North Dakota State University - Bison Yearbook (Fargo, ND)

Page 154 text:

Q. QA Q - Uviiiicrsity of North Dakota attempting to score with an aerial attack Bison 183 Omaha University 13 With memories of the mighty herd which carried the Bison colors to the North Central Conference Championship in 1935 still fresh in their minds North Dakota State College football fans waited with high expectancy to see Casey Fin- negan,s 1936 aggregation which sport scribes were inclined to put in the cellar in their pre-seasonal predictions. How- ever. in their opening game against Oma- ha University the Bison kicked the dope bucket asunder by shattering the heavier opposing line before a barrage of fast blocking linemen and backs who opened the way for the sensational running of Ernie Wheeler and Bronke Bill Olson to chalk up an 18 to 13 Win over the south- erners. Wayne Springer, Watch charm guard, repeatedly broke through on de- fense and it was not until the last period that the visitors broke into the scoring via the air attack. Bison 13g Winnipeg 33 The second game, the Bison had the opportunity of getting some experience outside of the conference at the hands of the Winnipeg Rugby team Which-car- ried off the Canadian Championship in 1935. The Canadians had little difficulty in making yards against the Bison to run the score up to a 33 to 13 advantage. The climax of the game came when Soph- omore Ernie Wheeler intercepted a pass and showed his heels to Fritz Hanson. former Bison gridiron great, to score after a seventy yard gallop. Captain Bob Erickson played his usual steady game at defense and was the most consistent ground gainer for the Bison through the line. Miller Laftrigf VVheele'r Fraser

Page 153 text:

Finnegan, Smith, Rorvig, Stevens, McClure, Ose, Laaviq, Lowe Freclericks, Holt, Hawkins, Phillips, Pollock, Bowers, Jim On, Wellerns, Wheeler B. Olson, L. Olson, Welsh, Springer, Miller, Erickson, Schrank, Gilroy. Olliver, May The IQ36 Football Squad fs 5 f . 7-1 Captain Bob Erickson Page 135

Page 155 text:

M1111 Schrmik Holt Pollock Bison 155 Concordia 0 The Bison sent the Concordia Cob- bers back across the river the next week without a first down to their credit. Bob Erickson and Bill Olson played the stel- lar roles in the Bison second line in a game studded with sensational runs. It was again the outstanding work of Wayne Springer and big Lyle Sturgeon that stopped the Cobber backs in their tracks to keep them from completing a first down. Bison 7g Northwestern 40 Although the Bison were over- whelmed under a 40-7 defeat the next week at the hands of Northwestern, the game was one of their most creditable performances. For two periods an in- spired Bison team held Dick Hanley's first string which two weeks later were to hand the mighty Golden Gophers from Minnesota the first setback in three years. Coming on the field with a seven point lead after the half the reserve strength of the Wildcats proved too much for the Bison who crumpled under the opposition's offense. Ernie Wheeler gave the fans a thrill in the last period when he sidestepped through the Wildcat team for 60 yards to score the Bison's lone counter. Bison 14g Moorhead Teachers 7 Early season Bison scores were con- spicuous by the failure to convert ex- tra points. The answer to Finneganls problem seemed to be answered in the game with the Dragons when big Lyle Sturgeon assumed the duty of booting the ball between the uprights. Burke, the Dragon's sensational ball toter, fur- Bison block Sioux pass on fine-yard line.