Cedar Falls, IA (SportsNetwork.com) – The longest winning streak in FCS history
ended in much the same way it was built by North Dakota State.
Through dominating defense and a team pulling away in the second half.
It was just odd to see another team have the winning formula, but on Saturday
19th-ranked Northern Iowa did as they handled the top-ranked Bison, 23-3, to
stop their 33-game winning streak inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
North Dakota State (9-1, 5-1 Missouri Valley) had not lost since falling to
Indiana State, 17-14, on Oct. 13, 2012. UNI (6-4, 4-2) also ended the Bison’s
record Missouri Valley winning streak at 18 games.
UNI outgained North Dakota State 306 yards to 175 and held the Bison to only an
Adam Keller field goal late in the second quarter. Running back David Johnson
rushed for 133 yards and had 210 all-purpose yards, quarterback Brion Carnes
and running back Darrian Miller both rushed for touchdowns, and Michael
Schmadeke was 3-for-3 on field goals.
The Bison were still in striking range before Schmadeke’s 36-yard field goal on
the first play of the fourth quarter extended UNI’s lead to 13-3. He kicked a
42-yarder at the 9:25 mark to make it 16-3. Then after a three-and-out series
by the Bison, Miller broke off a 30-yard TD run to put the win away.
North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz was held to 132 passing yards with
an interception and three-time 1,000-yard running back John Crockett struggled
to 41 yards on 17 carries.
The loss also was the first for first-year Bison coach Chris Klieman. His team
fell into a first-place tie with Illinois State (8-1, 5-1), one game ahead of
both UNI and Youngstown State (7-3, 4-2), with two weeks remaining in the
Missouri Valley season.
