By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

FARGO, N.D. – No. 4 North Dakota State dominated every facet of the game from the opening kickoff onward as the Sycamores concluded their 2016 season with a 41-17 loss to the five-time defending national champion Bison at the Fargodome on Saturday.

The Sycamores (4-7, 2-6 MVFC) gave up 21 points in the first quarter alone to the ever-impressive Bison (9-1, 6-1 MVFC), which was more than enough to coast to victory en route to outgaining ISU 316-244.

NDSU set the tone early with an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown with 12:03 left in the first, before the Bison could even go on offense. For ISU, it was the third punt return TD allowed in as many weeks after a 79-yard return by Youngstown State's Darien Townsend on Oct. 29 and a 94-yard return by UNI's Jalen Rima on Nov. 5.

"We have had trouble covering punts," said ISU head coach Mike Sanford. "The last three games we have given up punts for touchdowns, and that is unacceptable. That's no way to start a game."

The Bison kept the pedal down on the legs of QB Easton Stick, who scored NDSU's next two touchdowns in the first quarter, scampering in from 16 and 42 yards. Sycamore fans will remember Stick, as he had his first career start against ISU in Terre Haute last season (in place of the injured Carson Wentz, current starting QB of the Philadelphia Eagles).

Neither team did much of anything through the air, combining for 163 yards and no touchdowns on the day. However, the running game was one bright spot for the Sycamores, as senior RB Roland Genesy had a fine day as ISU's workhorse with 108 yards and one touchdown in his final game as a Sycamore.

ISU's other score came courtesy of WR Kelvin Cook, who scored from two yards out with 1:47 to play in the first half to snap a 31-0 NDSU run. Cook ended the day with -15 yards rushing, however, as he was the architect of ISU's Wildcat offense that ran straight into a ferocious NDSU front-seven.

Coach Sanford and the Sycamores stuck with Wyoming transfer QB Aaron Young under center, who came in relief of Isaac Harker last week vs. UNI.

"It had more to do with how practice had gone, how games have gone," Sanford said. "We had a very difficult decision back in training camp between Isaac Harker and Aaron Young. We ended up going with Isaac and he did a lot of good things during the course of the season, and this is obviously not a move going into next year. It was purely about today."

Today also marks the end for 18 Sycamores, including 13 starters: LS Joshua Appel, OL Zach Borens, DB Lonnell Brown Jr., DL Conlan Cassidy, OL Preston Collier, OL Nick Dachota, LB Cedric Doxy, TE Lafaele Fautanu, RB Roland Genesy, DB Marcus Gray, WR Sampson Levingston, DB Tsali Lough, OL Patrick McCown, LB Jameer Thurman, WR Robert Tonyan Jr., OL Dakota Vermillion, DL Tyshon Waller and DB Phil Wilson.

Thurman was ISU's leading tackler on the day with 11 stops, pushing him to 340 career tackles, which sits 11th all-time at Indiana State. Tonyan ends his career as one of ISU's finest receivers, ranking second all-time in receptions (150), third all-time in yards (2,047, one yard shy of Terry Bell's 2,048 in second), and the leader in career receiving touchdowns (20) and single-season touchdowns (10).

"I'm very proud of our group of seniors," Sanford said. "That was their last football game, and I think they have led us greatly. I'm very proud of them, and they have left a huge impression on our football program and I want to give thanks to them."

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