Bison reclaim Dakota Marker by defeating Jackrabbits 13-9.

In Fargo, North Dakota, the second-ranked North Dakota State team scored a go-ahead touchdown after driving 92 yards with 1:49 left on the clock. Logan Kopp’s interception secured a 13-9 win over top-ranked South Dakota State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday, October 19.

RaJa Nelson ended a 10-play scoring drive for the Bison by catching a 20-yard pass from Cam Miller, breaking a five-game losing streak to South Dakota State for NDSU (7-1, 4-0 MVFC) over SDSU (5-2, 2-1 MVFC). Nelson caught his second touchdown pass of the game.

Miller completed all seven of his passes during the final drive, which lasted 5 minutes and 25 seconds. SDSU advanced to their own 47-yard line before Kopp notched his second interception of the year, and the Bison kneeled down to secure the Dakota Marker trophy, their first time since 2019.

Miller completed 20 out of 27 passes for a total of 163 yards, Nelson caught four passes for 48 yards with an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Chris Harris led the team with five catches for 41 yards.

In the game, the only play that exceeded 20 yards was a 66-yard touchdown run by Chase Mason of SDSU, bringing the score to 7-6. NDSU’s Kody Huisman then blocked the extra-point attempt. Hunter Dustman’s 42-yard field goal put the Jacks ahead 9-7 as the first half came to a close.

NDSU failed to make a 48-yard field goal in the beginning of the third quarter and both teams exchanged punts for the following seven possessions until the Bison embarked on their game-winning drive.

Oscar Benson and Luke Weerts each made a total of eight tackles for NDSU. Both Kopp and Eli Mostaert made six stops each.

A capacity crowd of 18,807 attended the inaugural nationally broadcasted Dakota Marker game on ESPN2.