FARGO, N.D. - Fourth-ranked North Dakota State locked up sole possession of the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 52-24 win over 16th-ranked South Dakota in the annual Harvest Bowl game Saturday, Nov. 20, before a crowd of 16,252 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

North Dakota State rushed for 303 yards and six touchdowns - matching the number of rushing touchdowns allowed by South Dakota in its first 10 games of the season. NDSU had nine ball carriers combine to average 6.4 yards per carry.

Jalen Bussey rushed five times for a game-high 62 yards including a 20-yard touchdown, and TaMerik Williams had 12 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Kobe Johnson rushed 13 times for 55 yards and a TD, and Christian Watson had three carries for 52 yards.

Williams scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 12-play, 62-yard opening drive for NDSU, and the Bison scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to jump out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Bison had a pair of one-play scoring drives on a career-long 75-yard reception by Phoenix Sproles and Watson's 43-yard run.

NDSU quarterback Cam Miller went 19-for-23 passing for 219 yards and one touchdown. Miller completed passes to nine different receivers with Watson making a game-high six catches for 61 yards and Sproles finishing with two catches for a game-high 87 yards.

Linebacker Jackson Hankey made a team-high six tackles and recovered a fumble for NDSU, Jasir Cox and Dawson Weber each forced fumbles, and Destin Talbert made his second interception of the season. The Bison held USD to 4 of 12 on third down.

North Dakota State is the automatic qualifier from the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The 24-team playoff bracket will be announced on ESPNU beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21.