FARGO, N.D. -- The Drake University football team marched down the field with authority to find the end zone on its opening drive at No. 1 North Dakota State in the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 3. The defending FCS national champion Bison settled in and defeated the Bulldogs inside the Fargodome by a final score of 56-14.
 
"I told the team after the game that we try to be the best 'us' that we can be," head coach Todd Stepsis said. "If you go against the best, it gives you the opportunity to do that. Overall, we will take some good things from the game."
 
The Drake offense was a well-oiled machine on the very first drive of the game. Quarterback Ian Corwin scrambled to move the chains before fluttering a pass to tight end Matt Hartlieb for a gain of 17 yards to the NDSU 48-yard line.
 
Facing a third down and six from the NDSU 32-yard line, Corwin connected with Colin Howard down the right sideline, where Howard stepped out at the 1-yard line. A play later, Corwin rolled out to his left and flicked a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back Dorian Boyland. The Bulldogs commanded an early 7-0 lead at the 10:25 mark of the first quarter.
 
"We are doing some different things on offense this year so we might have caught them (North Dakota State) off guard at times," Stepsis said. "As a coach it was neat to hear the crowd get really loud and then get quiet."
 
North Dakota State responded with an 11-play, 85-yard drive capped off by a 31-yard touchdown pass on a screen from Bison quarterback Cam Miller to Zach Mathis with 5:08 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Tied 7-7, the Bulldogs continued to steadily move the ball down the field. Boyland busted off a 17-yard run followed by a carry of 14 yards to the NDSU 35-yard line. A few plays later on fourth down, kicker Luke Williams came on to attempt a field goal. The kick was blocked by Jake Kava and returned 53 yards for a Bison touchdown by Destin Talbert. North Dakota State led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The momentum swung to the home sideline. Only 17 seconds into the second quarter, Jayden Price turned on the jets for a 67-yard punt return touchdown as NDSU grabbed a 21-7 advantage.
 
The Bison found paydirt three more times in the first half to control a 42-7 halftime lead. Drake began its first drive of the third quarter at the 12:49 mark. Corwin was hit in the backfield by North Dakota State's Dawson Weber and fumbled. The loose ball was brought into the end zone from five yards away by Will Mostaert.
 
The scoreboard read 49-7 in favor of NDSU when the Bulldog offense went back to work with 11:58 remaining in the third quarter. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Bison aided Drake into NDSU territory. Washington transfer running back Christian Galvan provided four consecutive runs of four yards or more to the North Dakota State 15-yard line.
 
With 3:39 left in the third quarter, Corwin shifted to his right and found tight end Tim Nesslage in the right corner of the end zone for his second touchdown pass of the afternoon.
 
NDSU tacked on a touchdown in the fourth quarter to bring the deficit to 56-14, which would be the final score.

The Bulldogs will welcome Missouri S&T to Drake Stadium their home opener at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Dorian Boyland led all rushers with 70 yards on 14 carries.
• Boyland's receiving touchdown on Drake's opening drive was his first collegiate touchdown.
• Tim Nesslage made his first collegiate touchdown reception.
• Graduate student linebacker Ryan Kriceri played in his first game since Oct. 9, 2021, against Dayton.
• Junior offensive lineman Daniel Bowers made his collegiate debut.
• After review, Drake defensive lineman Jason Christenson was ejected in the first quarter for targeting.
• Drake football is 6-13 in season openers dating back to 2004.
• Drake football leads NDSU in the all-time series, 2-1. The previous meeting occurred on Nov. 10, 1962, in Des Moines.