FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns to help spark a 37-6 win over Montana in the NCAA Division I second round Saturday, Dec. 5, before a crowd of 18,232 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

Jalen Allison scored from 30 yards out, CJ Smith had a 32-yard return, and Bruce Anderson scored on a 100-yard kickoff return to help the Bison (10-2) advance to the FCS quarterfinals for the sixth straight season.

NDSU's defense set the tone early holding Montana (8-5) to four yards on the game's opening drive and forcing the Grizzleis to go three-and-out on six of their first seven possessions.

Quarterback Easton Stick ran up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown on NDSU's third play and the Bison opened up a 21-0 lead by halftime with Allison's pick-six and a 15-yard touchdown run by Anderson, who led all players with 162 all-purpose yards.

Cam Pedersen's 40-yard field goal put NDSU ahead 24-0 early in the third quarter before Montana got on the board with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brady Gustafson to Jamaal Jones to cap a quick seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff from the NDSU goal line to make it 31-6 and Smith's interception early in the fourth quarter iced the game.

Defensive ends Stanley Jones, Brad Ambrosius and Greg Menard each recorded sacks and the Bison totaled six tackles for loss in addition to five quarterback hurries.  Linebackers MJ Stumpf and Nick DeLuca led NDSU with 11 and eight tackles, respectively.

NDSU safeties Robbie Grimsley and Tre Dempsey each recorded interceptions, and Dempsey and Smith had three pass breakups apiece.  The Bison held Gustafson to 24 of 48 passing for 229 yards after his 434-yard performance in Montana's 38-35 season-opening win over NDSU.

North Dakota State will host a quarterfinal game next Friday or Saturday against the winner of the second round game featuring Northern Iowa at Portland State.