The Incarnate Word Cardinals and North Dakota State Bison meet Friday in the college football FCS Championship Semifinals at the Fargodome. The Incarnate Word Cardinals have won their last 9 games. The North Dakota State Bison have won 6 straight games.
The Incarnate Word Cardinals have won 4 straight road games. Lindsey Scott Jr. is completing 71.5 percent of his passes for 4,375 yards, 59 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Darion Chafin and Taylor Grimes have combined for 2,389 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns, while Brandon Porter has 36 receptions. The Incarnate Word Cardinals ground game is averaging 211.8 yards per contest, and Marcus Cooper leads the way with 1,324 yards and 12 touchdowns. Defensively, Incarnate Word is allowing 23.9 points and 368.1 yards per game. Kelechi Anyalebechi leads the Incarnate Word Cardinals with 111 tackles, Chris Whittaker has 7.5 sacks and Elliott Davison has 3 interceptions.
The North Dakota State Bison have won 4 straight home games. Cam Miller is completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,710 yards, 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Zach Mathis and Joe Stoffel have combined for 629 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while Braylon Henderson has 14 receptions. The North Dakota State Bison ground game is averaging 269.1 yards per contest, and Kobe Johnson leads the way with 766 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, North Dakota State is allowing 17.4 points and 299.6 yards per game. James Kaczor leads the North Dakota State Bison with 80 tackles, Spencer Waege has 9 sacks and Dawson Weber has 3 interceptions.
The North Dakota State Bison are going to get the benefit of the doubt at home because this is what they do year after year. North Dakota State is the Alabama of the FCS ranks, and that home crowd this time of year is a massive advantage. With that said, the Incarnate Word Cardinals have steamrolled the competition up to this point, and they’re highly explosive offensively. Incarnate Word has scored no less than 35 points in its last 10 games. Scott Jr. has 9 touchdown passes in his first two playoff games. I can’t leave this many points on the table. Give me the Cardinals.