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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Top-ranked North Dakota State used three Lance Dunn touchdown runs to build a big lead and cruise to a 28-14 victory over Illinois State in Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday.
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's final TD run came from the 2-yard line and was set up by Darrius Shepherd's 69-yard punt return to the Redbirds' 17-yard line. 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.
