FARGO, N.D. (AP) -Pat Paschall rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead North Dakota State to a 59-28 victory over Wagner College before a Tree Bowls crowd of 18,128 in the Fargodome on Saturday night.

Paschall, the nation's top rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision, scored on a 91-yard run in the second quarter, which included a spinning leap over a Wagner defensive player. It was the longest run from scrimmage in NDSU history, breaking by one yard a record set by Cy Peschel in 1928.

Paschall recorded his third straight 100-yard game to start the season and the seventh 100-yard effort of his career. The 59 points are the most scored by NDSU since 2006 when the Bison defeated Concordia-St. Paul 66-7 in the season opener.

Nick Mertens completed 12 of 21 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown for the Bison (1-2). Mertens also ran for two touchdowns. D.J. McNorton scored twice for NDSU, which rolled up 531 total yards. McNorton rushed eight times for 66 yards and caught two passes for 43 yards.

Dominique Williams ran for 131 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks (1-2). Wagner held a 38:18 to 21:42 edge in time of possession as the Bison scored three TDs in less than a minute and six touchdowns in less than 1:45.

North Dakota State placekicker Shawn Bibeau connected on a career long 52 yard field goal with 2:49 left in the third quarter. Bibeau's previous best was a 51-yard effort at Western Illinois in 2007. He made all eight PAT attempts.

Linebacker Preston Evans led the Bison defense with 10 tackles. NDSU forced four first half fumbles including one recovered by Brandon Jemison. Defensive end Coulter Boyer had 1.5 sacks, while Isaac Kolstad recorded his first collegiate interception.

NDSU avoided its first 0-3 start since 1962. The Bison started 0-2 for the first time since 1981.

It was the 50th career win for North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl, who has compiled a 50-19 record. Bohl is in his seventh season at NDSU.

North Dakota State improved to 16-3 in the Trees Bowl.