TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Top-ranked North Dakota State scored 38 unanswered points to claim a 38-7 road win over Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Memorial Stadium.

After a weather delay of 2 hours and 15 minutes for lightning and rain at halftime, the Bison defense came out of the locker room to get a turnover, four three-and-outs, five straight punts and a turnover on downs while shutting out Indiana State in the second half.

Safety Jaylin Crumby intercepted a deflected pass on the first play of the third quarter and quarterback Cole Payton's 3-yard touchdown run on the next play gave the Bison a sudden 17-7 lead. 

The Bison followed that with scoring drives of 80 yards, 88 yards and 64 yards, including touchdown runs of 15 yards and 1 yard by Barika Kpeenu, who finished with 113 yards on 23 carries.

Payton went 12 of 18 passing for 149 yards including one touchdown, a 3-yard pass to Truman Werremeyer. It was the Bison fullback's first career touchdown and NDSU tied the game 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Indiana State had all the momentum in the first quarter after intercepting Payton in the red zone to end an otherwise impressive opening drive for NDSU, and the Sycamores extended the next series with a fake punt at their own 24-yard line that went for 18 yards to spark a 97-yard touchdown drive.

It was all NDSU from the second quarter on as the Bison controlled the football for more than 37 minutes and held Indiana State to 3 of 13 on third down while outgaining the Sycamores 444-192 in total yards.

Bison linebackers Logan Kopp and Peder Haugo each made seven tackles, and linebackers Donovan Woolen and Nathaniel Staehling had six stops apiece.

North Dakota State (7-0, 4-0 MVFC) is scheduled to play second-ranked South Dakota State (7-0, 3-0 MVFC) in the 22nd annual Dakota Marker game at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, S.D.