NORMAL, Ill. — The North Dakota State charter airplane to Illinois State on Friday had one of those bumpy approaches to the Central Illinois Regional Airport. Bison quarterback Cole Payton couldn’t control those weather elements.

He did have command of just about everything else on the weekend.

The Bison senior once again used his potent left arm and deft running ability on Saturday night, willing NDSU to a 33-16 victory over the Redbirds at a nearly full Hancock Stadium. It was NDSU’s third road victory of the season and improved the No. 1-ranked Bison to 5-0, 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

NDSU is now almost halfway through the regular season, enough evidence that Payton is turning his last season into a memorable one. He was 12 of 14 passing for 194 yards and a touch

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