FARGO, N.D. - The No. 1-ranked North Dakota State football team capped an unbeaten regular season with a 62-7 rout of St. Thomas on Saturday, Nov. 22, before a crowd of 15,278 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

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.