Fargo, ND (Sports Network) - The FCS' No. 1-ranked North Dakota State
Bison have an open date this week and the timing couldn't be better.
After an impressive 2-0 start to the season - which includs stingy defensive
performances and a win over FBS Colorado State - NDSU must re-group with
injuries to some of its key players.
The Dickinson Press reported All-America cornerback Marcus Williams will miss
at least two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to his knee.
Williams played the entire game Saturday in the Bison 22-7 win at Colorado
State, collecting four tackles and one interception.
Even more disheartening for the Bison was the news that safety Colten Heagle
will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. The junior, from Appleton,
Wis., who is one of the Bison's leaders in the secondary, suffered the injury
in the second half at Colorado State. Bohl said Heagle should be able to apply
for a medical hardship, thus not losing this year of eligibility.
North Dakota State also will be without backup running back Derrick Lang, who
will miss time due to an unspecified injury to his chest area, and tight end
Garrett Bruhn, who is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a knee injury.
The good news for the Bison came from NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor, who
said there would not be any suspensions for the off-the-field petition fraud
allegations which involved players Aireal Boyd, Josh Colville, Demetrius Gray,
Samuel Ojuri, Brendin Pierre, Antonio Rodgers, Bryan Shepherd and Williams.
Taylor said in a Detroit Lakes Tribune article on Monday, "There are not going
to be any suspensions. These kids don't deserve a suspension. I'm not going to
suspend them and neither is Craig (coach Craig Bohl). As far as we are
concerned, it is over."
The Bison return to action Sept. 22, hosting Southwestern Athletic Conference
member Prairie View A&M.
The Sports Network