FARGO, N.D. -- Steve Walker threw three touchdown passes in the first half to lead North Dakota State to a 59-7 victory over the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday.

Running back Kyle Steffes rushed for 114 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown for the Bison (1-0). Steffes broke the 100-yard mark with 12:15 left in the second quarter. It was the seventh career 100-yard rushing effort for Steffes.

North Dakota State won its opening game for the seventh straight season. NDSU is 73-29-7 in 109 season openers. The 59 points were the most by a NDSU team in an opening game since the Bison defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee 59-20 in 1965.

Quarterback Adam Fisher was held to 42 yards passing, completing 6 of 14 attempts for Arkansas-Monticello (0-2). He was intercepted twice.

The Bison started the scoring five plays into the game, when Walker connected with Marques Johnson on a 54-yard touchdown pass. Walker completed 10-of-16 passes for 160 yards and tied a career-high with the three TD passes set last season against UC Davis.

Steffes scored less than three minutes later on a dive from 7 yards out to make it 14-0.

The Bison extended their lead in the second quarter when Walker hit tight end Andy DelaBarre on a pair of 3-yard touchdown passes. DelaBarre caught his first TD pass since the 2003 season.

Sophomore running back Shamen Washington, who had two touchdown runs, scored from 31 yards out in the second quarter. Cory Vartanian booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Bison a 38-0 halftime lead.

Only one scoring drive in the first half took longer than two minutes.

North Dakota State continued to build its lead in the second half.

Kole Zimmerman recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, as the Bison opened a 52-0 lead.

The Boll Weevils' only touchdown came when Fisher hit Walter Warfield for a 19-yard scoring strike with 12:14 left in the fourth quarter.

Backup quarterback Ryan Parsons threw his first career collegiate touchdown pass to Derek Arndt for the final score. Arndt, a senior, recorded the first pass reception of his career.