SATURDAY’s OTHER MVFC GAMES

North Dakota State 30, Northern Iowa 14

FARGO, N.D.

Levi Jordheim recovered three fumbles, Robbie Grimsley had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown and North Dakota State took advantage of five turnovers to beat Northern Iowa. Jordheim’s three fumble recoveries, two created by teammate Nick DeLuca, tied the school record set in 1976 by Don Meyers. The Bison (8-0, 5-0 Missouri Valley), ranked No. 2 in the FCS, entered the game as the nation’s top-ranked defensive team and showed why with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss, holding a Panthers (4-4, 3-2) rushing offense that came in with 399 yards and five scores in its previous two games to just 48 yards and no scores on the ground. DeLuca led the defense with seven tackles, four solo, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Grimsley’s pick-six tied the score at 7-all at halftime. Ty Brooks scored on a 22-yard run, Cam Pedersen kicked a 23-yard field goal, Easton Stick threw a 31-yard score to RJ Urzendowski and Bruce Anderson ran in from the 1 in NDSU’s second-half scoring spree. Eli Dunne threw two touchdown passes to Daurice Fountain for Northern Iowa (4-4, 3-2). The victory was the 100th since 2010 for NDSU.

South Dakota State 52, Western Illinois 24

MACOMB, ILL.

Taryn Christion threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another score and South Dakota State pulled away from Western Illinois. The Jackrabbits scored 21 points in the third quarter and eclipsed the 50-point mark for the second week in a row and fourth time this season. Christion, a junior, moved into second place in school history with 58 career touchdown passes ahead of Ryan Berry’s 56 from 2005 to 2008. Austin Sumner’s school record 65 TD throws was set from 2011 to 2014. He’s thrown 21 TDs in eight games this season and is on pace to eclipse his 30 TD mark set in 13 games last season. Christion put South Dakota State (6-2, 3-2 Missouri Valley Conference) ahead for good, 24-17, on a 1-yard scoring pass to Jake Wieneke 55 seconds before halftime. In the third, he threw scoring passes to Marquise Lewis for 46, found Wieneke from 6-yards out and Mikey Daniel ran it in from 2-yards out to seal the game. Steve McShane led Western Illinois (5-3, 2-3) with 90 yards rushing and two scores.

Missouri State 59, Indiana State 20

SPRINGFIELD, MO.

Peyton Huslig accounted for 385 yards in total offense and four touchdowns, Jason Randall scored four touchdowns and Missouri State dominated Indiana State. Huslig was 12-for-14 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns and had seven carries for 174 yards and two scores. Randall had three receptions, all touchdowns, covering 97 yards and 13 carries for 46 yards and a TD. Bears reserve J.T. Granato, however, threw the first Missouri State (2-6, 1-4 Missouri Valley Conference) TD pass connecting with Randall from 26 yards out for 10-0 lead. Huslig re-entered and two minutes later hit Randall for 49 yards to make it 17-0 before the first quarter ended. Randall had his third TD catch, covering 22 yards, and Huslig ran for his first to make it 38-6 at the half. Huslig ran for a 63-yard touchdown and Randall went 6 yards in the third quarter as the Bears rolled up 624 total yards. Three different players completed passes for Indiana State (0-8, 0-5), going 22 of 41 for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

South Dakota 42, Southern Illinois 0

VERMILLION, S.D.

Andrew Gray returned an interception a school-record 97 yards to help lead South Dakota to a dominating win over Southern Illinois as the Coyotes got to seven wins in a season for the first time at the FCS level. Mike Johnson stole one in the final quarter, returning it 80 yards for another score as Tanner Hearn was intercepted four times. South Dakota (7-1, 4-1 Missouri Valley Conference) was without the services of senior quarterback Chris Streveler who was injured on the first drive of the game. Austin Simmons stepped in, completing 11 of 18 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Streveler was throwing passes on the sideline in the second half, but the Coyotes led 28-0 late in the third, so he remained out. Michael Fredrick rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown. Darrell James had 105 yards receiving for the Salukis (4-4, 2-3).

Associated Press