Bison Game Day September 16, 2023

Presents

BISON GAME DAY SATURDAY, SEPT. 16, 2023

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

►When: 2:30 p.m., Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome ►TV: WDAY (ABC)

$3.00 (Suggested retail price) Copyright 2023 The Forum

NORTH DAKOTA STATE

►Radio: 1660-AM, 107.9-FM

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North Dakota State’s Will Mostaert makes a call at the line against Maine at the Fargodome on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

DOUBLE TROUBLE ONCE MORE After a year mostly apart, the North Dakota State football team’s Mostaert twins are back together again

BY JEFF KOLPACK The Forum FARGO hey argue about everything, whether it’s the team meal, basketball, the Minnesota Vikings, football or, who knows, if there is an end of the Earth, what’s on the other side? Nothing is off the table when it comes to Will Mostaert vs. Eli Mostaert.

It’s always been that way as long as they can remember. The Mostaert kids. Look out.

It’s never personal. It’s never mean, even if it sounds that way to their North Dakota State teammates. It’s tough brotherly love.

It’s sarcastic, but it’s not — you make the call. Not only that but the back-and-forth never takes a day off in the Bison football facilities.

And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

But there was a missing link last year, when Eli went down in the second game of the season with a broken leg and didn’t return until the Division I FCS national title game. For the first time since his sophomore year in high school when he made the varsity team and Eli didn’t, Will was the only Mostaert on the field.

It felt strange to him.

“The next week I was doing all my stuff for game day and he just wasn’t around,” Will said. “You could definitely tell on the field, I played with him my whole life and he’s really good to lean on, stuff like that. It was weird not having him out there.”

Bison head coach Matt Entz said there is probably an element to Will upping his game with his brother back in full stride, citing the competitive side in both.

“But generally they’re at each other’s throats,” Entz said. “But at the same time I guess brotherly love is pretty strong. Those two push one another, they’re at each other. They’re great guys but you can tell they’re twins and I’m sure the competitive juices started a long, long time ago.”

It took awhile, but Bison defensive line coach Nick Goeser now has no problem telling them apart, saying they have different personalities in addition to a slight size difference.

“That first probably year I was

T

North Dakota State’s Eli Mostaert grabs the football after blocking a field goal attempt by Eastern Washington kicker Soren McKee at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. around them, I couldn’t tell who was who,” Goeser said. “But they definitely still push each other and ride each other. They’re brothers that like to give each other a hard time but I also think that pushes them to be pretty darn good.”

They came to NDSU after leading Lakeville North to a Minnesota Class 6A state football championship in 2018. They were perhaps more finesse-like players as preps, but the strength and conditioning program at NDSU combined with nutritional education has Eli at 287 pounds and Will at 270 It’s a man’s game now.

Will was the first to get offered

by NDSU, but it wasn’t long before Eli joined the recruiting fray. Since enrolling at NDSU, Eli has always been the bigger of the two, with Will starting his career as a defensive end.

He was 246 pounds his true freshman season.

“The summer is always tough because we’re running all the time,” Will said. “It’s hot and I’m trying to stay where I’m at. That’s the hardest part because when I was at D-end, I usually dropped a few pounds and a percentage of

body fat but now it’s about trying to maintain it.”

Eli was the first to assert himself at NDSU, having a productive spring 2021 season that had him as the primary guy on the defensive line and Will as the understudy. Eli was second on the team behind defensive end Brayden Thomas with 10 tackles for lost yardage and 7.5 quarterback sacks.

He was named an All-American

by Hero Sports. At that point, Will was a “tweener” wondering if he was more of a defensive end or an interior guy.

When he got moved to the inside, it was Eli telling him what to do.

“He tries to boss me around nowadays and I’ve been playing D-tackle longer,” Eli said before the 2022 season. “But we’re also trying to help the young D-tackles work together and in general help the group.”

Goeser admits to some apprehension when the two were moved to the same position and how they would compete against each other. That fear was quickly dispelled and it worked out better than the coaches probably hoped.

