FARGO — It was one day removed from Halloween but it could just as well have been the Fourth of July. Fireworks, the college football kind, filled Gate City Bank Field Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome.

North Dakota State was pushed for a full four quarters for the first time this season and when the smoke settled, the Bison held off Youngstown State 38-30 before 14,607 fans. The win kept No. 1-ranked NDSU unbeaten at 9-0, 6-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

A battle of top-flight quarterbacks Cole Payton from NDSU and Beau Brungard from Youngstown did not disappoint. NDSU got a couple of big special teams plays, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jackson Williams.

NDSU running back Barika Kpeenu scored three touchdowns, his third coming on a 1-yard run

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