(NDSU Athletics) FARGO – Running backs Kobe Johnson and TaMerik Williams combined for 307 rushing yards as No. 3 seed North Dakota State defeated Montana 49-26 in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
North Dakota State averaged 10.8 yards per carry and totaled 453 rushing yards, the most yards per carry and second most single-game rushing yards by an NDSU team in the FCS playoffs. Johnson carried 12 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns while Williams finished with 11 carries for 101 yards and one TD.
The Bison improved to 10-2 on the season and advanced to the quarterfinal round to face Southern Conference champion Samford. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (11-1) escaped the second round with a 48-42 overtime victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
NDSU scored four touchdowns of 68 yards or longer against Montana with three of those coming after the Grizzlies got a 58-yard interception return touchdown from Corbin Walker to close within 21-20 with 10:58 to play in the third quarter.
Johnson burst through the middle of the NDSU offensive line for a 75-yard TD on the first play of the ensuing drive, Williams scored on a 68-yard run on the second play of the next Bison drive, and Johnson added a 73-yard TD early in the fourth quarter to cap another two-play scoring drive that put NDSU ahead 49-20.
Bison quarterback Cam Miller scored on 10-yard and 68-yard runs in the first quarter to give the Bison an early 14-0 lead.
It was 14-10 late in the second quarter when the Bison defense got into the scoring column. Kody Huisman’s sack fumble deep in Montana territory rolled into the end zone and linebacker Cole Wisniewski recovered the ball for his first collegiate touchdown.
The Griz got their second of two Nico Ramos field goals to cut the deficit to 21-13 before halftime.
NDSU’s defense recorded a season-high six sacks and forced three turnovers including interceptions by linebacker Nick Kubitz and safety Dawson Weber. Six different players recorded pass breakups and cornerback Anthony Coleman blocked an extra-point kick for the Bison.
Linebacker James Kaczor made a game-high nine tackles for NDSU, Wisniewski finished with eight tackles and safety Michael Tutsie had seven stops for the Bison. Defensive end Dylan Hendricks made a career-high five tackles including 1.5 sacks.
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