For the second straight year North Dakota State will face a team they suffered a playoff loss to in the national championship game. Last season it was James Madison, after a 2016 semifinal loss. This season it will be Eastern Washington, eight years after the Eagles and Bison played a classic quarterfinal game that EWU won 38-31 in overtime.
North Dakota State football fans have a long memory. Just ask them. Some can describe in detail where they were in 1984 when Troy kicker Ted Clem hit a 50 yard field goal in the national title game at the buzzer to give the Trojans the victory. Others can remember the final drive in Missoula in 2015 when Montana scored the game winning touchdown with one second left as the Griz knocked off the Bison in front of a national TV audience.
The 2010 game between NDSU and EWU has the same lasting impact. Fans remember where they were that day when Brock Jensen fumbled at the one yard line in overtime and Eastern recovered. They remember the red turf turning pink. They remember a remarkable football game.
These two schools have played each of the last two years. In 2016, Eastern made its first trip to Fargo and that was a memorable one. The two teams combined for 1,093 yards and 94 points. There was NFL talent all over the place in that game, ranging from Cooper Kupp to Chris Board. Nick DeLuca, another NFL’er made 15 tackles and had a pick six playing with one healthy shoulder. It was a game that many Bison fans won’t forget.
The return of the home and home series wasn’t as memorable a game. The Bison rushing attack was unleashed in this game, rushing for 375 yards. Bruce Anderson and Lance Dunn each went over 100 yards. The NDSU defense got to Eastern quarterback Gage Gubrud, forcing him to throw two interceptions, both to Robbie Grimsley. NDSU cruised to a 40-13 win in what turned out to be a disappointing season for Eastern, who finished 7-4 and got left out of the playoffs, despite having a resume that should have gotten them in.
Eastern Washington was counting on a big season for Gubrud in his senior year, but he got hurt in the middle of the year and would not return. Sophomore Eric Barriere took over the helm and the Eagle offense has now taken off. Barriere is a dual threat quarterback, he showed his arm off in the semifinal win over Maine, throwing seven touchdown passes. Eastern returns to Frisco for the first time since 2010, when the game was in Texas for the first time, as they knocked off Delaware for the national championship.
It seems fitting that NDSU and Eastern will play for the national title. It might be seven years later than some fans wanted, but others are patient. EWU had its chances to play the Bison in the title game, but lost in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Aaron Best, a former Eagle lineman, is in his second year as head coach and has Eastern back near the top of the division.
There’s no guarantee of the high drama and wild games that these teams have played in the past, but one thing is for certain. Eastern Washington carries some memories. We’ll see how this next chapter gets played out.