Saturday, October 20
Fargo, N.D.
2:30 p.m.
North Dakota State Athletics
7-0 , 4-0
28
vs
14
Illinois State
5-2 , 2-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| North Dakota State | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Photo by: Tim Sanger
Bison Remain Unbeaten With 28-14 Victory Over Illinois State
10/20/2018 6:15:00 PM | Football
Final Statistics (PDF)
FARGO, N.D. - Lance Dunn rushed for three touchdowns and No. 1-ranked North Dakota State remained unbeaten with a 28-14 victory over seventh-ranked Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Darrius Shepherd caught six passes for a career-high 126 yards and added two punt returns totaling 103 yards for North Dakota State, which improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference. Illinois State dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
North Dakota State put up 279 yards of offense in the first half against Illinois State's league-leading defense, which came in allowing just 275 yards per game. NDSU converted 10 of 16 third downs and outgained the Redbirds 385-364.
The Bison went ahead 28-0 on their first possession of the third quarter. Illinois State went three-and-out, Shepherd returned the ensuing punt 69 yards to the ISU 17, and Dunn scored three plays later from the 2.
Dunn scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and Dallas Freeman's 9-yard TD run made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Illinois State threatened to make it a one-score game, but Robbie Grimsley's interception near the goal line ended a 12-play, 68-yard drive. The Bison marched 95 yards in 12 plays capped by Dunn's 1-yard TD to go ahead 21-0 before halftime.
The Redbirds put together a 99-yard scoring drive capped by a James Robinson 11-yard TD run late in the third quarter, and Spencer Schnell caught a 21-yard TD pass from Brady Davis in the fourth quarter.
Robinson rushed 20 times for 128 yards, the most by an NDSU opponent this year and just the second to crack the 100-yard rushing mark this season.
Davis went 12 of 24 passing for 206 yards but was intercepted twice, the second time by Jalen Allison with 3:11 left in the game. NDSU got a pair of first downs and ran out the clock.
Stick was 13 of 22 passing for 207 yards and led the Bison ground attack with 10 carries for 70 yards. Dunn finished with 61 yards on a team-high 19 carries with fellow senior Bruce Anderson out of the game with an injury.
North Dakota State is scheduled to play South Dakota at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
FARGO, N.D. - Lance Dunn rushed for three touchdowns and No. 1-ranked North Dakota State remained unbeaten with a 28-14 victory over seventh-ranked Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Darrius Shepherd caught six passes for a career-high 126 yards and added two punt returns totaling 103 yards for North Dakota State, which improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference. Illinois State dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
North Dakota State put up 279 yards of offense in the first half against Illinois State's league-leading defense, which came in allowing just 275 yards per game. NDSU converted 10 of 16 third downs and outgained the Redbirds 385-364.
The Bison went ahead 28-0 on their first possession of the third quarter. Illinois State went three-and-out, Shepherd returned the ensuing punt 69 yards to the ISU 17, and Dunn scored three plays later from the 2.
Dunn scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and Dallas Freeman's 9-yard TD run made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Illinois State threatened to make it a one-score game, but Robbie Grimsley's interception near the goal line ended a 12-play, 68-yard drive. The Bison marched 95 yards in 12 plays capped by Dunn's 1-yard TD to go ahead 21-0 before halftime.
The Redbirds put together a 99-yard scoring drive capped by a James Robinson 11-yard TD run late in the third quarter, and Spencer Schnell caught a 21-yard TD pass from Brady Davis in the fourth quarter.
Robinson rushed 20 times for 128 yards, the most by an NDSU opponent this year and just the second to crack the 100-yard rushing mark this season.
Davis went 12 of 24 passing for 206 yards but was intercepted twice, the second time by Jalen Allison with 3:11 left in the game. NDSU got a pair of first downs and ran out the clock.
Stick was 13 of 22 passing for 207 yards and led the Bison ground attack with 10 carries for 70 yards. Dunn finished with 61 yards on a team-high 19 carries with fellow senior Bruce Anderson out of the game with an injury.
North Dakota State is scheduled to play South Dakota at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
Team Stats
ILS
NDSU
Total Yards
364
385
Pass Yards
206
207
Rushing Yards
158
178
Penalty Yards
45
43
1st Downs
17
19
3rd Downs
4
10
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
27:48
32:12
1st Quarter
ILS 0, NDSU 7
NDSU - Lance Dunn 4 yd run (Cam Pedersen kick), 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:07
2nd Quarter
ILS 0, NDSU 14
NDSU - Dallas Freeman 9 yd run (Cam Pedersen kick), 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 4:17
ILS 0, NDSU 21
NDSU - Lance Dunn 1 yd run (Cam Pedersen kick), 12 plays, 95 yards, TOP 4:23
3rd Quarter
ILS 0, NDSU 28
NDSU - Lance Dunn 2 yd run (Cam Pedersen kick), 3 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:10
ILS 7, NDSU 28
ILS - Robinson,James 11 yd run (Bohlken,JT kick), 8 plays, 99 yards, TOP 3:06
4th Quarter
ILS 14, NDSU 28
ILS - Schnell,Spencer 21 yd pass from Davis,Brady (Bohlken,JT kick) 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:43
Game Leaders
CMP
13
TD
0
YDS
207
INT
1
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
SS
/ Football
WR
/ FootballNDSU Football Mountain West Press Conference - February 9, 2026
Monday, February 09
The Bison Football Show - December 7, 2025
Monday, December 08
NDSU Football Postgame Press Conference - December 6, 2025 (FCS Playoffs 2nd Round)
Saturday, December 06
NDSU Football Press Conference - December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
