NDSU Wins First FBS Game 33-7 Over Jacksonville State Before 18,573 Fans
Updated
Updated · INFORUM · Aug 30
NDSU Wins First FBS Game 33-7 Over Jacksonville State Before 18,573 Fans
3 articles · Updated · INFORUM · Aug 30
Summary
North Dakota State opened its FBS era with a 33-7 home rout of Jacksonville State at the Fargodome, turning a long-anticipated transition into a lopsided debut.
18,573 fans packed the stadium and stayed engaged deep into the blowout, with crowd noise helping force a bad Jacksonville State snap that Blake Schiltz recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Reis Kessel, a Fargo South graduate, caught a 6-yard pass from Nathan Hayes for the first FBS touchdown in Bison history, and Hayes later found Jordan McCants to help build a 17-7 halftime lead.
The win marked a new chapter for the former FCS dynasty after its move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, a shift coach Tim Polasek called emotional and one he said could become "really special" for Fargo and the university.