Final Stats

Head Coach Terry Allen
Opening statement …
"We had our chances, we just couldn't get anything going offensively. Got a great turnover by Andrew Beisel and I wish he had scored because when they held us to a field goal there I think it was indicative of things to come. Then, we get another turnover and miss a field goal, so our ineptness offensively today hurt us because I thought early in the game we matched their intensity defensively and played pretty well defensively."

On possibly going for it on fourth down after the Beisel interception …
"I thought we had to get points on the board there. Four years ago, we actually beat them, 3-0, and you better get points on the board when you get a chance."

On throwing a fade to the end zone on first-and-goal on the 3-yard line …
"We wanted to make sure we had a shot with it. We didn't want to take a shot when they knew we were going to throw a fade and we did. And we came back and went traditional with the fullback [and] tailback, and I think we may have lost a yard. Then, we ran the bootleg and completed [a pass] to Gannon [Sinclair], but unfortunately, it was out of bounds, so we kicked a field goal."

On the North Dakota State touchdown with 16 seconds left in the first half …
"We got to the end of the half and it's 14-3 and I said, 'geez, the prudent thing to do would be to run the ball and get out of the half. But I said 'no, we're going to try and get the ball down field and we threw the interception. Their quarterback made some great throws - did a nice job for them. What did he have, five touchdown passes? But some really nice throws and catches. And of course he came back after the turnover and [being down] 21-3 against that defense is a pretty daunting task."

Senior Linebacker Andrew Beisel
On North Dakota State pulling away in the last few minutes of the first half …
"They do a good job of ball possession, they manage the game well and they were able to break a couple at the very end of the first half to get the lead going into the second half. It's disappointing because we played so well through the majority of the first half and they got that one at the very end."

On not coming up with more points after two first-half turnovers …
"I had one guy to beat in the first place, but I give credit to him, he's an athletic guy. It is frustrating, though, because you've got the ball on their side of the field, and sometimes you just don't get it done."

Senior Safety Caleb Schaffitzel
On missed opportunities …
"There were a lot of aspects in the game where we could have done a lot of things, but I'm a defensive player, so ultimately as a 'D,' we just have to step up. It's a cliché, but if they don't score, they can't win. I take that personally and I'm sure Beisel does, too. That's all we can do, is come out and give it our all and I don't think anybody is doubting our effort today. It just wasn't enough."

Senior Wide Receiver Julian Burton
On the Bison defense holding Missouri State in check …
"They have a great defensive line. They kept putting pressure on Kierra [Harris] and we couldn't score the ball. We got the ball in the red zone twice in the first half. We should have found a way to get the ball into the end zone. So, I think that was a big-time momentum swing."