Words and photos by Scott Rowe
enjoy.
I look forward to each January in North Texas as I know two elite football programs and their loyal fans will make the trip to the Lone Star State seeking validation and hardware. After months of practice, pain, and prosperity, the Bison of North Dakota State and the Eagles of Eastern Washington eventually find their way to Frisco, TX, the location of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Championship at Toyota Stadium, the home of FC Dallas and the home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. These two teams are no strangers to Frisco, as the North Dakota State Bison are the returning FCS national champions and call Frisco 'Fargo South', due to their common residency during most January's of the past decade. The Eastern Washington Eagles won their lone FCS national champion at Toyota Stadium in 2010.
This year's matchup almost proved to be a classic, but a late touchdown sealed the Eagles fate. What seemed like a North Dakota State route, as the Bison ran to a 10-0 in the first quarter, continued until the Eagles cut the lead to 17-10, just before halftime. As the Eagles left the field, you could feel that they had all of the momentum and their fans were chomping at the bit. But in true NDSU fashion, the Bison counterpunched in the third quarter, but the Eagles would not go down without a fight as each team traded blow for blow, ending the third quarter at 31-17. The fourth quarter proved a defensive battle until EWU scored a touchdown with only 2:19 remaining in the game. Now only a touchdown behind, the Eagle faithful only had to stop the Bison one possession in hopes of scoring the tying score. But it was not meant to be. On third and long, quarterback Easton Stick galloped 46 yards to seal the game for the Bison and win them their seventh FCS national championship. Hats off to the Bison for another well-deserved victory and to the Eagles for an amazing season.
Photos from the game are below:This year's matchup almost proved to be a classic, but a late touchdown sealed the Eagles fate. What seemed like a North Dakota State route, as the Bison ran to a 10-0 in the first quarter, continued until the Eagles cut the lead to 17-10, just before halftime. As the Eagles left the field, you could feel that they had all of the momentum and their fans were chomping at the bit. But in true NDSU fashion, the Bison counterpunched in the third quarter, but the Eagles would not go down without a fight as each team traded blow for blow, ending the third quarter at 31-17. The fourth quarter proved a defensive battle until EWU scored a touchdown with only 2:19 remaining in the game. Now only a touchdown behind, the Eagle faithful only had to stop the Bison one possession in hopes of scoring the tying score. But it was not meant to be. On third and long, quarterback Easton Stick galloped 46 yards to seal the game for the Bison and win them their seventh FCS national championship. Hats off to the Bison for another well-deserved victory and to the Eagles for an amazing season.
North Dakota State Bison vs. Eastern Washington Eagles @ Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor
on
January 09, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor
on
January 09, 2019
Rating:
.JPG)
