Schuster, big plays help N. Dakota beat Missouri St. 44-10

Updated Apr. 24, 2021 7:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Tommy Schuster threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and North Dakota never trailed in its 44-10 win over Missouri State in the opening round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

The Fighting Hawks won their first playoff game since moving to the FCS in 2008. North Dakota (5-1) will play at third-seeded and No. 1 James Madison in the quarterfinals.

Missouri State (5-5) went three-and-out on its first two possessions and Schuster hit Garrett Maag for a

Hayden Reynolds

Missouri State, under first-year coach Bobby Petrino, went 5-1 in conference play to earn a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title after the Bears won just one game in 2019.

UND had eight sacks, a D-I program record, and forced Missouri State into eight three-and-outs. The Bears had minus-21 yards rushing and just 50 total yards in the first half.

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