NDSU-ATHLETICS
FARGO, N.D. – No. 1-ranked North Dakota State scored 21 points off turnovers and rolled in the second half to a 45-17 victory over eighth-ranked Southern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 11, before a crowd of 15,812 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
NDSU improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with its 16th straight home win, and Southern Illinois slipped to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The game was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter when NDSU defensive tackle Keenan Wilson forced a fumble in the red zone and defensive end Toby Anene recovered for the Bison with 1:13 left before halftime. Quarterback Cole Payton connected with Bryce Lance on a 48-yard play down the sideline and followed that with a nine-yard scoring pass as NDSU took a 17-10 lead before the break.
Payton converted a third-and-7 on the opening drive of the second half with a 50-yard pass to tight end Reis Kessel down the middle of the field to spark an eight-play scoring drive capped by Payton’s two-yard rushing TD and it was 24-10 Bison.
NDSU safety Darius Givance forced a fumble on the ensuing drive and defensive tackle Jaxon Duttenhefer recovered for the Bison, who scored 38 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. Payton scored on a 41-yard scramble, Barika Kpeenu scored on a 6-yard run, and DJ Scott added a 24-yard rushing touchdown after an interception by linebacker Oliver Lucht.
Bison linebacker Nathaniel Staehling finished with a game-high nine tackles and linebacker Donovan Woolen made seven stops with two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.
Southern Illinois quarterback DJ Williams went 15 of 29 passing for 190 yards and finished with just 41 yards rushing on 15 carries including three sacks. Jay Jones and Fabian McCray each made four receptions for 52 yards for the Salukis.
North Dakota State goes on the road for its next two contests and will face Indiana State at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the MVFC following a 19-14 homecoming loss to South Dakota.
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