SACRAMENTO, Calif. – North Dakota State scored 21 points in the first quarter and cruised to a 31-10 road win over Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Hornet Stadium.
Jackson Williams caught a 33-yard touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive and four plays later Darius Givance returned a fumble 24 yards for another score as the Bison took a quick 14-0 lead. Myles Mitchell added a nine-yard scoring run at the end of the first quarter.
Wiliams finished with a career-high seven receptions and 134 yards, quarterback Nathan Hayes was 14 of 24 passing for 210 yards, and DJ Scott rushed 14 times for 80 yards including a career-long 42-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter as NDSU built a 28-0 lead.
Givance’s first career touchdown was the third defensive score of the season for the Bison, who scored 14 points off turnovers. Linebacker Gavin Sell forced the fumble, Ray James Jr. made a diving play at the sideline to keep the ball in play, and Givance scooped up the loose ball.
Safety Taylen Eady added a 27-yard interception return and rookie cornerback Deron Russell got his first collegiate interception near the goal line with 1:09 left in the game.
Givance finished with a team-high seven tackles, Sell had six tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss, and Eady and Will Steil made five stops apiece.
North Dakota State is off next week before the annual homecoming game against the Wyoming Cowboys at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, which will be the first Mountain West Conference game at the Fargodome.