“I think they’ve thrived

because of it,” Goeser said.

Plus there are times, usually in passing situations, when both are on the field together and when that happens Will said the two brothers really don’t have to say much to each other. They just know what each other is going to do.

Goeser said they are perhaps the team’s two best inside pass rushers heading into Saturday’s Central Arkansas game at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

Eli still appears to be finding his 100% recovery mode, saying it took a bit to get used to the physical nature of the game. He wasn’t near that when he returned last January in the title game against South Dakota State.

“It’s been fun to get back into the flow of it, but I’m still adjusting a little bit,” Eli said. “My tackling, I still have to work on and do better with my tackling. I need to step it up for the next game because this is a good team we’re going to play.”

Will said his brother has a certain confidence and swagger.

On the other hand, almost

twins on W5

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North Dakota State’s Julian Wlodarczyk warms up before kickoff against Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

NDSU SENIOR WLODARCZYK THRIVING IN STARTING LINEBACKER ROLE NDSU linebacker Julian Wlodarczyk was a special teams player earlier in his NDSU career and has developed into a defensive starter

BY ERIC PETERSON AND JEFF KOLPACK The Forum FARGO orth Dakota State linebacker Julian Wlodarczyk said he worked on his tackling and closing speed during the offseason, two traits that proved fruitful last weekend.

On the first drive of the game against Maine, Wlodarczyk’s tackle jarred the ball loose from a Black Bears receiver that the Bison recovered and led to a field goal moments later in a 44-7 victory in nonconference NCAA Division I FCS football.

“Julian’s play last week was a great tackle,” said Bison head coach Matt Entz.

Wlodarczyk and the Bison defense have created five turnovers through two games. NDSU (2-0) plays Central Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Gate City Bank Stadium at the Fargodome to close out the nonconference schedule.

The Bears are coming off a 70-2 victory against NAIA Texas College last weekend. Central Arkansas (1-1) rushed for nearly 400 yards in that game. Junior running back Kylin James rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts to lead the way.

“They’ve got some good, physical backs,” Wlodarczyk said. “It will be a fun matchup.”

Bears quarterback Will McElvain is a familiar face, starting his career at Northern Iowa, which is also in the Missouri Valley Football Conference like the Bison. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound McElvain has completed 30 of 45 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns in two games.

The Bears started the season with a 27-13 loss against Oklahoma State, a Power Five program from the Big 12 Conference.

The 6-foot-3, 211-pound Wlodarczyk started seven games last season and also the first two this season, his fifth in the program.

He played safety for three seasons before transitioning to linebacker. Wlodarczyk was primarily played on special teams during his first three seasons in the pro-

N

North Dakota State’s Julian Wlodarczyk flips his hair before photos during Bison football media day at the the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex on Friday, August 11, 2023. gram.

Wlodarczyk has played in 57 games during his Bison career and the starting experience he had last fall has helped him elevate his play.

“Confidence has played a huge role in my game this year,” said Wlodarczyk, from Naperville, Ill. “I just feel more confident getting that experience. Last year had a huge deal with how confident I’m playing this year.”

Wlodarczyk has 11 total tackles,

including one for a loss, entering Saturday’s game to go along with his forced fumble. He ranks third in the team in tackles behind linebacker Nick Kubitz and safety Cole Wisniewski. Linebacker Logan Kopp ranks fourth with 10 tackles.

“It’s been a great opportunity,” Wlodarczyk said. “I really love going out there playing fast and playing with my teammates. ... I think everyone is playing with confidence.”

Rock continues his push for a starting spot Bison senior offensive guard Jake Rock has played in 35 games with one start, experience that has been valuable for NDSU in having players in backup roles who are not rookies. He said not being in the starting lineup is a motivating factor for him, but something he continues to work toward.

Wlodarczyk on W5

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WLODARCZYK CONTINUED from W4 “It shows there’s a lot of good guys in competition in front of me,” Rock said. “If I want to be one of those starting five, then I have to perform like those guys. It’s a weekly thing in practice knowing what I have to do better at.”

