Quarterback Trey Lance’s 23-yard touchdown pass to fullback Hunter Luepke, with less than eight minutes to play in the game, proved to be the game winner in NDSU’s 39-28 Division I FCS victory. The Bison are scheduled to play one game this fall due to the pandemic.
NDSU extended its Football Championship Subdivision record winning streak to 38 consecutive games.
The Bison owned the last half of the fourth quarter in holding off the game Bears. Central Arkansas took a 20-18 lead into the fourth quarter, the first time the Bison faced a deficit heading into the final 15 minutes since 2018.
Luepke added a 13-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 51 seconds remaining for the final margin.
“We’re not looking for moral victories," Central Arkansas head coach Nathan Brown said. "We’re disappointed we lost this game.”
Lance finished 15 of 30 passing for 149 yards, two touchdowns and his first career interception. After not running much in the first half, he finished with 145 yards rushing on 15 attempts.
The Bison were seemingly in cruise control after a sluggish first half. A two-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half gave them an 18-6 lead. James Kaczor converted a two-point conversion and the Bison suddenly had something they were lacking in the first half: big-play momentum.
The Bears, however, turned the tide. Two touchdowns in a span of three minutes, one in which came after Lance’s first interception in 17 games as a starter, quickly put the Bears up 20-18 with 9:44 to play in the third quarter. Both UCA scores were Breylin Smith touchdown passes, 22 yards to Tyler Hudson and 3 yards to Lujuan Winningham.
NDSU responded going 56 yards in 8 plays to regain the lead. Lance scored from 14 yards out and it was 25-20.
UCA sliced the Bison secondary on its ensuing drive. Smith was 5-for-5 passing and his 11-yarder to Winningham gave UCA the lead right back at 28-25 following Smith’s two-point conversion run with 10:35 left in the game.
A well-conceived misdirection pass to Luepke put the Bison back on top. It concluded a 7-play, 75-yard drive and it was 32-28 with 7:35 remaining.
NDSU struggled to gain offensive traction in the first half with four punts and a fumble on their first five drives.
The Bison started to get things rolling in the second quarter with a seven-play scoring drive that covered 75 yards. Lance capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Babicz to give NDSU a 7-6 lead with 9 minutes to play in the opening half.
On their next drive, the Bison added a Jake Reinholz 27-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead with 2:32 to play in the second quarter. That drive covered 50 yards on nine plays.
Lance completed 6 of 16 passes for one touchdown in the opening two quarters. He also rushed for 29 yards on four attempts to lead the Bison.
NDSU limited the Bears to 100 yards in the first half, allowing a pair or Hayden Ray field goals. Bison safety Dawson Weber intercepted Breylin Smith on the final play of the first half.
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October 04, 2020 at 05:00AM
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No. 1-ranked Bison rally past stingy Central Arkansas, preserve record winning streak - INFORUM
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