eight games to go, who knows how much production & attention he will earn!
It was as good of a conclusion to the non-conference schedule as anyone could ask for but even better may lie ahead as the meat of the schedule begins in less than two weeks!