FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Junior running back Kyle Steffes rushed for a career-high 179 yards and one touchdown to help No. 12 North Dakota State defeat Weber State 41-0 Saturday night before a crowd of 14,368 at the Fargodome.

Cory Vartanian kicked a pair of field goals for the Bison (3-0), who also received touchdowns from their defense and special teams.

It was NDSU's first shutout since the opening game of the 2004 season, a 52-0 win over Valparaiso (Ind.) in the school's I-AA opener.

Steffes scored the first time he touched the ball, taking a handoff up the middle and bouncing outside en route to a 51-yard scamper. It was the longest touchdown run of his career.

Steffes, who had 15 of his 19 carries in the first half, went over 100 yards for the eighth time in an NDSU uniform. His previous high game was 176 yards rushing, against Weber State last year.

Vartanian nailed field goals from 24 and 46 yards in the first half. His 48-yard attempt in the closing seconds of the second quarter hit the crossbar and fell short.

The Bison led 20-0 at intermission. They received touchdowns from other units to put the game away early in the second half.

NDSU went ahead 27-0 after Isaac LaVant returned a fumble 3 yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Kole Zimmerman forced the turnover when he sacked quarterback Ian Pizarro.

The special teams scored next when Shamen Washington returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown, making it 34-0 less than five minutes into the third quarter. It was the second straight week that Washington returned a punt for a score.

The Bison forced Weber State (1-2) to punt 11 times.

The victory was the third straight for NDSU over Big Sky Conference teams, dating back to a win over Montana in 2003. The Bison are in their second season of Division I-AA competition.