Terre-firma

From first kick to final horn it will go down as one of the longest games in the team's history but the restart provided all the second wind that NDSU needed to put this Tree into the wood-chipper!

Barika Kpeenu was the star of the game as he ground-out 115 yards & two scores from 23 totes. Not to be completely overshadowed, DJ Scott turned nine carries into 78 & 1.

The NDSU backfield has consistently had a high dude-factor but this tandem continues to show no drop-off despite the loss of the Touchdown Machine to Miami. I'm not saying they're as good as any pair the program has had but I'm also not not saying that.

It gets more unfair for the defenses as Cole Payton continued to use his game-breaking mobility to rack-up 74 & a tuddy.

The offense needed every bit of it with the passing game going dormant due to the torrent. Perhaps that will factor into the consideration now that CP9 has lost his perfect touchdown to interception ratio. Going 3/0 in that regard next Saturday night will largely tell that particular tale.

But let's stay focused on today's events

Who knows what would have happened had Jaylin Crumby not picked an apple to start the third quarter. At a minimum the offense wouldn't have been gift-wrapped the field position to go from three to 10. Maybe Indiana St. would have even been able to keep it more interesting into the final 15 minutes.

What-ifs are rabbit trails leading to nowhere but that play as much as any swung the momentum in NDSU's favor so I had to get into the hypotheticals ever-so-briefly.

Now for a bit more reality

Code Green pushed the Sycos to seven punts

More than anything else, that is their job. Resoundingly successful at it they were.

And this was always supposed to be the result.

Heck, even more of a blowout was expected because that is a poor football team.

So the trap game was avoided and now it's all about getting ready for Brookings!!

Let's Roll!

What say you?