Fordham University Athletics

Fargo, N.D. –  The Weather Channel voted Fargo the toughest weather city in America. It defeated Juneau, Alaska; even though it has less precipitation, it has more dramatic weather overall, including its infamous cold, the potential for dangerous thunderstorms, and intense summer heat. Fargo sits in Blizzard Alley, an area that gets more blizzards than other areas. The weather outside was fine today but it was the weather inside that bothered the Fordham football squad. The Fordham offense felt as if it were competing in one of those cold Fargo blizzards as North Dakota State shutout the Rams, 38-0, in the Fargodome.
 
Senior Andrew Osmun led the Fordham defense with 13 total tackles, seven solo, including three of loss and one sack, while junior Johnny Schmitt added ten.
 
Senior quarterback Gunnar Smith completed 12 of 22 passes for 116 yards with three of those passes going to sophomore tight end John Morris for 37 yards.
 
The Rams trailed 17-0 at the half but a pair of second half interceptions, including a pick six, in the first five minutes made it a 31-0 game early in the third quarter.
 
Notes
• Fordham was successful on its lone fourth down conversion in the game.
 
• The Rams wore their new white helmets for the first time.
 
• It was the first meeting between the Fordham and North Dakota State.
 
• The Bison, winners of ten NCAA FCS titles – most recently in 2024, moved up to the FBS level this fall and are a member of the Mountain West Conference.
 
• The game was the furthest west that a Fordham football team has played (previous western-most game was at Nebraska in 2021).
 
• It also marked the first time Fordham football played in a domed stadium.
 
By the Numbers
3 – Sacks by the Rams.
 
9 – Tackles for loss in the game for Fordham.
 
42.8 – Punting average for Dominic Sansone (five punts for 214 yards with a long of 50).
 
What's Next?
• The Rams will stay on the road for the second of three straight road contests, and the second straight game against an FBS opponent, as they travel to Conway, S.C., to take on
the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium on Saturday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m.
 
• It will be the first meeting between Fordham and Coastal Carolina.
 
• The Chanticleers moved from FCS to FBS in 2016, competing as an independent until joining the Sun Belt in 2017.
 
• Fordham alum and Athletic Hall of Famer, Joe Moglia served as the Coastal Carolina head coach from 2012-18.
 
• The Rams play their home games at Moglia Stadium, named for Joe Moglia.
 
• Fordham has played one current member of the Sun Belt Conference, defeating Old Dominion in 2009, 34-29, when the Monarchs played at the FCS level.