Stick's big day leads NDSU past South Dakota 59-14

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Easton Stick threw three touchdown passes, becoming North Dakota State's all-time leader in scoring tosses, and ran for two more scores as top-ranked North Dakota State breezed to a 59-14 victory over South Dakota in Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday.

Stick finished with 176 yards on 12-of-19 passing. He threw for 161 yards and all three of his TDs in the first half. Stick's record-breaking 73rd TD toss was a 6-yarder to Ben Ellefson with 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter and put the Bison (8-0, 4-0) up 35-7 at halftime. Ellefson's only other catch was a 15-yard hookup with Stick in the opening quarter for the game's first score. Stick added 79 yards rushing on seven carries and scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and a 47-yarder in the third quarter.

The victory pushed NDSU's fifth-year coach Chris Klieman past Ron Erhardt and into third place on the school's all-time victory list with his 62nd win. He's lost just six games over that span. The Bison, who sit atop the FCS coaches' poll, have won 14 straight games, the longest active streak among FCS teams.

Austin Simmons passed for 152 yards and led the Coyotes (3-5, 2-3) with 115 yards rushing on 11 carries that included a 62-yard TD run.

Jabril Cox had five tackles, a sack and an interception — all in the first quarter — to help the Bison take a 21-0 lead.