North Dakota State football needed a game to get the bitter taste left in their mouths by UND. NDSU did that and then some as they destroyed Western Illinois to get to 5-2 on the season.
The Bison won the toss and for only the second time under Matt Entz, they elected to receive the opening kickoff. NDSU took full advantage of it as they drove 75 yards in ten plays and TK Marshall capped off the opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run to go up by seven.
Following a Western Illinois punt, TK Marshall once again found the endzone to finish a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown to make it 14-0, Bison.
The Leathernecks once again were forced to punt on their next possession which gave way to Jayden Price who returned the punt 42 yards to the Leatherneck 20-yard-line NDSU took advantage as they quickly covered the 20 yards and returned to endzone this time Barika Kpeenu found paydirt to make it 21-0.
NDSU got the ball back following another Leatherneck punt and this drive only lasted one play as wide receiver/ running back RaJa Nelson took a handoff from Cole Payton and dashed 76 yards nearly untouched to put the Bison up by 28.
The Bison weren’t done having fun in the first half as after a fake punt by Western Illinois, Leatherneck quarterback Matt Morrissey was picked off by Logan Kopp. Cole Payton and the offense took over as they scored on the next play as Payton found a wide-open Joe Stoffel who outran the secondary into the endzone to put NDSU up by 35.
The first half ended with a 12-play, 81-yard Bison drive, resulting in a Griffin Crosa 29-yard field goal to extend the NDSU lead to 38 at the break.
The second half was more of the same as following yet another Leatherneck punt the Bison covered 65 yards in four plays and TK Marshall found the endzone again, this time from 38 yards out to make it a 45-0 game.
NDSU continued the demolition of the Leathernecks by scoring again on their next drive this time covering 75 yards in six plays and Barika Kpeenu found the endzone from from 24 yards out to extend the NDSU lead to 52.
Western Illinois tacked on a garbage-time touchdown to make it a final score of 52-7.
NDSU scored on eight of eleven possessions and racked up 625 yards of total offense. The Bison rushed for 425 yards on 44 attempts and averaged 9.7 yards per carry. RaJa Nelson led the team in rushing with 103 yards, Barika Kpeenu rushed for 94 yards and two scores. The man of the hour on the ground was TK Marshall as he only ran for 51 yards but scored three of the seven touchdowns.
Cam Miller and Cole Payton both had efficient days passing as the two combined to go 11/16 throwing for 200 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, NDSU was much better as they only allowed 184 total yards. Leatherneck quarterback Matt Morrissey was only 8-13 for 71 yards with a touchdown and a pick.
North Dakota State hands Western Illinois their 20th consecutive loss and NDSU has now won nine in a row against the Leathernecks. This may have been the final meeting between these two teams as Western Illinois is leaving the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the Ohio Valley Conference.
NDSU is back home this weekend as they take on the conference newcomers, Murray State who is 2-5 in their inaugural season in the MVFC. Kickoff between the Bison and Racers is at 2:30 p.m. inside the Fargodome.