Pirate Galaxy » fielder Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to a

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- No. 13 Iowas only game against an FCS opponent just might be its toughest non-conference challenge of the season.North Dakota State, which visits Iowa City on Saturday, has won five straight national championships and five straight games over FBS teams since 2010. It is the top-ranked team in the Championship Subdivision.But a closer look at the two teams suggests that North Dakota States FBS streak is in serious jeopardy. The five top-tier teams the Bison have upended recently finished with a combined record of just 20-41 -- and only Kansas State in 2013 went on to earn a bowl bid.The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, look ready to compete for a Big Ten title. Iowa has yet to be threatened, outscoring its first two opponents 87-24. The Hawkeyes throttled rival Iowa State by 39 points last weekend -- the biggest win over the Cyclones in Kirk Ferentzs 18 seasons as coach.North Dakota State (2-0) needed a home field and overtime to beat Charleston Southern and Eastern Washington in its first two games.Still, Ferentz knows better than to sleep on a program that he and his players compared more to Wisconsin and Michigan State than any of the FCS teams theyve faced recently.Just look at them on film. Theyre a first-class team, Ferentz said.Here are some of the facts to consider as Iowa hosts the Bison ahead of its nine-game Big Ten schedule:SCOUTING THE BISONQuarterback Easton Stick led the Bison to an 8-0 record while former star Carson Wentz was injured last season, throwing 13 touchdown passes with a completion percentage of 61.2. Stick has thrown for 451 yards with four touchdowns and an interception this season. Lance Dunn keys their rushing attack, with 179 yards on nearly seven yards per carry. The Bison defense looked a bit shaky last week, albeit against a very strong Eastern Washington offense. North Dakota State allowed four TDs in five red-zone trips, escaping 50-44 in OT.Make no mistake. I think this is the best ... in my five years here, (and) the most complete team that the Bison will face, coach Chris Klieman said about Iowa.NOT SO LITTLE KITTLEIowa senior George Kittle came to Iowa City as an undersized wide receiver. These days hes among the most underrated tight end in the country. Kittle, now 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, is a devastating blocker for the Hawkeyes backs. And although Kittle has just 31 career catches, eight have been for touchdowns, including the opening score in last weeks win over Iowa State.Hes one of the most athletic guys on the team, quarterback C.J. Beathard said.BETTER DIowas defense looked sloppy at times in a 45-21 win over Miami (Ohio) in its opener. The Hawkeyes played a much cleaner game last week, holding the Cyclones to 291 yards and forcing Iowa State to go to its backup quarterback after starter Joel Lanning completed just 8 of 20 passes for 86 yards.FRESH MEATNorth Dakota State has a pair of new starting cornerbacks in Jalen Allison and Jaylaan Wimbush. Theyll be tested by Beathard and Matt VandeBerg, who have a unique chemistry after playing together for five years. VandeBerg caught seven passes last week against Iowa State.HE SAID ITThey have a lot of good players. They just dont have 85 of them. Their top 40, I would say, probably is as good as anybodys. -- Ferentz on North Dakota State. The Bison have just 63 scholarships, compared to 85 for FBS teams.---Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Authentic Custom Spurs Jersey . 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Cheap Custom Spurs Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer may headline the Nationals starting rotation, but Tanner Roark is proving to be pretty reliable.Roark and the Washington bullpen outdueled Madison Bumgarner as the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 1-0 Sunday in a matchup of NL division leaders.Roark (12-6) gave up five hits in seven innings and won for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. The right-hander has thrown at least seven shutout innings a league-best seven times.Hes not amazing us anymore, manager Dusty Baker said. Weve kind of come to expect it.Bumgarner (10-7) lost despite allowing just two hits, including Wilson Ramos 18th home run in the seventh inning.Pitching opposite the Giants ace, Roark knew he couldnt afford too many mistakes.Hes always aggressive, Roark said of Bumgarner. Hes one of the top pitchers in the game, so going against that gives me an extra boost. I want to go out there and do the same and not get beat.Ramos homer came after Roark escaped a jam in the seventh. With runners on second and third, center fielder Ben Revere made a spectacular, over-the-shoulder catch to rob Brandon Belt of extra bases.It was Roarks 105th and final pitch of the afternoon.Tanner, he pitched one heck of a game, Revere said. He was just hitting spots, getting key outs and hes pitching well. He pitched a heck of a game. He was definitely the player of the game in my book. I was just trying to help him out the best I can.The crowd of 32,790 at Nationals Park saluted Revere with a standing ovation as he ran off the field.Ben saved the game, Baker said. That was a Willie Mays catch right there. Boy, that was big.Shawn Kelly retired the Giants in order in the eighth and Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 31st save. Melancon converted his first save opportunity since he was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30.Roark escaped multiple jams, working around five hits and three walks, striking out five.Bumgarner struck out seven and walked two. He was coming off one the worst starts of his career, allowing 10 hits and eight runs in five innings against Philadelphiaa.ddddddddddddI knew hed pitch well today, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Thats who he is. What a terrific job. I knew that he would bounce back and throw a beauty and he did.Bumgarner retired 11 of the first 12 batters and didnt allow a hit until Anthony Rendons two-out double in the fourth. The Giants ace is winless in five starts since the All-Star break.All I can do is come out and put us in a good spot and keep us in the game and hope that things go our way, he said. It hasnt since the break, but thats just the way it goes. I cant worry about that, or its just going to dig a deeper hole.With the win, the Nationals took the season series over the Giants four games to three, giving them the tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same record at the end of the regular season.ON-BASE STREAKINGNationals left fielder Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to a career-best 38 straight games, drawing a four-pitch walk in the first inning. His string is the longest in the majors this season.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RF Hunter Pence struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. He didnt start after bouncing a foul ball off his face Saturday. Pence underwent a CT scan after Saturdays game, which showed no fracture to the orbital socket. ... LHP Josh Osich (forearm strain) is expected to make a rehab appearance with Double-A Richmond on Monday. Osich (1-2, 4.25) last pitched July 23.Nationals: RF Bryce Harper didnt play, a day after leaving a game with neck stiffness. Chris Heisey replaced Harper in right field.UP NEXTGiants: RHP Johnny Cueto (13-3) takes the mound to begin a three-game series in Miami. Cueto has lost his last two decisions and is winless in his last four starts overall. The Giants will face RHP Jose Fernandez (12-6), who is 26-2 lifetime at Marlins Park.Nationals: After a day off Monday, Washington opens a two-game interleague series at home against Cleveland. Scherzer (11-6) is 3-0 in his last four starts, having thrown at least seven innings in each outing. ' ' '