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North Dakota State at South Dakota

Saturday, December 9, 2023, FCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP Quarterfinal

North Dakota State beat South Dakota 45–⁠17. It was their 13th meeting; after it, North Dakota State led the series 11–⁠2.

AwayNorth Dakota State11–⁠4 in 2023
45
HomeSouth Dakota10–⁠3 in 2023
17

Final at DakotaDome, VermillionIndoorsTV: ABC, ESPN+Attendance 9,141

Official
Gary LeeperGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
North Dakota State21143745
South Dakota307717

Standouts

  • PassingCam Miller13 of 15, 210 yards, 1 TDNorth Dakota State
  • RushingCole Payton6 carries, 65 yards, 2 TDNorth Dakota State
  • ReceivingEli Green5 catches, 116 yardsNorth Dakota State
  • DefenseCole Wisniewski2 INTNorth Dakota State

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

North Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cam Miller13/1521010
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Cole Payton665243
TaMerik Williams858119
Barika Kpeenu92908
T.K. Marshall61305
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Eli Green5116048
Braylon Henderson245037
Zach Mathis122022
RaJa Nelson21208
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Sam Jung0001
Cole Wisniewski0002

South Dakota

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Aidan Bouman13/2219912
Jarrett Synek5/104701
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Travis Theis632010
Charles Pierre Jr.925010
Nate Thomas2605
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Javion Phelps381138
Carter Bell579041
Travis Theis433016
Jack Martens118018

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

North Dakota StateSouth Dakota
392Total yards293
210Passing yards246
182Rushing yards47
14.0Yards per pass7.7
4.6Yards per rush2.5
20First downs16
7–⁠10Third downs3–⁠9
1–⁠1Fourth downs2–⁠2
0Turnovers3
5–⁠35Penalties4–⁠37
33:10Possession17:43

Efficiency

North Dakota StateSouth Dakota
49%Success rate41%
0.52EPA per play0.09
1.52Explosiveness1.36
0.22Rushing EPA−0.03
1.25Passing EPA0.16
39%Passing-down success31%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

North Dakota State 56% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

North Dakota State −5.5, over/under 47.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were North Dakota State 67%, South Dakota 33%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

