FARGO -- For two years, Pat Paschall was the backup running back at North Dakota State who showed some flashes of excellence. After two games, he's enjoying life as a starter.
The senior is leading Division I Football Championship Subdivision in rushing with an average of 161.0 yards per game.
"Confidence comes with carries with a running back all the time," Paschall said. "Whenever you have a chance to get more carries, you just have a better feel. I can get in a groove and just go."
He had 146 yards in the opener at Iowa State two weeks ago and 176 last Saturday at Sam Houston State (Texas). The Bison have their home opener Saturday night against Wagner College (N.Y.) giving NDSU fans their first chance to see Paschall as the No. 1 back.
He was the backup to Tyler Roehl the previous two years.
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"I was definitely looking forward to this year," Paschall said. "It was a great experience backing up Tyler and I got to see him do some great things but I felt it was my turn."
Paschall has shown the ability to pound inside at 6-foot and 198 pounds. He's also shown a burst of speed combined with strength, such as his 62-yard run at Sam Houston where he broke a couple of tackles near the line of scrimmage.
He says his upper-body strength is better. But probably the No. 1 reason he looks stronger is his health is better. He suffered a meniscus tear near his knee at the end of the 2007 season and endured a sprained ankle last season.
"I got a chance to work on some speed and my hips this summer," he said. "I was getting my knees running like they should. The biggest thing is just getting my knee back in shape."
Justin Babb of Savannah State (Ga.) is second in the FCS rushing stats at 153.5 yards per game. Jamal Shuman of Elon University (N.C.) is one yard behind that. At 0-2, Paschall has been a bright spot in NDSU's worst start to a season since 1981.
"That's all good, but I would like to be 2-0 -- that would be better than that," Paschall said. "But whatever I can do to help the team out, I'll keep doing it."
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