Rock’s one start was an FCS quarterfinal playoff win over Eastern Washington in the 2021 spring season.

“I think back to the spring ‘21 COVID season and that definitely helped my confidence,” he said.

“And I think my confidence has continued to grow with each season.

You’re not knowing when that time will be when you have to come in for guys but you always have David Samson/The Forum to be ready.”

He was ready in the North Dakota State’s Eli and Will Mostaert ready for a season opener two weeks photo during Bison football media day at the the Nodak ago against Eastern Insurance Football Performance Complex on Friday, Washington at U.S. Bank August 11, 2023.

Stadium in Minneapolis when starting right guard “leaning towards it.” Eli Jake Kubas went out in said he wants to see how the second half with CONTINUED from W2 this year goes first.

Certainly, that decision cramps. Rock stepped in, predictably in a sarcastic won’t be finished without even though he’s played manner, he said it’s “good some brotherly bickering. tackle most of his career.

“It’s the next-man-up It’s just the way the twins and bad” having his mentality and we’re a are wired. brother back.

“We’ve been doing that program that is meant to “It’s amazing to have build guys up for that,” him out here because he’s all our lives,” Eli said. he said.

“But it’s not like we hold a great football player,” The 6-foot-7, 306-pound Will said. “But we bicker. any grudges or anything Rock has another year of against each other. We It happens. Not everyone eligibility because of the have a fun time playing can have their way and pandemic should he with all the other guys sometimes one of us wants to do one thing and and it’s helped us because choose to take it. He’s not the other one wants to do we connect on a different 100% sure he’ll take it, but he appears to be leanlevel.” the other. It’s great to ing that way and will talk have him back.” with his parents and Readers can reach Forum Both Mostaerts have Bison coaches before not announced if they’re reporter Jeff Kolpack at jkolpack@forumcomm.com. deciding. coming back for their “Who wouldn’t want to Twitter@KolpackInForum extra year of eligibility come back to this probecause of the pandemic, gram?” he said. “It’s done although Will said he’s

TWINS

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North Dakota State’s Jake Rock watches a field goal against Samford during their FCS quarterfinal championship football game Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, in the Fargodome. so many amazing things for me.”

one of the better programs in college football over the last couple of decades. Then you play a UCA spanning the game like this where you level of competition can let your guard down Perhaps no team in coleasily. But I thought we lege football this season had a good week of pracwill jump the hoops of tice, I think that’s what the level of competition led into this. Our guys than Central Arkansas.

The Bears opened the sea- competed in practice this week. We turned the son at Big 12 Conference intensity up on them all Oklahoma State, a game week. That was strategic in which UCA battled as far as the coaches go.” into the second half Brown followed that before the Cowboys won with the thought of a trip 27-13. to Fargo this weekend.

Last week, Central Three games, three differArkansas’ home-opener ent levels of football. opponent, Texas College, “But man, (now) we’re is a team that went 1-8 the about to go play the Mt. previous year and plays Rushmore of college footin the Sooner Athletic ball, I don’t care what Conference. Predictably, level,” he said. “You’re the Bears didn’t have talking about a team that much trouble. has won I think nine “It’s real hard,” UCA national championships head coach Nathan in the last 11 or 12 years.

Brown said on the That’s as good as it gets. school’s athletic website.

So if you sign up to play “You play a game like big-time football, get Oklahoma State last week, which is obviously ready this week because

you’re going to get that opportunity.”

Etc. etc. etc.

• This is the second meeting between the programs. NDSU earned a 39-28 victory against Central Arkansas during the fall of 2020, the only game the Bison played that fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NDSU played nine games during the spring that season.

• Wisniewski has three interceptions through two games in his first two collegiate starts at safety after starting his NDSU career at linebacker.

• Saturday’s game is the first of a home-and-home contract between the schools, with NDSU scheduled to play at Central Arkansas in 2026.

The Bison have home non-conference games against East Tennessee State and Austin Peay that season.

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