North Dakota State’s 38-0 win over Fordham was the kind of result that says as much about control as it does about scoring. The Bison were efficient, ruthless and secure enough to turn the game into a shutout long before the final whistle.
That matters because North Dakota State also stretched its unbeaten streak when leading at halftime to 22 games. The last time that run ended came on Aug. 29, 2024, when the Bison led Colorado 20-17 at the break but still lost 31-26.
The second quarter set the tone
The game was effectively taken apart in the second quarter. Chris Kiel caught an 8-yard touchdown pass, DJ Scott added a 3-yard scoring run, and Nathan Hayes threw an 8-yard touchdown pass as North Dakota State built the sort of cushion that Fordham never looked likely to threaten.
Hayes’ role was especially important. The North Dakota State quarterback threw two touchdown passes and surpassed 200 passing yards, giving the Bison the kind of balanced control that makes them difficult to handle when they get ahead.
Once the Bison got rolling, Fordham could not recover
The third quarter only widened the gap. Marion Moore returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown, DJ Scott added another score from 7 yards out, and Mekhi Collins caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to complete the damage.
That interception return underlined the other side of the story: North Dakota State did not just move the ball well, it also forced Fordham into mistakes and turned one of them into points. The shutout reflected control on both sides of the ball, not just a strong night for the offense.
A familiar winning pattern
The broader takeaway is simple. North Dakota State continues to punish teams once it gets in front, and the numbers back that up. The Bison have now gone 22 games without losing when they lead at halftime, a run that has become a major part of their identity.
There was also a note in the game summary about Drew Klein’s field-goal total for the season, a reminder that North Dakota State’s overall scoring profile remains layered and reliable. But the headline here is the same one that usually follows the Bison: if they take control early, they make it very hard for anyone to get it back.
