Sept. 3, 2011
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
FARGO, N.D. - No. 11 North Dakota State spoiled Lafayette's 2011 opener, using an effective running game and a quick-strike passing attack in a 42-6 final on Saturday night at the Fargodome.
Senior quarterback Ryan O'Neil completed 15-of-20 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the farthest trip west in the program's history. O'Neil and fellow captain Mitchell Bennett accounted for the Leopards' only score of the game, a six-yard pass to start the fourth quarter.
The final score certainly wasn't indicative of the Leopards' play in the first half when Lafayette matched the No. 11 Bison drive for drive.
North Dakota State broke a scoreless tie on the first play of the second quarter. Brock Jensen hit Warren Holloway for a 67-yard touchdown catch and run across the middle. The drive covered 77 yards on five plays in 1:46 and NDSU led 7-0.
NDSU was driving late in the half when senior cornerback Brandon Ellis knocked away a pass that would have forced a 3rd-and-7. He was whistled for a pass interference penalty with a little more than a minute left that gave NDSU a 1st-and-goal at the eight.
Jensen found Trevor Gebhardt for a seven-yard connection on third down, but the wideout was stopped at the one-yard line by Evan McGovern and Ben Eaton who combined for 17 tackles in the game. NDSU called its final timeout of the half with 12 seconds left. D.J. McNorton punched it in for the score to lead 14-0 at halftime.
Two third-quarter scores put the game away for the Bison. McNorton pounded in runs of 21 and two yards as North Dakota State stretched the margin to 28-0 with 4:49 left in the half. He finished with 13 carries for 80 yards while Sam Ojuri managed 15 carries for 75 yards.
The Leopards registered their first score of the game on the initial play of the fourth quarter. O'Neil completed all seven attempts on the drive that closed the third quarter, racking up 65 yards before his six-yard strike to Bennett ran the score to 28-6. The Leopards' PAT missed wide left.
The Bison added two more scores and closed out the game. Jensen to Holloway worked again, this time for 57 yards with 9:04 left. Holloway finished with six catches for 147 yards. Leading 35-6, the Bison tacked on a score with 1:37 left.
Freshman tailback Ross Scheuerman led the Leopards with 46 yards on eight carries. Junior Alan Elder got the start at tailback as Pat Mputu and Jerome Rudolph were unavailable for the game.
Lafayette opens Patriot League play on Sept. 10, traveling to Georgetown.
NOTES: Neither team committed a turnover.
