(Continued from page 22)

notched his FCS record-tying sixth career return for a touchdown last week. The senior from Minneapolis has eight games to break the mark set by Murray State's William Hampton from 1993-1996. Bohl called Williams the most instinctive defensive back he's coached. "He's got a real knack," Bohl said. Williams has intercepted 20 passes over his career and is just four shy of the record of 24 set by Missouri State's Adrion Smith from 1990 to 1993.
• EASY PICKIN': South Dakota State co-leads the FCS in interceptions with nine this year for a three-way tie with Stephen F. Austin and Eastern Illinois. Dallas Brown has two of the picks, including a 52-yard touchdown return against Southeastern Louisiana, and seven other Jackrabbit players each have one. South Dakota State is ranked second in turnover margins at a plus-2.5.
• THIRD AND ... WHATEVER: North Dakota State leads the nation in third down conversion rate, with the Bison succeeding on exactly two-thirds of its tries (28 of 42). Bohl said much of that success can be credited to North Dakota State's offensive line, which has allowed the running game to get going and offered great protection for quarterback Brock Jensen. "That's the whole, whole key to our success so far," he said.
• MAGIC MARKER: The Dakota Marker is a traveling trophy started in 2004 that mimics the quartzite monuments that used to mark the border between the two states. The initials "N.D." and "S.D." are chiseled on opposite sides, and "190 M" is inscribed in one face to representing the distance between Brookings and the Bison's home of Fargo. Both coaches remember the sparsely attended 2004 unveiling ceremony in the border town of Hankinson, N.D., and they wondered if the annual matchup would ever amount to much. "It's become an unbelievable rivalry, and that's super," Stiegelmeier said.
•