South Dakota end zoneNorth Dakota State end zoneQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 South DakotaField goal, 8 playsQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 South DakotaPunt return TD, 3 plays (North Dakota State scores)Q1 South DakotaPunt, 5 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 South DakotaResult not recorded, 6 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 South DakotaInterception, 2 playsQ2 North Dakota StateEnd of half, 1 playQ3 South DakotaTouchdown, 9 playsQ3 North Dakota StateField goal, 15 playsQ3 South DakotaInterception, 5 playsQ4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ4 South DakotaResult not recorded, 12 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. South Dakota drives left to right, North Dakota State right to left. Our source’s drive data for this game doesn’t add up to the final score, so a score may be missing here; the scoring by quarter above is complete.
  1. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 0 yards
  2. Q1 South DakotaField goal, 8 plays, 0 yards
  3. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 0 yards
  4. Q1 South DakotaPunt return TD, 3 plays (North Dakota State scores), 0 yards
  5. Q1 South DakotaPunt, 5 plays, 0 yards
  6. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 81 yards
  7. Q2 South DakotaResult not recorded, 6 plays, 47 yards
  8. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 54 yards
  9. Q2 South DakotaInterception, 2 plays, 0 yards
  10. Q2 North Dakota StateEnd of half, 1 play, 58 yards
  11. Q3 South DakotaTouchdown, 9 plays, 0 yards
  12. Q3 North Dakota StateField goal, 15 plays, 0 yards
  13. Q3 South DakotaInterception, 5 plays, 0 yards
  14. Q4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 45 yards
  15. Q4 South DakotaResult not recorded, 12 plays, 69 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 21, South Dakota 3
North Dakota State Touchdown, 10 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 65 yds
15:001st & 10 at own 25Cam Miller sacked by Jonathan Joanis for a loss of 14 yards to the NDSU 11
15:002nd & 24 at own 11TK Marshall run for 5 yds to the NDSU 16
15:003rd & 19 at own 16Cam Miller pass complete to Braylon Henderson for 37 yds to the SDAK 47 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 47TK Marshall run for 3 yds to the SDAK 44
15:002nd & 7 at opp 44PENALTY NDSU False Start (Stoffel,Joe) 5 yards from USD44 to USD49. NO PLAY.
15:002nd & 12 at opp 49Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 31 yds to the SDAK 18 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 18Barika Kpeenu run for 8 yds to the SDAK 10
15:002nd & 2 at opp 10Cam Miller run for 3 yds to the SDAK 7 for a 1ST down
15:001st & goal at opp 7RaJa Nelson run for 1 yd to the SDAK 8
15:002nd & goal at opp 8Cole Payton run for 1 yd to the SDAK 9
8:303rd & goal at opp 9Cam Miller run for 9 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 7, South Dakota 0
South Dakota Field goal, 8 plays
8:301st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 62 yds
8:301st & 10 at own 25Charles Pierre Jr. run for 1 yd to the SDAK 26
8:302nd & 9 at own 26Travis Theis run for 5 yds to the SDAK 31
8:303rd & 4 at own 31Aidan Bouman pass complete to Javion Phelps for 38 yds to the NDSU 31 for a 1ST down
8:301st & 10 at opp 31Aidan Bouman pass complete to Travis Theis for 16 yds to the NDSU 15 for a 1ST down
8:301st & 10 at opp 15Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Carter Bell
8:302nd & 10 at opp 15Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Carter Bell
8:303rd & 10 at opp 15Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Jack Martens
5:324th & 10 at opp 15Will Leyland 32 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 7, South Dakota 3
North Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
5:271st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 64 yds , Eli Green return for 23 yds to the NDSU 24
5:271st & 10 at own 24Cam Miller pass incomplete to Joe Stoffel
5:272nd & 10 at own 24TaMerik Williams run for 4 yds to the NDSU 28
5:273rd & 6 at own 28Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 9 yds to the NDSU 37 for a 1ST down
3:541st & 10 at own 37Timeout North Dakota State, clock 03:54
3:541st & 10 at own 37PENALTY NDSU False Start (Kubas,Jake) 5 yards from NDSU37 to NDSU32. NO PLAY.
3:541st & 15 at own 32Barika Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the NDSU 34
3:542nd & 13 at own 34Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 19 yds to the SDAK 47 for a 1ST down
3:541st & 10 at opp 47TaMerik Williams run for 4 yds to the SDAK 43
1:572nd & 6 at opp 43Cole Payton run for 43 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 14, South Dakota 3
South Dakota Punt return TD, 3 plays (North Dakota State scores)
1:521st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 59 yds , Keyondray Jones return for 22 yds to the SDAK 28
1:521st & 10 at own 28Aidan Bouman pass complete to Carter Bell for 3 yds to the SDAK 31
1:522nd & 7 at own 31Travis Theis run for 2 yds to the SDAK 33
1:523rd & 5 at own 33Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Carter Bell
0:054th & 5 at own 33Tyler Ebel punt for 49 yds , Jayden Price returns for 82 yds for a TD South Dakota Penalty, Illegal Shift (Yards) declined (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 21, South Dakota 3
South Dakota Punt, 5 plays
0:051st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
0:001st & 10 at own 25Travis Theis run for 3 yds to the SDAK 28
Q2 15:002nd & 7 at own 28Aidan Bouman pass complete to Charles Pierre Jr. for 10 yds to the SDAK 38 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at own 38Charles Pierre Jr. run for 1 yd to the SDAK 39
Q2 15:002nd & 9 at own 39Aidan Bouman sacked for a loss of 8 yards to the SDAK 31
Q2 15:003rd & 17 at own 31Shotgun Synek,Jarrett rush middle for 12 yards gain to the USD43 fumbled by Synek,Jarrett at USD38 forced by Benson,Oscar recovered by NDSU Weerts,Luke at USD43, End Of Play PENALTY NDSU Offside 5 yards from USD31 to USD36. NO PLAY.
Q2 15:003rd & 12 at own 36Aidan Bouman pass complete to Travis Theis for 2 yds to the SDAK 38
Q2 12:264th & 10 at own 38Tyler Ebel punt for 54 yds , Jayden Price returns for 1 yd to the NDSU 19
2nd quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 35, South Dakota 3
North Dakota State Touchdown, 9 plays
12:261st & 10 at own 19TaMerik Williams run for 8 yds to the NDSU 27
12:262nd & 2 at own 27Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 48 yds to the SDAK 25 for a 1ST down
12:261st & 10 at opp 25Barika Kpeenu run for 5 yds to the SDAK 20
12:262nd & 5 at opp 20Barika Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the SDAK 16
12:263rd & 1 at opp 16Cam Miller run for 1 yd to the SDAK 15 for a 1ST down
12:261st & 10 at opp 15RaJa Nelson run for 7 yds to the SDAK 8
12:262nd & 3 at opp 8Cole Payton run for 4 yds to the SDAK 4 for a 1ST down
12:261st & goal at opp 4TK Marshall run for no gain to the SDAK 4
6:592nd & goal at opp 4Cam Miller pass complete to Joe Stoffel for 4 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 28, South Dakota 3
6:501st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 61 yds , Keyondray Jones return for 20 yds to the SDAK 45 South Dakota Penalty, Offensive Holding (7 Yards) to the SDAK 7
South Dakota Result not recorded, 6 plays
6:501st & 10 at own 7Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to JJ Galbreath
6:502nd & 10 at own 7Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Carter Bell
6:503rd & 10 at own 7Aidan Bouman pass complete to Travis Theis for 16 yds to the SDAK 23 for a 1ST down
6:501st & 10 at own 23Aidan Bouman pass complete to Javion Phelps for 27 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
6:501st & 10 at the 50Aidan Bouman pass complete to Keyondray Jones for 8 yds to the NDSU 42
6:502nd & 2 at opp 42Charles Pierre Jr. run for 3 yds to the NDSU 39 for a 1ST down
North Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
3:581st & 10 at own 46TaMerik Williams run for 10 yds to the SDAK 44 for a 1ST down
3:581st & 10 at opp 44TaMerik Williams run for 1 yd to the SDAK 43
3:582nd & 9 at opp 43Cole Payton run for no gain to the SDAK 43
3:583rd & 9 at opp 43Shotgun Miller,Cam sacked for loss of 6 yards to the USD49 (Blauser,Cannon) PENALTY USD Face Mask (Grace,Mi’Quise) 15 yards from USD43 to USD28, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
3:581st & 10 at opp 28Cam Miller run for 2 yds to the SDAK 26
3:582nd & 8 at opp 26Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 4 yds to the SDAK 22
0:413rd & 4 at opp 22Timeout North Dakota State, clock 00:41
0:413rd & 4 at opp 22Eli Green run for 5 yds to the SDAK 17 for a 1ST down
0:231st & 10 at opp 17Cole Payton run for 17 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 35, South Dakota 3
South Dakota Interception, 2 plays
0:201st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 35 yds , L.J. Phillips Jr. return for 6 yds to the SDAK 36
0:201st & 10 at own 36Aidan Bouman pass complete to Carter Bell for 16 yds to the NDSU 48 for a 1ST down
0:061st & 10 at opp 48Aidan Bouman pass intercepted Cole Wisniewski return for no gain to the NDSU 42
North Dakota State End of half, 1 play
0:001st & 10 at own 42C. Miller takes a knee
3rd quarter3 drives, then North Dakota State 38, South Dakota 10
South Dakota Touchdown, 9 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 64 yds
15:001st & 10 at own 25Charles Pierre Jr. run for 3 yds to the SDAK 28
15:002nd & 7 at own 28Aidan Bouman pass complete to Carter Bell for 41 yds to the NDSU 31 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 31Charles Pierre Jr. run for 1 yd to the NDSU 30
15:002nd & 9 at opp 30Aidan Bouman pass complete to Keyondray Jones for 7 yds to the NDSU 23
15:003rd & 2 at opp 23Charles Pierre Jr. run for 1 yd to the NDSU 22
15:004th & 1 at opp 22Charles Pierre Jr. run for 3 yds to the NDSU 19 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 19Travis Theis run for 3 yds to the NDSU 16
