| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDSU | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| NDSU | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Top-ranked NDSU holds off No. 3 SDSU 21-17
FARGO, N.D. -- Easton Stick threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score and No. 1 North Dakota State rallied for a 21-17 victory over third-ranked South Dakota State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams Saturday.
The archrivals play for the Dakota Marker trophy.
Stick connected with Ben Ellefson for a 17-yard score and hooked up with Darrius Shepherd for a 41-yard TD in the second quarter to give the Bison (4-0) a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Jackrabbits (2-1) grabbed a 17-14 lead by the end of the third quarter on Chase Vinatieri's 39-yard field goal and a 61-yard TD run by Isaac Wallace. The lead lasted until NDSU's next possession.
Stick engineered an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 5-yard TD run with 13 minutes remaining in the game to give the Bison the lead for good. Stick completed 9 of 20 passes for 182 yards and ran for 63 yards on 15 carries.
Wallace rushed for 110 yards on just nine carries for the Jackrabbits. Christion totaled 202 yards on 19-of-29 passing.
Game Information
2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 8-0 | 15-0 |
| South Dakota | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Northern Iowa | 5-3 | 6-5 |
| North Dakota | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| North Dakota State | 5-3 | 11-4 |
| Youngstown State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| Illinois State | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Missouri State | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Murray State | 1-7 | 2-9 |
| Indiana State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
| Western Illinois | 0-8 | 0-11 |
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