Article in Harrisonburg news paper about NDSU

[Dukes86]

Bison Look Retro
No Trendy ‘O’ At N.D. State

Posted: December 2, 2011

By MIKE BARBER
HARRISONBURG – Andrew Grothman doesn’t have a single carry this year. He’s caught just five passes. But hardly anyone who scouts North Dakota State’s football team can talk about the Bison’s offense without mentioning him.

That’s the life of a fullback.

“If there’s a true fullback, it’s Andrew Grothman, I’ll tell you that,” NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen said this week. “He brings the wood every play.”

The second-seeded Bison (10-1) host James Madison (8-4) on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. NDSU has gotten there behind a powerful running attack and timely, play-action passing. It boasts perhaps the most balanced offensive attack JMU has faced this season.

The No. 4 Bison average 157.3 yards per game on the ground and throw for 187.3. They are big up front – their offensive line averages 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds – and are physical.

Especially their cast of fullbacks, led by Grothman.

“Their fullbacks are definitely physical,” JMU senior defensive end D.J. Bryant said. “They come up and look to be the hammer, not the nail.”

NDSU coach Craig Bohl is a 1982 Nebraska graduate who spent eight years as a Cornhuskers assistant coach. A disciple of former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, whom he played and coached under, Bohl favors an I-formation offense that many colleges have abandoned, in part, because of the difficulty of finding fullbacks.

North Dakota State doesn’t seem to have that problem.

Jensen said the Bison have three fullbacks who can deliver crunching lead blocks and pick up blitzes.

“They’re a nitty-gritty bunch of guys,” Jensen said. “They don’t care a whole lot about how many receptions they get. They care about smacking people.”

JMU coach Mickey Matthews laughed when asked how often the Bison hand the ball or throw it to the 6-foot-1, 231-pound Grothman.

“Their fullback, they give it to him a couple times a game so he doesn’t quit,” Matthews said. “He could play offensive guard. He’s a good football player.”

Matthews was equally complimentary when it comes to the 6-3, 222-pound Jensen, who is battling a turf toe injury but is expected to start Saturday against the No. 17 Dukes. The sophomore is 171-for-245 passing this year for 1,994 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s thrown just two interceptions.

North Dakota State has spread the ball fairly evenly between its top two tailbacks. Starter D.J. McNorton has 681 yards and 11 touchdowns and backup Sam Ojuri has 781 yards and eight scores.

“It is power, old-time Nebraska football. It’s not very fancy,” Matthews said. “They’re big and strong up front. They’re very confident in their ability to make yards in the I-formation and with play action.”

Madison’s defense has been dominant against the run this year, holding opponents to a Colonial Athletic Association-low 97.4 yards per game on the ground. In recent weeks, the pass defense – particularly on third down – has been solid as well. For the year, the Dukes allow 199.9 passing yards per game.

Jensen said JMU’s defensive line is imposing because of its ability to get after quarterbacks without much blitzing.

“They are able to just rush the four,” Jensen said. “They’re able to get pressure on the passer. If you’re able to do that and drop guys back into coverage, that’s how you’re going to win games.”

Saturday, Jensen said, the Bison will need to take their usual approach – establish the running game early and use play-action passes to keep the Dukes’ defense guessing.

[1998braves64]

Good to see an article like that. I live in Grothmann's hometown of Hillsboro and it's been a pleasure watching him from his HS days to starting at fullback for NDSU. Interesting thing with him was he was the #1 tailback in HS, and they ran almost all the time had a great option offense when he was back there. Too bad the article spelled his last name wrong...