MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE \ Saturday’s other games

S. Illinois 60, Indiana St. 7

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Quarterback Chris Dieker completed 5-of-5 passes for 117 yards to lead Southern Illinois University to a dominating win at McAndrew Stadium. Dieker found wide receiver Damian Sherman for a 60-yard touchdown reception on the first play from scrimmage to put the Salukis (3-2, 2-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) up 7-0 just seven seconds into the game. SIU put up 50 points in the first half, including 36 in the second quarter. The Sycamores (0-6, 0-2 MVFC) didn’t score until the third quarter, when Calv Schmidtke threw a 48-yard pass to Ryan Patrick for their only touchdown of the game. It was the 20th straight loss for Indiana State, who now owns the nation’s longest losing streak among all divisions.

W. Illinois 27, N. Dakota St. 22

FARGO, N.D. — Herb Donaldson ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns and Buddy Dudczak returned a blocked punt 17 yards for a score. NDSU (3-3, 1-2) has lost three of its last four games while Western Illinois (4-2, 2-1) has won three straight. Donaldson, who had rushed for 200 yards in each of his previous two games, scored on two 2-yard runs in the first half to help the Leathernecks take a 14-10 lead into halftime. Shawn Bibeau kicked a 30-yard field goal for the Bison as time ran out in the first half. Dudczak’s return with 6:22 left in the third quarter gave Western Illinois its largest lead at 21-10 and Taylor Rowan kicked two field goals, including a 54-yarder with 3:47 remaining. Tyler Roehl scored on runs of 2 and 3 yards for NDSU, which was held to just 126 yards on the ground. Roehl had just 44 yards on 17 carries. Nick Mertens was 12-for-23 for 185 yards, including a 34-yard TD pass to Jordan Schultenover that pulled NDSU within 24-22 with 9:39 remaining. NDSU’s last two possessions ended with a sack of fourth-and-15 and on an interception.

N. Iowa 34, Illinois St. 17

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Pat Grace ran for two scores and passed for two more to lead Northern Iowa. Grace rushed 13 times for 99 yards and scored on runs of 8 and 3 yards in the second half. He threw a 5-yard TD pass to Ryan Mahaffey and a 50-yarder to Victor Williams in the first half, leading the Panthers (4-2, 2-1) to a 17-10 halftime lead. Grace was 13-for-28 for 238 yards. Williams had five catches for 93 yards. The Panthers’ five scoring dives, including a 33-yard Billy Hallgren field goal, covered 72, 75, 67, 82 and 84 yards. Illinois State (2-3, 1-1) kept it close through the first half. The Cardinals got a 27-yard field goal by Steven Fetzer and a 1-yard run by quarterback Kevin Brockway with 4:48 left in the half. The score capped a 16-play, 86-yard drive. But Illinois State didn’t score again until Parrish Fisher went in from 8 yards out with 51 seconds left. Fisher led the Cardinals in rushing with 75 yards on 17 carries. Brockway was 24-for-41 for 202 yards and was picked off twice. Northern Iowa had a 416-350 edge in total yards.

Associated Press