North Dakota State Blanks South Dakota 54-0

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--Brock Jensen threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, Sam Ojuri added two rushing scores, and North Dakota State bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 54-0 dismantling of South Dakota before 9,269 fans at Howard Wood Field on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Jensen threw for 195 yards, including a 32-yard score to Nate Moody and a 2-yarder to Andrew Bonnet, and added touchdown runs of 10 and 2 yards for the Bison (6-1, 3-1 Missouri Valley), whose 17-14 loss last week to Indiana State snapped a 10-game winning streak dating to last season. Ojuri scored on runs of 11 and 4 yards and finished with 76 yards rushing.

Jensen moved up to No. 2 all-time in passing yards (4,881) during the first half and passed Kevin Feeney (4,769/1995-98). Steve Walker (2004-07) is the all-time leader with 7,033 yards.

Backup Carson Wentz added a 19-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Nelson. The Bison defense was just as dominant, holding the Coyotes (1-6, 0-4) to 76 yards of total offense and four first downs, and Zach Colvin capped the scoring with a 12-yard interception return.

The Bison had 385 yards of total offense, including 214 passing, and 21 first downs. NDSU held a commanding 36:38 to 23:22 advantage in time of possession. Sioux Falls native Trevor Gebhart caught a career-high six passes for 81 yards and Moody made a career best five receptions for 91 yards.

Free safety Christian Dudzik had 158 return yards including a 76-yard punt return. Ben LeCompte had five touchbacks on nine kickoffs, and also punted four times averaging 40 yards per attempt including one inside the 20.

It was North Dakota State's second shutout of the season and the program's first in 36 Missouri Valley Football Conference games. The Bison defense held USD to 0 of 12 on third down. Linebacker Grant Olson led NDSU with seven tackles including five solos and a sack, while Carlton Littlejohn recorded his third fumble recovery of the season.

The Bison won its ninth straight road game and improved to 6-0 wearing the alternative gold jerseys.