Defensive Battle In Fargo Ends With The Bison Defeating The Redbirds, 21-13

FARGO, N.D. – Illinois State and North Dakota State always seem to play hard-fought defensive battles inside the Fargodome and Saturday was no different, as the two defenses battled all day but the Bison (4-1) came up with one more touchdown to defeat the Redbirds (0-3) by a score of 21-13.

How It Happened:
•    The Bison struck first, after Jayden Price returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 with 11:20 left in the first quarter.
•    NDSU extend the lead to two scores via an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off on a 15-yard touchdown run by Kobe Johnson with 5:37 remaining in the initial quarter.
•    A 4-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Jefferson to Tanner Taula finished a seven-play, 47-yard drive midway through the third quarter to make it 14-7 in favor of the Bison.
•    Fullback Tyler Pennington bowled his way in from one yard out to bring the Redbirds within one point at 14-13, but the Bison blocked the extra point attempt to keep the score at 14-13 with 11:59 left in the game.
•    The Bison would add an insurance touchdown with 3:39 remaining on a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cam Miller to make it 21-13.

Game Notes:    
•    Redshirt freshman running back Nigel White ran for a career-high 87 yards, with a long run of 32 yards in the contest.
•    Junior tight end Tanner Taula led all receivers for the Redbirds with four catches for 50 yards and scored his second career touchdown.
•    Tyler Pennington's one-yard touchdown run was his first career score at Illinois State.
•    True freshman quarterback Jackson Waring took his first snaps as a Redbird in the contest.
•    Brandon Simon led Redbird defenders with nine tackles and Charles Woods added eight to go along with his two interceptions.

Up Next:
The Redbirds will host the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Hancock Stadium next Saturday, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. 

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