Box Score FARGO, ND--Senior cornerback Nate Keller returned an interception for 55 yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown to lift North Dakota State to a 34-23 win over Winona (MN) State in non-conference football Saturday before a crowd of 12,499 at the Fargodome.

Keller snagged quarterback Bruce Carpenter's pass and followed the right sideline nearly untouched, and the Bison (1-0) went up 28-10 on the extra-point kick by freshman Cory Vartanian.

North Dakota State led by 18 points for the second time on the night after Keller's touchdown, but Winona State (0-2) threatened that lead with a pair of fourth-quarter scores.

The Warriors' Jeff Dobbertin caught a 31-yard pass from Carpenter to pull Winona State within 28-16 shortly into the fourth quarter. Two minutes later, Carpenter rumbled to the end zone from seven yards out to trim the Bison lead to 28-23.

NDSU quarterback Graig Gorder answered with an 8-yard touchdown run for the final margin. Gorder completed 15 of 32 passes for 128 yards and had one interception.

The Bison outgained Winona State 395-289 in total offensive yards, with 267 of those coming on the ground.

NDSU junior running back Rod Malone made his Bison debut a stellar one, running 19 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. The transfer from Rochester (MN) Community College erupted for 38 yards and a touchdown on his longest carry of the night.

Sophomore running back Keontay Jackson totaled 74 yards on 18 carries for the Bison, including a 6-yard TD jaunt in the third quarter.

Carpenter finished 13-for-32 with 162 yards for the Warriors, and Kevin Curtin ran for 79 yards on 15 carries.

North Dakota State is idle Sept. 14 before traveling for non-conference action Sept. 21 at the University of California-Davis. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.