North Dakota State Athletics
12-0 , 8-0
St. Thomas
7-5 , 5-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas (MN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| North Dakota St. | 28 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 62 |
North Dakota State Routs St. Thomas to Cap 12-0 Regular Season
11/22/2025 7:02:00 PM | Football
The Bison improved to 12-0 overall and solidified a likely No. 1 seed and first-round bye for the FCS playoffs. The 24-team bracket will be unveiled on the NCAA selection show televised on ESPNU starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23.
NDSU didn't waste any time holding St. Thomas to three-and-out on the game's opening series and then scoring in two plays on Barika Kpeenu's career-long 74-yard touchdown run. He finished with 107 yards on 10 carries for the Bison.
Kpeenu added a 4-yard rushing TD on the next drive, Bryce Lance caught a career-long 81-yard touchdown pass from Cole Payton, and Kpeenu caught a career-long 47-yard TD pass as the Bison went up 28-0 in the first quarter.
Payton, who finished 9 of 12 passing for 279 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Jackson Williams for a 43-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to go ahead 35-0.
Eli Ozick kicked a 38-yard field goal and Lance, who finished with 106 yards on three receptions, caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Hayes to make it 45-0 before halftime.
NDSU outgained St. Thomas 561 to 82 in the first half forcing the Tommies three-and-out on six drives and getting two interceptions from safeties Darius Givance and Taylen Eady.
Mikhale Ford provided a third-quarter spark for the Bison scoring from 64 yards on his first career punt return. Wide receiver Cade Osterman scored his first career touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Hayes, and Drew Klein converted his first career field goal attempt from 46-yards.
St. Thomas trailed 62-0 before getting its only points of the game midway through the fourth quarter. The Tommies recovered a fumble at the NDSU 8 and quarterback Amari Powell scored two plays later on a 7-yard run.
Linebacker Gavin Sell finished with a game-high seven tackles for NDSU, defensive end Allante Burley had a sack fumble, defensive tackle had 1.5 tackles for loss including a solo sack, and linebacker Donovan Woolen had two pass breakups to go with four tackles.
Team Stats
UST 0, NDS 7
NDS - Kpeenu,Barika 74 yd run (Ozick,Eli kick), 2 plays, 82 yards, TOP 00:48
UST 0, NDS 14
NDS - Kpeenu,Barika 4 yd run (Ozick,Eli kick), 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 02:08
UST 0, NDS 21
NDS - Lance,Bryce 81 yd pass from Payton,Cole (Ozick,Eli kick) 3 plays, 82 yards, TOP 00:47
UST 0, NDS 28
NDS - Kpeenu,Barika 47 yd pass from Payton,Cole (Ozick,Eli kick) 3 plays, 64 yards, TOP 01:28
UST 0, NDS 35
NDS - Williams,Jackson 43 yd pass from Payton,Cole (Ozick,Eli kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:40
UST 0, NDS 38
NDS - Ozick,Eli 38 yd field goal 10 plays, 42 yards, TOP 05:17
UST 0, NDS 45
NDS - Lance,Bryce 9 yd pass from Hayes,Nathan (Ozick,Eli kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 01:02
UST 0, NDS 52
NDS - Ford,Mikhale 64 yd punt return (Klein,Drew kick)
UST 0, NDS 59
NDS - Osterman,Cade 24 yd pass from Hayes,Nathan (Klein,Drew kick) 9 plays, 91 yards, TOP 05:15
UST 0, NDS 62
NDS - Klein,Drew 46 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 01:55
UST 7, NDS 62
UST - Powell,Amari 7 yd run (Hoiland,Ben kick), 2 plays, 8 yards, TOP 00:49
