We are part of The Trust Project.
LOS ANGELES — Two former North Dakota State teammates squared off during an NFL preseason game Sunday night, Aug. 22, at SoFi Stadium.
Former Bison quarterback Easton Stick started for the Los Angeles Chargers against the San Francisco 49ers. Stick's former teammate Trey Lance entered the game in the second quarter in relief of San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo, who started the game at QB for the 49ers.
Stick and Lance both played in the second quarter for their respective teams. Stick completed 10 of 14 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the first half to help the Chargers build a 10-8 halftime lead. Lance completed 5 of 10 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown with one interception in the second quarter. Stick didn't play in the second half.
Lance was Stick's understudy during the 2018 season when Stick, who was a senior, led the Bison to a 15-0 record and a Division I FCS national championship. During his redshirt freshman season in 2019, Lance led the Bison to a 16-0 record and an FCS national championship. Lance was the No. 3 overall selection in the most recent NFL Draft, while the Chargers selected Stick in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
“How about North Dakota State? We’ve got Easton Stick starting for the Chargers and this No. 1 pick (Trey Lance) and don’t forget about Carson Wentz,” said former Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts on the NFL Network broadcast. “You talk about a quarterback factory, three in a row like that, and they never do anything but win games there for the Bison.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Stick threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Joshua Palmer with 5 minutes, 49 seconds to play in the second quarter to give the Chargers at 7-2 lead after he was sacked for a safety earlier in the quarter.
“I hate to make a wild comparison, but isn’t this Joe Montana to Dwight Clark in ‘The Catch.’ I know it’s not, but it’s a heck of a play by Stick," Fouts said on the NFL Network broadcast.
Heck of a play by Easton Stick. Touchdown, @chargers!
: #SFvsLAC on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/ldWXr0NrU8 pic.twitter.com/doIAFxAj49
Not a bad play #2!!!
Below are highlights, photos and reactions to Stick and Lance from Sunday's preseason game:
Easton Stick making plays with his legs.
: #SFvsLAC on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/ldWXr0NrU8 pic.twitter.com/54j75aaeNk
ADVERTISEMENT
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #ProBison
pic.twitter.com/c5hK9d0bKe
Stick connected with wide receiver Jalen Guyton for a 39-yard completion late in the second quarter.
Now that’s a dime.
: #SFvsLAC on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/ldWXr0NrU8 pic.twitter.com/7gunGygqne
Lance connected with wide receiver Trent Sherfield for a 41-yard completion late in the second quarter that set up a Lance TD pass to wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
.@treylance09 hits @Channel__10 for a gain of 41 yards!
: #SFvsLAC on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/ldWXr0NrU8 pic.twitter.com/BVJKnIYlKb
Birthday touchdowns @Mo_12_Sanu
#SFvsLAC on KPIX, https://t.co/vpdsX5I39D and the 49ers app pic.twitter.com/wN1McCrfS0
ADVERTISEMENT
Trey Lance closes out the first half with a 6-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in 45 seconds. #ProBison pic.twitter.com/DRtsRnFMdC
Trey Lance, from wretched to respectable:
5 of 10, 64 yards, TD, INT, 65.4 passer rating. #49ers
Remember those stories about how they had to mess with the Jugs machines to recreate John Elway throws? Seems like they might have to do that with Trey Lance.
Lance zipped a 16-yard TD pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin to give the 49ers a 15-10 lead with 5:01 to play in the third quarter. Lance completed 8 of 14 passes for 102 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Lance didn't return to the game after his TD pass to Benjamin.
All about the Benjamins! @treylance09 to @TravisBenjamin3 for the TD and #49ers lead
#SFvsLAC on KPIX, https://t.co/vpdsX5I39D and the 49ers app pic.twitter.com/ie4z5GEUfe
Trey Lance’s final line in Week 2 of the preseason: 8-14, 2 TD, 1 INT and a rush for 8 yards. He obviously settled in starting with that 2-minute drive and on the aggregate again did what we’ve seen in practice: Show off his excellent talent AND rawness in the same session
Lance started 1-of-6 for 9 yards with a pick.
Since, he's 7-of-8 for 93 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Trey Lance’s evening is over. Between every series, he and QBs coach Rich Scangarello have been deep into their Microsoft Surfaces. We can assume great opportunities for teaching and learning. And, now, Nate Sudfeld takes the field.
A couple of @NDSUfootball #ProBison @treylance09 pic.twitter.com/OS8JDHBHQr
Trey Lance settled in after a rough start, but the question always creeps in when that happens in these games—is that him getting better or is it the competition getting worse?
Man I felt spoiled watching football tonight. How special to see Easton and Trey playing each other?! Thanks fellas!
Trey Lance is now in at quarterback. #SFvsLAC pic.twitter.com/aErzxddzhN
Gotta be honest, Easton Stick, has been the best QB on the field tonight.
If you’re an @NDSUfootball fan, you’re in heaven at SoFI Stadium today: Alum Easton Stick is the Chargers’ starting QB while fellow alum Trey Lance will play significant first-team snaps with the 49ers
Trey in LA. #SFvsLAC pic.twitter.com/UZdrgQcF0P
Another @treylance09 #NFLPreseason showing coming up.
: #SFvsLAC on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/ldWXr0NrU8 pic.twitter.com/vo94f9LYXw
Oh hey there @gkittle46 x @treylance09 pic.twitter.com/23uQsqDpjt
Just a couple former @NDSUfootball quarterbacks going at it in preseason play:
◻️ Trey Lance:
8/14, 102 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 89.9 passer rating
◻️ Easton Stick:
10/14, 85 yards, 1 TDs, 0 INT, 110.7 passer rating pic.twitter.com/xviGsUkDjJ