FARGO, N.D. (AP) -Tyler Roehl rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns to help North Dakota State overcome five turnovers in a 28-19 victory over Stephen F. Austin Saturday.
Roehl, who was converted from a fullback to tailback, became the first NDSU rusher to go over 200 yards since Rod Malone ran for 239 yards against St. Cloud State in 2003. Only four other backs in school history have rushed for more yards in a single game.
The Bison (1-0) piled up nearly 600 yards of total offense. They also lost four interceptions and one fumble.
Cory Long kicked four field goals for the Lumberjacks (0-2), the longest from 47 yards.
The game was played before 18,823 fans at the Fargodome, a record for an NDSU season opener.
NDSU, which trailed 16-14 at intermission, took the second half kickoff and marched 58 yards in seven plays to take a permanent lead. It was Roehl’s third touchdown, a 17-yard run, that put NDSU ahead 21-16.
After Long’s fourth field goal made it 21-19, the Bison drove 63 yards in nine plays, capped by a 1-yard plunge by backup tailback Pete Blincoe.
The 5-foot-10, 229-pound Roehl, a junior from West Fargo, set the tone by running for 53 yards and a touchdown on NDSU’s first drive. He rambled for 105 yards on 14 carries in the first half.
The four interceptions thrown by Bison quarterback Steve Walker matched his total from all of last season. Two of them came on tipped passes.
The Lumberjacks fell for the second straight week, after dropping their opener to Tarleton State, an NCAA Division II school.
Add A Comment