Area college football roundup: North Dakota State routs St. Thomas 62-7 to close undefeated season

North Dakota State, the top-ranked team in FCS (I-AA), closed out an unbeaten regular season with a 62-7 nonconference victory over St. Thomas, on Saturday, in Fargo, N.D.

Barika Kpeenu rushed for 107 yards and two TDs and caught a TD pass, and Cole Payton passed for 279 yards and three TDs for the Bison (12-0), who outgained the Tommies, 665-229.

The Bison defense limited the Tommies to 13 first downs and forced four turnovers. The Bison special teams also scored on a 64-yard punt return for a TD from Mikhale Ford in the third quarter.

Quarterback Amari Powell led the Tommies in rushing with 66 yards and a TD and passed for 110 yards.

The Tommies finished the season with a 7-5 record and in fourth place in the Pioneer League with a 5-3 record.

South Dakota State 34, North Dakota 31: Jack Henry’s 23-yard TD pass to Grahm Goering in overtime lifted the Jackrabbits to the Missouri Valley League victory over the host Fighting Hawks. The Fighting Hawks had scored first in overtime on a 40-yard field goal by Kenten Laughman.

The Fighting Hawks, who led 17-7 at halftime, tied the game with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard TD pass from Jerry Kaminski to Nate DeMontagnac and a two-point conversion pass from Kaminski to Sawyer Seidl.

Ashland 32, Minn. Duluth 7: Chris Maloney rushed for 155 yards and a TD and Cameron Blair threw a TD pass and ran for a TD as the host Eagles defeated the Bulldogs in Ashland, Ohio. Kyle Walljasper passed for 152 yards and rushed for 45 yards and a TD for the Bulldogs, who had four turnovers and finished the season with a 10-2 record.

Minnesota State Mankato 37, Findlay 14: Mitchell Thompson passed for 233 yards and a TD and ran for a TD to lead the Mavericks past the host Oilers in Findlay, Ohio. Thompson’s 2-yard TD run with six seconds left in the first half gave the Mavericks a 21-7 halftime lead. After a Connor Fournier field goal early in the third quarter extended the Mavericks’ lead to 24-7, Thompson completed a 5-yard TD pass to Nassir Jones to make it 30-7. The Mavericks (9-3) will play Indianapolis in the second round next Saturday.

Division III playoffs