SATURDAY’S OTHER MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE GAMES

North Dakota State 28, Illinois State 14

FARGO, N.D.

Top-ranked North Dakota State used three Lance Dunn touchdown runs to build a big lead and cruise to a victory over Illinois State. The Bison (7-0. 4-0), ranked No. 1 in the FCS coaches’ poll, led 7-0 after one quarter on Dunn’s 4-yard TD run. Dallas Freeman ran it in from nine yards out and Dunn added a 1-yard scoring plunge for a 21-0 halftime lead by the defending champions. Dunn finished with 61 yards on 19 carries. Shepherd hauled in six passes for 126 yards. Easton Stick completed 13 of 22 passes for 207 yards and ran for 70 yards on 10 totes. James Robinson scored on an 11-yard run with 98 seconds left in the third quarter to put the Redbirds (5-2, 2-2) on the scoreboard and Brady Davis added a 21-yard scoring strike to Spencer Schnell in the fourth quarter for Illinois State. Robinson had 20 carries for 128 yards.

Northern Iowa 24, South Dakota State 9

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

Xavior Williams returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the game to put the finishing touches on Northern Iowa’s upset win over South Dakota State. Eli Dunne passed for 172 yards and a TD and Marcus Weymiller rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries for the Panthers (4-3, 3-1), who shut down the Jackrabbits (4-2, 2-2). South Dakota State, ranked third in the FCS coaches’ poll, and averaging 530 yards and 48 points per game on offense, managed just 51 yards rushing and 376 total yards. Taryn Christion threw for 325 yards and two interceptions for the Jacks. Cade Johnson finished with seven catches for 121 yards.

Indiana State 24, Southern Illinois 21

CARBONDALE, ILL.

Indiana State ran for 293 yards and snapped a 14-game losing streak in Missouri Valley Football Conference with a win over Southern Illinois. Ryan Boyle ran for a career high 104 yards for the Sycamores (3-4, 1-3), including a 52-yard rush in the third quarter. Boyle also passed for 101 yards on 7-of-14 through the air. Ja’Quan Keys put up 156 yards on the ground and ran in a pair of touchdowns in the win. The Saluki offense came to life early in the fourth quarter, sparked by solid special teams play as SIU managed to block two field goals in the game. DeSomer capped off an eight-play drive with a slant route touchdown to Darrell James with 8:08 remaining to close the gap to 24-14 for SIU. Southern scored again with 2:23 left on Jonathon Mixon 12-yard touchdown run. The Sycamores recovered the onside kick but couldn’t convert a first down, allowing SIU to regain possession of the ball with 0:32 remaining.

Western Illinois 31, Missouri State 14

SPRINGFIELD, MO.

Western Illinois snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Missouri State. Steve McShane ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Sean McGuire connected with John Brunner on a 13-yard touchdown pass — capping a 19-play, 95 yard drive on the Leathernecks’ (3-4, 2-2) opening possession. McGuire finished 19 of 32 for 305 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Interceptions ended red zone opportunities for both teams in the second quarter, but Western capitalized on its extra possession to add three points. Jordan Murray caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Huslig for the Bears (4-3, 2-2).

Staff/wire reports