Quarterback Yale Vannoy had no explanation for why Nicholls State's option-oriented offensive players looked like "zombies" in the first half and men possessed in the second.
In other words, the confusion created by the North Dakota State defense - namely linebackers leaping laterally like hyenas before nearly every play - didn't end with the final horn Saturday at the Fargodome.
"We did a little bit of that last year (in a 24-14 win at Nicholls), tried more this year to create some confusion," Bison defensive coordinator Casey Bradley said after a 26-13 victory. "Whether it worked or not, I don't know, but it seemed to help and our players did a good job with it."
They did, despite allowing 249 yards rushing - by far a season worst and 113 yards more than they had given up the past two weeks combined.
But the total was also the Colonels' low of the season. Nicholls entered the game leading NCAA Division I-AA in rushing offense at 401 yards per game, and ran for 408 yards at Indiana - yes, that Indiana - in the season opener.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We were doing the same stuff, we really were," Vannoy drawled.
At times they were, anyway.
Nicholls had 37 yards on the ground and one first down on its first four possessions, only to keep the Bison defense on the field 20 of 25 minutes during one second-half span, culminating with a 94-yard scoring drive that cut the deficit to 17-13. But NDSU answered with a touchdown on its next possession, forcing the Colonels - who would prefer to pass on the pass - to abandon the run on which they rely.
"In the second half, everyone started to play up to their potential and you can't win a football game if you only play one half," Vannoy said.
And you can't contain the nation's best rushing attack with bogus shifts.
No, NDSU's movements had a purpose: to disguise defensive assignments. Beyond that, Nicholls coach Jay Thomas lauded the Bison safeties for containing the perimeter and neutralizing a rotation of full-body fullbacks.
It's all very complex stuff that was sorted out in the final score.
"We must be doing something right," NDSU senior linebacker Kole Zimmerman said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Readers can reach Forum reporter Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548
