FARGO, N.D. - Quarterback
Cam Miller completed 18 of 19 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 2-ranked North Dakota State to a 49-31 victory over Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Miller added two rushing touchdowns for the Bison, who finished non-conference play with a 3-0 record and will be off until the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener in two weeks against South Dakota.
NDSU came out firing on the first drive of the game with
TaMerik Williams running for 21 yards on the first play followed by Miller's 35-yard completion to
Eli Green to reach the UCA 25. Two plays later,
Barika Kpeenu went 22 yards to the UCA 1 before Miller's first TD run.
The Bison went ahead 14-0 on defensive tackle
Eli Mostaert's 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, running back
TK Marshall caught an 11-yard TD pass, fullback
Hunter Brozio scored his first career touchdown on a 6-yard pass, and quarterback
Cole Payton scored on a 26-yard run as NDSU built a 35-17 halftime lead.
UCA running back ShunDerrick Powell ran 18 times for 218 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 71-yard burst that cut NDSU's lead to 28-17 midway through the second quarter. The Bison responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Payton's TD run.
Former Northern Iowa quarterback Will McElvain went 22-for-31 passing for 210 yards for UCA. Myles Butler made six receptions for 88 yards to lead the Bears (1-2).
NDSU had 11 different players make at least one reception. Green had a career-high four catches and 86 yards and picked up four first downs. Williams led seven NDSU ball carriers with 13 attempts for 83 yards.
Linebacker
Logan Kopp tied a career-high with his second 10-tackle game of the season, and defensive end
Dylan Hendricks was in on two of NDSU's four sacks including one solo stop.
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