Wentz Gets Cleared; Will Start FCS Championship Game

North Dakota State senior QB Carson Wentz (wrist) returned to start in Saturday’s FCS National Championship game against Jacksonville State.

Wentz has not played since injuring his wrist in a loss to South Dakota in October.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Wentz passed for 1,454 yards and 16 TDs in the first six games.

The Bison (13-2) won their 20th consecutive playoff game, including all five times they have made the trip from Fargo to Frisco for the title game. The Gamecocks have been the more consistently excellent team all year – their sole loss came to Auburn in overtime, and have maybe the most explosive offense in the country.

Despite the fact Jacksonville State ranks second among FBS schools in yards per game (529.2) and averaged 41 points per game this season, it will be up against an ironclad defense.

After Bonnet’s catch, Jenkins threw an interception on the next play.

Cam Pedersen had field goals of 29, 31 and 38 yards for North Dakota State after making only one of seven attempts the first three playoff games. Quarterback Eli Jenkins and running back Troymaine Pope are two of the weapons teams must account for, and that’s just when JSU runs the ball. “You have to look at what he’s done and take with a grain of salt because, yes, he has faced some adversity this past couple of weeks but he has hit some kicks that have won games for us”. “The rust people might have wanted to talk about it, that didn’t show”.

NDSU slowed the JSU march on its ensuing possession, getting a 29-yard run by Wentz and a 29-yard pass to R.J. Urzendowski.

Jacksonville State Fans told NBC 5 it doesn’t bother them one bit, but a tweet from the city-managed Twitter handle, @visitplano, does. The Ohio Valley champions represented a conference that hasn’t won an NCAA title or had a finalist since 1982…. The most consecutive titles at that level were four by Augustana from IL (1983-86).

“That says we are a program that is here to stay”, Schaetz said. The only longer active Division I winning streak is Clemson’s 17-game run. “He and I are best friends”, Wentz said.

“We wouldn’t be in this position without Easton Stick”, Klieman said as Wentz nodded his head in agreement. “It was just a lot of fun”.