FARGO, ND--Despite being outgained by 149 yards, Augustana College defeated North Dakota State University 23-6 on Saturday, Sept. 28, spoiling the Bison's North Central Conference opener before a crowd of 10,260 at the Fargodome.

The win was Augustana's first in 40 years at Fargo, and it snapped the Bison's 22-game home winning streak.

Brett Scherschligt returned a Bison fumble 55 yards and Adam Brinkman converted the point-after kick to put Augustana (4-0, 2-0 NCC) up 7-0 just over 4 minutes into the game. It held up as the game-winning score.

The Vikings held NDSU (1-2, 0-1) scoreless into the fourth quarter, when Rod Malone struck from a yard out to put the Bison on the board. Malone's carry on the ensuing 2-point try was stopped.

Augustana's defense kept the Bison in check the rest of the way, not allowing NDSU past the Viking 44-yard line. Bison quarterback Graig Gorder was just 6-for-17 including an interception at midfield after the Malone score as the Herd went to the air attempting a late comeback.

Pete Sterbick scored on an 11-yard run late in the second quarter to put the Vikings up 13-0. After a Mike Stotz interception, Brinkman kicked a 23-yard field goal to up the margin to 16-0 as the first half expired.

NDSU ate up nearly 10 minutes in the third quarter, marching from its own 35 to the goal line. Darrin O'Leary carried four times on the drive, including two consecutive carries netting eight yards to put the Bison on the Augustana 4. But O'Leary fumbled into the end zone on the 16th play of the drive, and the Vikings recovered for a touchback.

After Malone's fourth-quarter score, the Vikings' Nathan Walter added a 25-yard TD run with 3:31 left in the game for the final margin.

The Bison led 281-132 in total yardage, getting 57 yards from running back Rod Malone and 96 receiving yards from Travis White. NDSU threw for 206 yards behind a 21-for-39 performance by the senior quarterback Gorder.

Walter had a game-high 59 yards on the ground for Augustana. Freshman quarterback Tommy Flyger completed 4 of 7 passes for 29 yards.

North Dakota State is at the University of South Dakota on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome.