GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Cole Payton threw for 125 yards and his 8-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left helped top-ranked FCS North Dakota State beat North Dakota 15-10 on Saturday to claim the Missouri Valley Conference title.

It was the Bison's lone touchdown of the day and first lead of the game against their 18th-ranked, in-state foe (6-4, 4-2).

Both teams exchanged punts after Payton's touchdown on what proved to be North Dakota's final drive lasting nine plays and covering 43 yards. The Bison (10-0, 7-0) ended the Fighting Hawks' upset bid when Anthony Chideme-Alfaro intercepted Jerry Kaminski at the goal line with 11 seconds left.

Sawyer Seidl's 2-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left in the first quarter put North Dakota ahead 7-0. The Bison got field goals of 24 and 38 yards from Eli Ozick

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