TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – TaMerik Williams rushed for a career-high 145 yards and three touchdowns to spark No. 1-ranked North Dakota State to a 31-26 road win over Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, Oct. 8.
James Kaczor made a team-high 10 tackles including two sacks and Zach Mathis had a career-high six receptions and 88 yards for the Bison, who improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference heading into next week’s Dakota Marker game against No. 2-ranked South Dakota State.
Williams’ longest run of the game was 38 yards late in the second quarter, and he scored two plays later on a 2-yard run to get NDSU back within 13-10 before halftime. The Bison opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 83-yard scoring drive capped by Williams’ 16-yard TD run to go ahead 17-13.
Indiana State went back ahead after the ensuing kickoff when Justin Dinka got loose on the first play for an 82-yard touchdown run to put the Sycamores back ahead 20-17. It was the longest play from scrimmage against NDSU since 2015.
The Bison responded with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive and Williams found the end zone for the third straight NDSU possession with a 27-yard touchdown run to put NDSU ahead 24-20.
Will Mostaert blocked an Indiana State field goal attempt to preserve the four-point lead, and the Bison made it a two-possession game in the fourth quarter with a 14-play scoring drive extended by Mathis making a 28-yard reception on third-and-19.
Mathis scored seven plays later on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Cam Miller to make it 31-20 with 5:44 to play. Miller finished 21 of 27 passing for 210 yards including 13-for-14 in the second half.
Dinka finished with nine carries and 156 yards for Indiana State, Dante Hendrix made 12 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Cade Chambers was 12 of 26 passing for 162 yards.
North Dakota State hosts South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 15, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
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