NCAA Division-I Football FCS Rankings: Changes Are Coming As No. 2 North Dakota State Upset By San Dakota On Last Second Field Goal


With No. 1 Coastal Carolina (6-0) off this week, No. 2 North Dakota State had an opportunity to overtake the Chanticleers in the FCS Coaches Poll with an impressive victory over South Dakota, but the Coyotes had other ideas.

South Dakota junior kicker Miles Bergner nailed a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Coyotes (3-3, 1-2 Missouri Valley Conference) over North Dakota State 24-21 in Fargo on Saturday.

South Dakota (3-3, 1-2 Missouri Valley) trailed most of the game, but tied it at 21 when junior quarterback Ryan Saeger connected with junior fullback Drew Potter on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Berger, who missed a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter, is just 5-of-12 on field goal attempts this season, though he has made 4-of-5 attempts from inside 40 yards.

After forcing NDSU to a three-and-out on its next possession, the Coyotes got the ball back on its own 29-yard line with 3:20 remaining. South Dakota, aided by a a 15-yard personal foul on Nate Tanquay after a sack on third down, promptly marched 55-yards to set up Bergner’s game-winner.

USA Today reports that the victory snapped South Dakota’s 14-game Missouri Valley Conference losing streak and and NDSU’s 26-game home winning streak. It was also the Coyotes first win over the Bison in Fargo since 1978.

“We got beat by a better football team,” North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman said. “We’ve got to go back to work. We’ve got to find a way to regroup on Monday. Give South Dakota credit.”

South Dakota outgained North Dakota State 395-320, including 193-125 on the ground. Saeger led the way for the Coyotes with 294 total yards as he completed 12-of-20 passes for 202 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He added another 92 yards on 16 carries.

North Dakota State senior quarterback Carson Wentz was 16-of-28 for 195 yards and tossed two touchdowns.

According to ESPN, the Bison (4-2, 2-1 MVC) have lost two games in a season for the first time since 2010. NDSU came into the game just five points behind Coastal Carolina (6-0) in the most recent poll.

Overall, Top-25 teams went 16-7 for the week. Here is the rest of the results from Week 7 of the season.

  1. Coastal Carolina (6-0). Off last week and will stay No. 1.
  2. North Dakota State (4-2). Trending down after losing to South Dakota.
  3. Jacksonville State (5-1). Eli Jenkins passed for two TDs and ran for another and Jacksonville beat Tennessee Tech 42-13 on Saturday. The Gamecocks, who have won four straight, will likely move up to the No. 2 spot in the rankings.
  4. Illinois State (5-1). Tre Roberson passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns, leading Illinois State to a 38-2 victory over Missouri State. The Redbirds have won five straight and are trending upwards.
  5. James Madison (6-0).
  6. Chattanooga (5-1). The Mocs defeated VMI 33-27 for their fifth straight victory.
  7. South Dakota State (5-1). For the second straight week, South Dakota State defeated a ranked opponent. The Jackrabbits defeated No. 12 Youngstown State 38-8 on Saturday.
  8. Eastern Washington (4-2). Eastern Washington got the best of Idaho State 45-28.
  9. McNeese State (6-0). McNeese State tallied a 28-13 victory Central Arkansas.
  10. Fordham (6-1). Fordham got four rushing touchdowns from star running back Chase Edmonds in a 47-41overtime victory over Holy Cross.
  11. Sam Houston State (4-2) defeated Abilene Christian 49-21.
  12. Youngstown State (3-3) lost second straight to a ranked opponent, falling to No. 7 South Dakota State 38-8.
  13. Richmond (5-1) defeatd Rhode Island 37-12.
  14. Northern Iowa may drop out of the rankings with its third straight loss, dropping a 24-19 decision to Western Illinois 24-19.
  15. Eastern Kentucky (4-2) defeated Southeast Missouri State 27-10.
  16. Montana State (3-3) fell to No. 17 Portland State 59-42 in an offensive showcase.
  17. Portland State (5-1) topped No. 16 Montana State 59-42.
  18. Harvard (5-0) won No. 19 in a row, 13th straight road games hitting a program record with a 42-0 win over Lafayette.

  1. Montana (3-3). Off last week.
  2. New Hampshire (3-3) dropped a 34-18 decision to No. 24 William & Mary 34-18.
  3. Southeastern Louisiana (3-3) fell to Stephen F. Austin 28-27 as Zach Conque crossed the goal line for the with 35 seconds remaining for the Lumberjacks.
  4. Liberty (3-4) was upset by Monmouth 20-17 in overtime.
  5. Charleston Southern (5-1) defeated Presbyterian College 10-7.
  6. (Tie) Villanova (3-3) shutout Albany 37-0.
  7. (Tie) William & Mary (4-2) defeated No. 20 New Hampshire 34-18.

[Photo via South Dakota Athletics]

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