Bison State

In an era of spread offense where scoring 40 points is commonplace, the trip to Grand Forks was an aberration. A splendid aberration with the way the game unfolded but it leaves a lot less for those who just want to see highlight touchdowns and big plays on offense. But the defenses were the story of the game.

Donovan Woolen, Logan Kopp, Toby Anene and Anthony Chideme-Alfaro will be the most oft-discussed members of Code Green in the upcoming week for what they did to impact the win. They were the stars of the in-state game and that brings deserved recognition but it was the whole unit from Grant Olson on down to the last man who saw the field which allowed victory to remain available until Cole Payton could bust loose from the Hawks talons.

It's easy to talk about a team game but they put it on full display and all deserve the shine from the outcome.

With it also bringing the conference crown and cruise control to the top seed, the adulation can get that much better.

Cannot overlook the other element that allowed those results. While UND's kicker somehow missed one of the shortest kicks possible, Eli Ozick was spot on for each of his attempts. Had even one swung the other way then AC-A's game-sealing interception may have never been available but instead a redemptive field goal attempt to win it. That's a what-if game but the reality is that he did his job as well as he could and the team needed every bit of it. So give it up for the kicker while you're at it!

The kicker and the defense, Polasek's Hawkeye roots would be proud!

Now they have two weeks of final tuning before the well-deserved break. If you ask me, that's the best stuff to come out of Grand Forks this day.

ONWARD

What say you?