Game day notebook: Bison LG Empey has new club and it's not golf

David Samson / The Forum By Jeff Kolpack Today at 2:00 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? FARGO — At first, North Dakota State left guard Griffin Empey thought it was another minor issue that comes with playing on the offensive line. Maybe a dislocated finger. Or a sprain of some sort. He came off the field at the University of New Mexico, tried to shake off whatever was ailing his hand and headed out on the next possession. ADVERTISEMENT “I get out there and it’s just not right,” Empey said. Next up was NDSU head athletic trainer Trisha Shannon, who sent Empey into the locker room at New Mexico’s University Stadium to get an X-ray. That picture didn’t lie: Empey fractured a finger. He missed last week’s 31-7 win over UTEP but will return to the lineup Saturday when the Bison play at the University of Hawaii, a 10 p.m. CT kickoff that will be aired on The CW. It was the first time Empey missed a game in his two years as a full-time starter, a decision that was more about looking ahead to the final push of the season. Add to that NDSU had a bye last week and two weeks off was the final answer. “We still have a good amount of football yet to play and there are some big games coming up for us,” Empey said. “Yeah it did suck missing one game but being back now was the plan and I’m glad it’s working out that way.” It won’t be perfect. Empey will wear a protective “club” on his hand. “It’s kind of weird and actually this is the first time I’ve ever broken a bone,” he said. “It’s just dealing with the awkwardness of it but that’s what practice is for. I’m using this week to get on top of it and getting used to playing with the club.” ADVERTISEMENT Hawaii air game peaking The Rainbow Warriors, after a rough 1-6 start, appear to be finding their footing. They notched back-to-back road wins for the first time since 2007 after beating Northern Illinois 56-21 and UTEP 17-14. Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado, the Mountain West Conference preseason offensive player of the year, threw for over 300 yards in both victories. He’s the league’s leading passer averaging 276.6 yards and is third in the FBS averaging 25.3 completions. “This quarterback is a tough out,” said NDSU head coach Tim Polasek. “He is a ball-playing fool and when I say that he knows how to keep plays alive. The play isn’t over until the whistle blows and that’s not always the case with every quarterback.” Polasek calls the Hawaii passing attack unique in that it can be creative in getting receivers open. “They can hurt you in multiple ways,” he said. Chris Flynn / The Forum CB Moore joins elite list When Bison cornerback Marion Moore returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown late in the game against UTEP, it marked his second defensive TD of the season. It put him in some elite company. He’s the fifth player in NDSU’s Division I history to have multiple defensive scores in one season joining Nathaniel Staehling (2025), Jabril Cox (2018), MJ Stumpf (2016) and Marcus Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2011 and 2013. ADVERTISEMENT Williams had an uncanny seven pick-sixes in his career with three of them coming in the 2011 season, NDSU’s first FCS title year. Moore returned a touchdown 37 yards in the third quarter against Fordham University in early September. The play of the Bison secondary has been generally on task. There are other factors, of course, like a solid pass rush, a stout run defense and active linebackers, but NDSU remained No. 2 in the FBS in passing yards allowed at 124.4 per game. Alabama-Birmingham is slightly ahead of the Bison at 122.6. Predicting the Mountain West The Predictor wasn’t a fan of the bye week after going 4-0 on Oct. 31 in predicting Mountain West games on Saturday other than NDSU. That came a week after the first loss in the previous week when Nevada struck a loss on San Jose State. But the roll will continue. Northern Illinois 23, Nevada 20. Yes, you read that right, the Huskies will win their first game of the season (gotta break through at some point plus they’re at home) against a Nevada team that looked lackluster last week. ADVERTISEMENT New Mexico 24, UNLV 16. The Rebels appear to be on the verge of breaking with starting quarterback Jackson Arnold benched last week and a defense that is leaking. The Lobos have a special season rolling in Albuquerque. Wyoming 28, UTEP 10. The Cowboys lost their starting quarterback in Tyler Hughes but that won’t matter against a Miners team that has cashed it in for the season. The momentum continues for Wyoming. Air Force 19, San Jose State 13. The Falcons are at home and this has all the makings of a slugfest. Air Force getting quarterback Evan Medders back will be the difference. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags BISON FOOTBALL BISON MEDIA ZONE INFORUM BISMARCK MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE By Jeff Kolpack Jeff Kolpack, the son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995. He has covered all 10 of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written four books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough," "Covid Kids" and "They Caught Them Sleeping: How Dot Reinvented the Pretzel." He is also the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August. Twitter Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Men's Sports Bison Bowl Projections: Return of the MAC 1h ago · By Dom Izzo Men's Sports How to watch NDSU play Hawaii on Saturday 1h ago · By Forum staff Men's Sports McFeely: Hawaii goes from paradise to dystopia for Bison 3h ago · By Mike McFeely ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Prep Day 1: 2026 NDHSAA State Girls Swimming and Diving Championships on WDAY+ 4h ago · By WDAY News Fargo Embattled recovery and reentry nonprofit F5 Project looks ahead after turbulent year 1h ago · By Tasha Carvell Minnesota Court documents: Human remains may be found in 1982 case of missing toddler near Bemidji 5h ago · By Matt Henson Prep Kindred advances to state volleyball tournament for first time in 10 years 16h ago · By Andrew Haugland