FARGO — The first sign not all systems were a go for North Dakota State’s second round playoff game came 27 minutes before kickoff. The head coach could feel it.
“That’s getting to be a little late,” Tim Polasek said.
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After the first quarter against Abilene Christian, the Bison fans could see it. NDSU was two touchdowns down. On Tuesday, at his weekly press conference, Polasek sounded like he was ready to go already for the Saturday Division I FCS quarterfinal game against Mercer University (Ga.).
“I think we were looking ahead,” he said of last week. “Like it’s not big enough for us. It is damn big enough. That has to be the focus. The Super Bowl is this weekend, it’s Mercer and we’re zeroed in.”
Polasek said in his review of the Abilene game that he thought his team was tight, which led to a slow start and a 17-3 first quarter deficit. NDSU rallied for a 51-31 win.
“It’s not about a fast start, it’s about being ready to go in and value what’s right in front of you,” he said. “My general sense is we’re looking for bigger and bigger moments prior to getting the job done so you don’t go out there and warm up efficiently. You don’t go out there and enjoy each other, there’s not enough connection.”
There will be a different connection on the offensive line for the Bears with the season-ending knee injury to senior right guard Jake Rock. It was around this time a year ago when Hunter Poncius made a play that was turned into T-shirts. His blocked extra point in overtime at Montana State gave the Bison a one-point quarterfinal win in Bozeman, Montana.
“The Bozeman Block,” as it was called. Now the Bison are counting on the 6-foot-8, 315-pound Poncius to block — all afternoon. Only this time it’s at home at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
“No. 1, Fargo has been so good to him, he’s taken full advantage of the education,” Polasek said. “Just the stick-to-itness and the willingness to do that. It doesn’t happen everywhere. There are stories there, just guys hanging in there. It says a lot about his family, the way he was raised and the person that he is.”
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Poncius is listed as the starting right guard, although the Bison could use a variety of different combinations. Backup center Jack Liewinski, for instance, started at left guard for two games when Griffin Empey was out.
“It’s a matter of, where are their best players and where is our game plan going to go,” Polasek said.
He’s hoping linebackers Luke Weerts and Austin Altepeter will return to practice this week, although that’s up in the air. Although not listed as starters, those two are part of special teams and without them the depth at linebacker gets thin.
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