MVFC roundup Saturday’s games

North Dakota State 27, Northern Iowa 19

FARGO, N.D.

Brock Jensen completed a career-high 22 of 25 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown Saturday as North Dakota State took sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. D.J. McNorton scored on a 6-yard run and an 8-yard pass for the Bison (8-0, 5-0), who are one of two undefeated teams in the FCS, along with Sam Houston State (8-0). North Dakota State also scored on a 3-yard fumble recovery by Kyle Emanuel. Northern Iowa (6-2, 5-1), which was averaging 202 yards rushing per game, was held to 53. David Johnson had 16 yards on 10 carries, but caught 10 passes for 114 yards and a TD. Tirrell Rennie was 20 of 30 for 224 yards, but threw his first interception of the season — snapping a school-record streak of 171 passes without an interception dating back to last season.

South Dakota State 43, Missouri State 36, 2 OT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.

Zach Zenner scored on a 2-yard run in the second overtime. Austin Sumner threw for 377 yards and four touchdowns, including a 25-yarder to Dale Moss to keep the Jackrabbits (3-6, 2-4) alive in the first overtime. MSU had gone ahead on a 1-yard TD run by Trevor Wooden, who also threw four touchdown passes. Austin Witmer was wide right on a potentially game-winning 32-yard field goal with 1:13 left in regulation for the Bears (1-8, 1-5). They couldn’t get a first down after Zenner’s score and remained winless against South Dakota State, which joined the MVFC in 2008. Sumner found Moss for two scores and Aaron Rollin and Brandon Hubert for one apiece. Tyrel Kool added a rushing TD. Wooden had 231 yards passing, with one interception, plus 107 on the ground.

Illinois State 38, Southern Illinois 30

CARBONDALE, Ill.

Matt Brown threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to lead Illinois State to a 38-30 victory over Southern Illinois. The Redbirds (6-3, 4-2) jumped ahead less than 3 minutes into the game when Colton Underwood picked up a Saluki fumble and ran 53 yards for a touchdown. Brown connected with James O’Shaughnessy for an 18-yard score midway through the first quarter to make it 14-0. Illinois State led the rest of the way. Brown’s 19-yard pass to Tyrone Walker gave the Redbirds a 24-7 lead in the second quarter. Southern Illinois (2-6, 1-5) got within 31-24 in the fourth quarter, but Cliffton Gordon’s 3-yard TD run with 4:31 to play put it away for Illinois State. Kory Faulkner was 29 of 37 for 334 yards and a touchdown for the Salukis. He also led SIU with 44 rushing yards and ran for a score.

Associated Press