SIOUX FALLS, SD--North Dakota State's defense came up with six turnovers, setting up three Bison scores, as NDSU opened North Central Conference play with a 27-3 road win over Augustana College here Saturday.

The Bison defense picked off four Augustana passes and recovered a pair of fumbles as NDSU limited the high-octane Vikings offense to just 154 yards and three points. The Vikings came into the contest averaging 513 yards and 60 points per game in running to a 3-0 start.

North Dakota State's defense did not give Augie a smell on this day. Senior outside linebacker Clay Brosz picked off a Mike Herman pass late in the first quarter and weaved his way 42 yards for a touchdown to give NDSU a 7-0 lead. Midway through the second quarter, Bison senior inside linebacker Wade Kittelson picked off a Ryan DeGraff pass and returned it 13 yards to the Augustana 19-yard line.

Two play later, Bison runningback Lamar Gordon scamper 16 yards down the right sideline to give NDSU a 14-0 lead.

Augustana put together its only scoring drive of the game late in the second quarter, collecting a 35-yard field goal from Adam Brinkman.

NDSU put the game out of reach with a 92-yard drive that took 8:36 off the clock beginning midway through the third quarter. A pair of Graig Gorder to Richard Lewis completions of nine and 29 yards, both for first downs, were critical in this march. Gorder wrapped it up with a 12 yard touchdown run on the second play of the fourth quarter. It was a third and 11 play and gave NDSU a 20-3 lead.

However, it also marked the end of a long streak. Aaron Pederson's PAT kick hit the left upright and bounced back to mark his first miss after a NCAA-record 115 consecutive regular season kicks.

The Bison wrapped up scoring on its next possession after Brosz recovered an Augustana fumble and returned it 13 yards to the Viking 4-yard line. Gorder kept the ball for a 4-yard TD run on the second play of the drive.

NDSU allowed Augustana 22 yards rushing and just 154 yards total offense. Behind Gordon's 24 attempts for 105 yards, the Bison rushed for 155 yards and compiled 289 yards of total offense. Gorder completed 10 of 26 passes for 134 yards.

For Gordon, it was the 9th consecutive 100-yard performance and the 29th 100-yard effort of his career.

NDSU is now 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in the North Central Conference. Augustana slipped to 3-1 and 1-1. The Bison host South Dakota next Saturday night in the Fargodome.