FRISCO — In his first season with the program, former Moon Area offensive lineman Trent Fraley helped North Dakota State capture its 10th FCS Championship, and first since 2021.
“It still doesn’t feel real but it feels great because all the hard work we put in paid off, Fraley said. “It is amazing to be able to be the team that was able to bring a championship back to this school,” Fraley said. “I know that the other guys are excited to be able to be the top dog again.
Monday’s national championship game was a back-and-forth affair between North Dakota State and top-seeded Montana State who held an 18-point lead heading into the locker room at the half.
While the team held a substantial lead, the Bobcats made it a three-point game before the Bison matched Montana State in the final 15 minutes to win 35-32.
“It was probably the biggest scene we were a part of this season and being in that environment for the first time, it was a surreal experience,” Fraley said. “The stands were packed 50-50. After the first half, we knew the game wasn’t over because they were a good team so we knew that we had to keep our foot on the gas and play four quarters of football because we knew the game wasn’t over after a half.”
The road to an FCS title was a long one for Fraley, who spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Marshall University.
In those two seasons, Fraley saw limited action. But when first-year NDSU coach Tim Polasek began to recruit him, Fraley knew that it was the right spot for him.
“North Dakota State reached out and they were a notoriously good program so it was something that I wanted to consider and when I laid out all of my choices, they were the best fit for me so I went there, and they told me that those who come here, stay and become champions and it became true. It is awesome that it all came to reality and it was not just a saying,” Fraley said.
For 2024, Fraley appeared in all 16 games.
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While the uptick in-game action may be a big adjustment for some, the sophomore offensive lineman took it in stride thanks to his coaching staff and older players.
“I was very excited to be playing and doing it at a high level,” Fraley said. “Having great people around me like coach Larson and coach Polasek who is an offensive line guy at heart, we had great people in our position room that would mentor and coach us. For me to not only play but to continuously progress throughout the season was huge for me.”
Before his collegiate career, Fraley was a three-year starter for Moon Area and earned all-conference honors in 2020 and 2021. He also garnered all-state offensive line plaudits in his senior season helping the team capture two section titles and a berth in the WPIAL Class 5A Championship.
