BISON PLAYOFF HISTORY - North Dakota State University Athletics

1968 Pecan Bowl
ARLINGTON, TX--Paul Hatchett ran for
106 yards and a touchdown as North Dakota
State's awesome offense rolled to 23 fi rsthalf
points to stop Arkansas State University
23-14 here in the fi fth annual Pecan Bowl
football game.
The Bison, ranked No. 1 in the nation,
looked to make it a runaway in the opening
two periods when Joe Roller, Hatchett,
Ken Blazei and Bruce Grasamke combined
for the three TDs and a fi eld goal. Roller
caught an 11-yard pass from Grasamke and
Hatchett traversed 18 yards for fi rst-quarter
TDs.
Blazei then booted a 30-yard fi eld goal
and Grasamke ran in from four yards out
before the halftime gun. The Indians got
two fourth-quarter TDs but had little other
success against the Herd. Hatchett was
voted the outstanding offensive player of
the game.
Statistics NDSU ASU
First Downs 17 19
Yds. Rush 236 53
Yds. Pass 66 173
Passes 8-18-2 13-36-2
Punts 6-26.8 8-33.9
Penalties 2-16 7-61
Fumbles/Lost 2-1 1-1
Arkansas State 0 0 0 14 -- 14
NDSU 14 9 0 0 -- 23
NDSU--Roller 11 pass from Grasamke (Blazei kick)
NDSU--Hatchett 18 run (Blazei kick)
NDSU--FG Blazei 30
NDSU--Grasamke 45 run (kick failed)
ASU--Hamilton 10 run (Casey pass from LaGrone)
ASU--Hamilton 1 run (run failed)
A--7,200
Paul Hatchett gained 106 yards
and scored a TD in the win over
Arkansas State.
1969 Camellia Bowl
SACRAMENTO, CA--North Dakota State
steamrolled the University of Montana 30-3
here in the Camellia Bowl meeting between
the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation.
Any doubt to the Bison's grip on the top
slot was disspelled by the overwhelming
display of the Fargo team. But this time,
NDSU changed the script slightly.
The Bison went to the air as QB Bruce
Grasamke completed 16 of 25 passes for
206 yards as the Bison fi nished with a total
of 234 passing yards and 421 yards in total
offense.
Grasamke opened the scoring with
a 7-yard run in the fi rst period. After a
Montana fi eld goal, NDSU followed with 24
consecutive points. Paul Hatchett took in
a 15-yard pass from Grasamke, Jim Twardy
kicked a 23-yard fi eld goal, Dennis Preboski
ran 38 yards for another score, and Tim
Mjos hauled in an 8-yard pass from Mike
Bentson for the fi nal TD. NDSU fi nished 10-
0-0 for the season.
Statistics NDSU Montana
First Downs 24 12
Yds. Rush 187 125
Yds. Pass 234 63
Passes 19-28-2 7-30-3
Punts 7-32.7 6-42.4
Penalties 7-99 4-30
Fumbles/Lost 1-0 2-1
Montana 0 3 0 0 -- 3
NDSU 6 10 0 14 -- 30
NDSU--Grasmake 7 run (kick failed)
UM--FG Worrell 33
NDSU--Hatchett 15 pass from Grasmake (Twardy kick)
NDSU--FB Twardy 23
NDSU--Preboski 38 run (Twardy kick)
NDSU--Mjos 8 pass from Bentson (Twardy kick)
A--14,912
Bison quarterback Bruce Grasamke (1)
keeps the ball against Montana in a 30-3
win.
BISON IN THE PLAYOFFS
1970 Camellia Bowl
SACRAMENTO, CA--North Dakota State
made it two in a row over the University of
Montana in Camellia Bowl action by whipping
the Grizzlies 31-16 to cap another
undefeated season.
The Bison defeated Montana 30-3 in
1969 Camellia Bowl and now have won
fi ve of six bowl games during a seven-year
span. This time, the Bison took advantage
of fi ve lost Grizzly fumbles and the expertise
of quarterback Mike Bentson. Bentson
totalled 208 yards in total offense and
scored three TDs.
His TD runs came on bursts of 4, 1 and
5 yards. Dennis Preboski tallied from fi ve
yards out and Jim Twardy booted a 34-yard
fi eld goal. NDSU rolled up a 28-3 margin in
the second period and was never seriously
threatened.
Statistics NDSU Montana
First Downs 17 19
Yds. Rush 189 176
Yds. Pass 110 138
Passes 9-20-2 8-14-1
Punts 5-33.8 5-36.6
Penalties 5-66 6-65
Fumbles/Lost 1-0 6-5
Montana 0 10 6 0 -- 16
NDSU 14 14 3 0 -- 31
NDSU--Bentson 4 run (Twardy kick)
NDSU--Bentson 1 run (Twardy kick)
UM-FG Worrell 29
NDSU--Bentson 5 run (Twardy kick)
NDSU--Preboski 5 run (Twardy kick)
UM--Kent 1 run (Worrell kick)
UM--Blacas 5 run (kick failed)
NDSU--FG Twardy 34
A--13,177
NDSU's defense forced six
Montana turnovers, including
fi ve lost fumbles.
2009 BISON FOOTBALL
113