Saturday’s other Missouri valley football conference games

South Dakota State 27, South Dakota 12

VERMILLION, S.D.

Austin Sumner threw for two scores and Zach Zenner ran for 137 yards and a touchdown as South Dakota State defeated South Dakota. Sumner completed 16 of 23 passes for 175 yards as the Jackrabbits (7-4, 4-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference) kept their playoff hopes alive with their third straight win. Sumner connected with Jason Schneider from 34 yards in the first quarter and 5 yards early in the fourth. SDSU ran for 140 of its 315 total yards, while South Dakota (4-7, 3-4) was one-dimensional on the offensive end.

Northern Iowa 17, Missouri State 10

SPRINGFIELD, MO.

David Johnson was the workhorse for Northern Iowa, carrying the ball 37 times and scoring twice in a victory over Missouri State. Johnson gained 167 of the Panthers’ 212 yards rushing, and had TD runs of 1 and 21 yards in the close contest. Northern Iowa (6-5, 2-5 Missouri Valley Conference) ended the Bears (5-7, 5-3) four-game win streak. Missouri State has not defeated Northern Iowa since 2005. Five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions — hurt Missouri State, which had jumped ahead 3-0 on an Austin Witmer 37-yard-field goal on the opening drive.

Western Illinois 21, Indiana State 14

TERRE HAUTE, IND.

Nikko Watson scored two rushing touchdowns as Western Illinois jumped to an early lead and held off Indiana State. Western Illinois (4-7, 2-5 Missouri Valley Conference) used a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs from Watson in the first half to build a 14-0 lead, and extended the lead on Martinez Davis’ 32-yard interception return for a touchdown. Buck Logan’s 1-yard rushing touchdown got the Sycamores (1-10, 0-7) on the board in the third quarter and Trent Lancaster found Tanner Riley with a 10-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth to come within 21-14.

Southern Illinois 24, Illinois State 17

CARBONDALE, ILL.

Ken Malcome scored two rushing touchdowns, his second being a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter as Southern Illinois beat Illinois State. The Salukis (6-5, 4-3 Missouri Valley) trailed early as Ryan West was intercepted by Dontae McCoy, who returned it 64 yards for a touchdown. A Thomas Kinney field goal and a 12-yard score from West to LaSteven McKinney gave Southern Illinois the lead. The Redbirds (5-6, 4-4) tied it with a Nick Aussieker field goal and Blake Winkler connected with Chick Chatham 19 yards for a touchdown to put Illinois State up 17-10 at half.

Associated Press