North Dakota State returns to Frisco, Texas for the seventh time this January as the Bison will go for history, attempting to become the first FCS program to win seven national championships. Over the next ten days, we’ll look back at the ten biggest moments NDSU has had in its previous six title game appearances.
NUMBER FIVE, 2012 FCS Championship Game: North Dakota State’s debut trip to Frisco, Texas did not start off well. The Bison offense was stymied by Sam Houston State, trailing 6-3 going into the halftime locker room. NDSU was set to get the ball to start the second half, but the Bearkats forced a punt after a Brock Jensen pass fell incomplete. Matt Voigtlander went out to punt, but Craig Bohl decided to roll the dice then and there.
Vogitlander, a former running back for the Bison, who switched to punter during his senior year out of necessity and for an opportunity to play, took off with the fake. He showed off his running ability as he caught Sam Houston completely by surprise. Voigtlander ran for 27 yards, all the way to the Sam Houston 39 yard line.
Brent Vigen then decided to go for it, calling for the popular middle screen play that had worked to great success in the previous playoff run. Jensen hit DJ McNorton, a Texas kid, who weaved his way thru traffic to score from 39 yards out and give NDSU a 10-6 lead, a lead they wouldn’t give up en route to the school’s first Division 1 championship.