Final Statistics (PDF)

FARGO, N.D. - No. 1-ranked North Dakota State rushed for 407 yards and scored on its first six possessions to beat 23rd-ranked Montana State 52-10 in the second round of the FCS playoffs Saturday, Dec. 1, before a crowd of 17,007 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

Lance Dunn carried 11 times for 127 yards and an NDSU postseason record-tying four touchdowns, Bruce Anderson went 13 times for 118 yards and one TD, and Ty Brooks had six carries for 103 yards and a score for the Bison (12-0).

NDSU averaged 9.2 yards per carry and had three 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1996 when Reggie Scott (170), Kevin Feeney (145) and Jake Morris (109) did it against Minnesota State Mankato.

Montana State (8-5) connected on a 71-yard pass to the NDSU 4 on the game's first offensive play but couldn't get in the end zone. James Hendricks broke up a third-down pass in the end zone and the Bison forced a 24-yard field goal after an MSU false start penalty.

The Bobcats got only three more first downs before halftime and went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions while the Bison opened a 35-3 halftime lead.

Dunn scored on runs of 1, 11, 1 and 46 yards all in the first half, tying the NDSU postseason mark of four rushing TDs set by DJ McNorton in the 2010 second round playoff game at Montana State. NDSU's seven total rushing TDs tied a school postseason record set in 1988 against Augustana (S.D.).

MSU quarterback Troy Andersen rushed for a game-high 129 yards on 24 carries including a 51-yard touchdown sprint on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter. 

NDSU linebacker Jabril Cox made a game-high 10 tackles, Dan Marlette added eight stops, and Jackson Hankey and Mason Hofstedt had six tackles apiece.

Cornerback Marquise Bridges made his second interception of the year, defensive end Caleb Butler forced a fumble, and Michael Tutsie blocked a punt for NDSU.

North Dakota State advanced the quarterfinal round for the ninth straight season where the Bison will take on eighth-seeded Colgate (10-1). The Raiders kicked a 38-yard field goal on the game's final play to beat James Madison 23-20 in the second round Saturday.