ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton was named Offensive Player of the Week and center Trent Fraley was named Offensive Lineman of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference office Monday, Oct. 27. This is Payton's third award of the season and Fraley's first.

Payton, a senior from Omaha, Neb., had 380 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in North Dakota State's 38-7 win over South Dakota State. His 17 carries for 137 yards and four touchdowns were all career highs, and he went 18 of 23 passing for 243 yards with completions to six different receivers led by Bryce Lance's five receptions for 103 yards.

Payton's 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal capped a 16-play, 84-yard opening drive that ate up 9 minutes of the first quarter. He also scored on runs of 2, 57 and 47 yards as the Bison rolled up 500 yards of total offense – the most by an NDSU team in 22 Dakota Marker games.

Fraley, a junior from Moon Township, Pa., earned a 91 percent overall grade and was credited with three key blocks. He played 67 of 71 snaps for the Bison, who rushed for 257 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and five touchdowns. The Bison converted 9 of 16 third down opportunities and controlled the football for more than 38 minutes.

North Dakota State returns home this week for the first of three November home games when the Bison face 18th-ranked Youngstown State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. The Penguins are 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after beating Murray State 51-17. Tickets are available at GoBison.com/tickets.