Bison Rally Past Hawaii in Fourth Quarter, 21-13

Saturday, November 14

Honolulu, Hawaii

10:10 p.m.

North Dakota State

8-2 , 5-2

Hawaii

3-7 , 2-5

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
North Dakota St.	7	0	0	14	21
Hawaii	0	7	6	0	13

Photo by: Tim Sanger

11/15/2026 2:50:00 AM | Football

Box Score Game Statistics

HONOLULU, Hawaii - North Dakota State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 49-yard interception return by Ray James Jr., and earned a 21-13 victory over Hawaii on Saturday, Nov. 14, at a rainy Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

The Bison trailed 13-7 entering the fourth quarter before putting together an 8-minute, 37-second scoring drive to regain the lead. DJ Scott capped the 16-play, 77-yard possession with a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:34 remaining, giving NDSU a 14-13 advantage.

North Dakota State's defense delivered the decisive play less than two minutes later. Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado attempted a pass on third-and-4 from the Rainbow Warriors' 43-yard line, but James intercepted the throw and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. Drew Klein's extra point extended the Bison lead to 21-13 with 6:27 remaining.

Hawaii had two more opportunities to get back into the game, but the Bison defense turned away both drives. The Rainbow Warriors advanced to the NDSU 25-yard line on their next possession before being stopped on four consecutive incompletions, with Gavin Sell pressuring Alejado on fourth down to force a turnover.

Hawaii got the ball back with 2:31 remaining and drove to its own 38-yard line, converting a fourth-and-6 along the way. North Dakota State forced an intentional grounding and Keenan Wilson got a sack on third down before the Bison defense held on a 4th-and-19.

James finished with a game-high 10 tackles, Wilson added four tackles and two sacks, Matthew Stenbroten recorded eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, and Logan Larson also had an interception and a sack as the Bison finished with five sacks and two interceptions.

NDSU opened the scoring in the first quarter after Larson intercepted Alejado at the Hawaii 15-yard line and returned it four yards to set up the Bison offense in the red zone. Two plays later, quarterback Nathan Hayes connected with Mekhi Collins for a 7-yard touchdown pass.

The Rainbow Warriors answered just before halftime with a seven-play, 59-yard drive, capped by DeVon Rice's 15-yard touchdown run with four seconds remaining in the second quarter. Sean Olvera-Harle converted field goals of 28 and 33 yards in the third quarter to put Hawaii ahead 13-7.

Hayes completed 13 of 20 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Scott carried 13 times for 35 yards and a score and Collins caught four passes for 34 yards and the first-quarter touchdown.

The Bison improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain West heading into their final home game of the season Saturday, Nov. 21, against Northern Illinois.