correction per ysubigred .. beat YSU 35-0, not 45-0
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Played a full 60 minutes of dominating football? I would say vs. overmatched MEAC foe Norfolk State. Held them to <100 yards of total offense, gave up no TDs on defense (NSU scored on a fumble return and a KO return) and put up over 725 yds of total offense. Only downside was losing Cardon Johnson to an injury to his surgically repaired achilles. Hurts a bit down the stretch as he had breakaway speed (265 vs. ECU in the season opener). Could've used him in Toyota Stadium last January...
Didn't play a dumpster fire type game all year, but the game against SDSU, while an eventual blowout, highlighted some of our shortcomings. Could only turn 5 first quarter TOs into 7 points.
We weren't a great red zone team last year (~ 56% TDs) and went only 2-6 for TDs vs. NDSU in Frisco (1 FG).
The final score vs. ECU -- not an upset by any means -- is deceiving as we had only a 7-0 lead at halftime and hadn't looked great doing it. The biggest highlights of the game? 3 70+ yard TD runs and the end zone interception by Rashad Robinson where he just ripped it away from the receiver in mid-air.
We had some holes last year. Most notably our oline was seriously young. Disappointing season for our veteran backfield.
That said, our most complete game was against Presbyterian in week 2. Not great competition, no offense to the Bluehose, but everything on O clicked. D wasn't bad either. The team had high hopes at this point as well.
On the down side, our performance against Furman was the worst I have seen in a while. Nothing worked. After losing to WCU the week prior, which evaporated any playoff hope, and it was small any way, there was very little energy. The boys just were not in the game. Plus Furman was on a serious upswing at the time. It was a perfect storm for Furman and ended up being embarrassing.
On a bright note, one thing we have done better, is not giving up even when down in games. Our game against Samford could have been the worst, but we stuck in there and almost came back. Packing it in emotionally in down games has always been a Bulldog problem. But that issue seems to be changing the last couple years. However, sitting back when we are up big seems to happen too often. We have let teams back in when we shouldn't. We need to be piling on when we get up.
Best performances: SHSU 2015, Old Miss 2010
Worst (Grass Era): NDSU, YSU, KSU, Second half of the GT game
In my opinion for the 2017 NDSU Bison.
Best - There are quite a few to pick here but I will go with National Title #14 in the win over JMU. Great game.
honorable mention: Beating EWU & SHSU like a drum.
Worst - at SDSU
Dewey
Best: 28-7 win over Delaware to take away their playoff hopes.
Worst: 20-6 loss to Rhody the week before Delaware win.
2017 the bad for ASU- Out gaining Tuskegee in yardage 397-174, getting inside of the red zone 3 times in the 1st half and coming away with 0 points. 5 turnovers later we lose 14-6 to a team we outplayed.
#2 For 2017-Not even showing up against Prairie View at home and getting boat raced 34-0 after playing a helluva game against Kennesaw State and Troy in the previous two weeks.
The good- Winning 5 of the last 6 games of 2017 and coming close to knocking of eventual conference Champ Grambling
Best: Sam Houston
Worst: SE Lousiana
Its easy to pick the loss for NDSU to be the "worst".....best game was probably was probably either the SHSU or Wofford games....the EWU game was a woodshed game too (especially since it was on the road.....I think EWU had some growing pains though).