
Photo by: Tim Sanger
Bison Top Jackrabbits 13-9 for Dakota Marker
10/19/2024 11:59:00 PM | Football
FARGO, N.D. - No. 2-ranked North Dakota State drove 92 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 to play and Logan Kopp's interception sealed a 13-9 victory over top-ranked South Dakota State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19.
RaJa Nelson caught a 20-yard pass from Cam Miller to cap the 10-play scoring drive for the Bison (7-1, 4-0 MVFC), who snapped a five-game losing streak to South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1 MVFC). It was Nelson's second touchdown reception of the game.
Miller was 7-for-7 passing on the final drive, which took 5:25 off the clock. SDSU moved to its own 47 before Kopp made his second interception of the season, and the Bison kneeled out the clock to claim the Dakota Marker trophy for the first time since 2019.
Miller finished 20 of 27 passing for 163 yards, Nelson had four catches for 48 yards including an 18-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the second quarter, and Chris Harris made a team-high five receptions for 41 yards.
The only play longer than 20 yards in the contest was a 66-yard touchdown run from SDSU's Chase Mason to make it 7-6 before NDSU's Kody Huisman blocked the extra-point try. Hunter Dustman's 42-yard field goal gave the Jacks a 9-7 lead as time expired in the first half.
NDSU missed a 48-yard field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter and the teams traded punts for the next seven possessions before the Bison went on their game-winning march.
Oscar Benson and Luke Weerts made eight tackles apiece for NDSU. Kopp and Eli Mostaert had six stops each.
A sellout crowd of 18,807 was on hand for the first nationally televised Dakota Marker game on ESPN2.
RaJa Nelson caught a 20-yard pass from Cam Miller to cap the 10-play scoring drive for the Bison (7-1, 4-0 MVFC), who snapped a five-game losing streak to South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1 MVFC). It was Nelson's second touchdown reception of the game.
Miller was 7-for-7 passing on the final drive, which took 5:25 off the clock. SDSU moved to its own 47 before Kopp made his second interception of the season, and the Bison kneeled out the clock to claim the Dakota Marker trophy for the first time since 2019.
Miller finished 20 of 27 passing for 163 yards, Nelson had four catches for 48 yards including an 18-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the second quarter, and Chris Harris made a team-high five receptions for 41 yards.
The only play longer than 20 yards in the contest was a 66-yard touchdown run from SDSU's Chase Mason to make it 7-6 before NDSU's Kody Huisman blocked the extra-point try. Hunter Dustman's 42-yard field goal gave the Jacks a 9-7 lead as time expired in the first half.
NDSU missed a 48-yard field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter and the teams traded punts for the next seven possessions before the Bison went on their game-winning march.
Oscar Benson and Luke Weerts made eight tackles apiece for NDSU. Kopp and Eli Mostaert had six stops each.
A sellout crowd of 18,807 was on hand for the first nationally televised Dakota Marker game on ESPN2.
Team Stats
SDS
NDS
Total Yards
333
275
Pass Yards
118
163
Rushing Yards
215
112
Penalty Yards
89
38
1st Downs
17
17
3rd Downs
8
5
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
28:23
31:37
2nd Quarter

SDS 0, NDS 7
NDS - Nelson,RaJa 18 yd pass from Miller,Cam (Crosa,Griffin kick) 13 plays, 69 yards, TOP 07:08

SDS 6, NDS 7
SDS - Mason,Chase 66 yd run (), 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:20

SDS 9, NDS 7
SDS - Dustman,Hunter 42 yd field goal 15 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:27
4th Quarter

SDS 9, NDS 13
NDS - Nelson,RaJa 20 yd pass from Miller,Cam () 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 05:25
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
NDSU 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




























