VERMILLION, S.D. – Carson Wentz passed for three touchdowns and Adam Keller kicked four field goals to lead No. 1-ranked North Dakota State to a 47-7 win over South Dakota before a crowd of 9,823 at the DakotaDome on Saturday, Oct. 25.
 
It was the 32nd straight victory for North Dakota State, which improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.  South Dakota fell to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the MVFC.
 
Wentz was 14 of 26 for 231 yards and John Crockett led the rushing game with 23 carries for 123 yards.  The Bison had dual 100-yard rushers for the first time this season with sophomore King Frazier getting a career-high 106 yards on only 10 carries.
 
Freshman RJ Urzendowski led the NDSU air attack with four receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Nick DeLuca made his first career start in place of Travis Beck, and DeLuca led the Bison defense with 12 tackles and an interception.
 
Saturday's contest was the first missed game of Beck's career, with the senior having made 46 consecutive starts.
 
Keller connected from 23 and 21 yards and the Bison went ahead 20-0 in the second quarter on a 10-yard rushing TD by Crockett and a 10-yard TD catch by Luke Albers.
 
South Dakota scored its only points on a 10-yard pass from Kevin Earl to Riley Donovan with 35 seconds left in the first half.  It ended USD's scoreless streak of more than 163 minutes - nearly 11 full quarters - against NDSU dating back to 2010.
 
The Bison were able to get in position for Keller to tack on a 49-yard field goal as the first half expired, and NDSU held a 23-7 advantage at halftime.
 
NDSU outscored South Dakota 24-0 in the second half with a 27-yard TD pass to Urzendowski, a 25-yard scoring strike to Crockett, another 23-yard Keller field goal, and a 23-yard TD dash by sophomore Chase Morlock.
 
North Dakota State hosts South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in the annual Dakota Marker game at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.  The Jackrabbits are 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the MVFC following Saturday's 30-27 loss at home to Youngstown State.