JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — No. 2 seed North Dakota State scored 15 points in the final two minutes of play to earn a 38-35 win over East Tennessee State in NCAA Division I FCS play at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium on Saturday.
Bison Quarterback Michael scored the game-winning 11-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds left, completing the comeback that included an onside kick recovery with 1 minute and 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
East Tennessee State took a 35-23 lead after a Cameron Lewis 19-yard touchdown catch 8:39 minutes before the end of the fourth quarter in front of 11,040 fans.
NDSU had not recovered an onside kick since 2005 before Safety Darius Givances Recovery against the Buccaneers.
Below are scenes from NDSU’s dramatic away win:
North Dakota State’s Mekhi Collins draws an interference call against East Tennessee State’s Jayvon Henderson on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller carries the ball against East Tennessee State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s John Gores looks toward the end zone after being ejected from the field by East Tennessee State’s Jaden Woods on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance hauls in a pass reception against East Tennessee State’s Cam Sims at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller powers his way through East Tennessee State defenders and scores the game-winning touchdown against East Tennessee State with 50 seconds left in the first quarter at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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East Tennessee State flag bearers perform at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller gets up from the turf after being tackled in the fourth quarter against East Tennessee State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s TK Marshall scores against East Tennessee State on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek leads the Bison onto the field against East Tennessee State on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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East Tennessee State players touch “The Rock” before kickoff at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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East Tennessee State quarterback Jaylen King is cheered on by teammate Gino English after intercepting a pass in the final seconds as the Bisons celebrate on the video board at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s TK Marshall runs past East Tennessee State’s Jaden Woods on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State’s Anthony Chideme-Alfaro argues with East Tennessee State’s AJ Johnson after Bryson Irby’s touchdown at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State players compete against East Tennessee State on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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East Tennessee State’s Bryson Irby scores his third touchdown against North Dakota State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s Eli Ozick kicks a 54-yard field goal against East Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State’s Jackson Williams returns a kickoff against East Tennessee State’s Ray Coney at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller is congratulated by East Tennessee State’s Willie Harris following the victory at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek cheers on his team after the Bisons fell to East Tennessee State on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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East Tennessee State’s Bryson Irby celebrates after scoring a touchdown against North Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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East Tennessee State’s Cameron Lewis throws a touchdown pass against North Dakota State’s Ryan Jones at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller scores the game-winning touchdown with 50 seconds left against East Tennessee State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s Darius Givance recovers the onside kick against East Tennessee State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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North Dakota State’s Kaedin Steindorf (right) knocks down an onside kick that hits East Tennessee State’s Chris Hope and bounces free on the ball at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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East Tennessee State’s Bryson Irby leaps into the end zone to score against North Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance shoots against East Tennessee State’s Ray Coney on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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North Dakota State’s Joe Stoffel celebrates his touchdown reception against East Tennessee State at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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East Tennessee State’s Bryson Irby breaks away from North Dakota State’s Marcus Gulley and scores a touchdown at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
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Peterson covers college sports for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps cover the North Dakota State football team. Peterson has been with the newspaper since 1996.