15:002nd & 7 at opp 16Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Travis Theis
10:073rd & 7 at opp 16Aidan Bouman pass complete to Javion Phelps for 16 yds for a TD (Will Leyland KICK)North Dakota State 35, South Dakota 10
North Dakota State Field goal, 15 plays
10:071st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 65 yds
10:071st & 10 at own 25TaMerik Williams run for 8 yds to the NDSU 33
10:072nd & 2 at own 33Cam Miller pass complete to Braylon Henderson for 8 yds to the NDSU 41 for a 1ST down
10:071st & 10 at own 41TK Marshall run for 1 yd to the NDSU 42
10:072nd & 9 at own 42TK Marshall run for no gain to the NDSU 42
10:073rd & 9 at own 42Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 8 yds to the 50 yard line
10:074th & 1 at the 50Cole Payton run for 2 yds to the SDAK 48 Cole Payton fumbled, recovered by NDSU Cole Payton for a 1ST down
10:071st & 10 at opp 48TaMerik Williams run for 4 yds to the SDAK 44
10:072nd & 6 at opp 44Miller,Cam pass incomplete short left to Lippe,Jake broken up by Harden,Myles QB hurried by Turner,Keyon PENALTY NDSU Holding (Miller,Mason) 10 yards from USD44 to NDSU46. NO PLAY.
10:072nd & 16 at own 46Cam Miller pass complete to Zach Mathis for 22 yds to the SDAK 32 for a 1ST down
10:071st & 10 at opp 32Barika Kpeenu run for 3 yds to the SDAK 29
10:072nd & 7 at opp 29Cam Miller pass complete to Hunter Brozio for 5 yds to the SDAK 24
10:073rd & 2 at opp 24TK Marshall run for 4 yds to the SDAK 20 for a 1ST down
10:071st & 10 at opp 20Cam Miller run for 4 yds to the SDAK 16
10:072nd & 6 at opp 16Shotgun Nelson,RaJa rush right for 7 yards gain to the USD09 (Shorter,Dennis) PENALTY NDSU Holding (Zabel,Grey) 10 yards from USD16 to USD26. NO PLAY.
10:072nd & 16 at opp 26Barika Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the SDAK 22
10:073rd & 12 at opp 22Cam Miller pass incomplete
0:504th & 12 at opp 22Griffin Crosa 40 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 38, South Dakota 10
South Dakota Interception, 5 plays
0:501st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds
0:501st & 10 at own 25Travis Theis run for 9 yds to the SDAK 34
0:002nd & 1 at own 34Charles Pierre Jr. run for 2 yds to the SDAK 36 for a 1ST down
Q4 15:001st & 10 at own 36Aidan Bouman sacked by Jaxon Duttenhefer for a loss of 8 yards to the SDAK 28
Q4 15:002nd & 18 at own 28Aidan Bouman pass complete to Travis Theis for 1 yd to the SDAK 27
Q4 13:523rd & 19 at own 27Jarrett Synek pass intercepted Sam Jung return for no gain to the SDAK 45
4th quarter2 drives, then North Dakota State 45, South Dakota 17
North Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
13:521st & 10 at opp 45Barika Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the SDAK 43
13:522nd & 8 at opp 43Barika Kpeenu run for 1 yd to the SDAK 42
13:523rd & 7 at opp 42Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 9 yds to the SDAK 33 for a 1ST down
13:521st & 10 at opp 33RaJa Nelson run for 3 yds to the SDAK 30
13:522nd & 7 at opp 30Barika Kpeenu run for no gain to the SDAK 30
13:523rd & 7 at opp 30Cam Miller pass complete to Carson Williams for 6 yds to the SDAK 24
13:524th & 1 at opp 24Miller,Cam rush middle for 1 yard gain to the USD23 (Holden,Blake) PENALTY USD Offside (Webb,Brendan) 5 yards from USD24 to USD19, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
9:121st & 10 at opp 19TaMerik Williams run for 19 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 45, South Dakota 10
South Dakota Result not recorded, 12 plays
9:071st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 63 yds , Keyondray Jones return for 24 yds to the SDAK 26
9:071st & 10 at own 26Jarrett Synek pass complete to Carter Bell for 14 yds to the SDAK 40 for a 1ST down
9:071st & 10 at own 40Jarrett Synek pass incomplete to JJ Galbreath
9:072nd & 10 at own 40Jarrett Synek pass complete to Jack Martens for 18 yds to the NDSU 42 for a 1ST down
9:071st & 10 at opp 42Jarrett Synek pass incomplete to Travis Theis
9:072nd & 10 at opp 42Travis Theis run for 10 yds to the NDSU 32 for a 1ST down
9:071st & 10 at opp 32Jarrett Synek pass incomplete to Carter Bell
9:072nd & 10 at opp 32Nate Thomas run for 5 yds to the NDSU 27
9:073rd & 5 at opp 27Nate Thomas run for 1 yd to the NDSU 26
9:074th & 4 at opp 26Jarrett Synek pass complete to Carter Bell for 5 yds to the NDSU 21 for a 1ST down
9:071st & 10 at opp 21Jarrett Synek pass complete to Cole Rhoden for 6 yds to the NDSU 15
9:072nd & 4 at opp 15Charles Pierre Jr. run for 10 yds to the NDSU 5 for a 1ST down
9:071st & goal at opp 5Jarrett Synek pass incomplete to JJ Galbreath

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every North Dakota State–South Dakota game

North Dakota State leads 12–⁠3 in 15 meetings, counting the two since this game.

Recent meetings
2025North Dakota State 51, South Dakota 13
2024South Dakota 29, North Dakota State 28
2023North Dakota State 45, South Dakota 17FCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP Quarterfinal
2023South Dakota 24, North Dakota State 19
2022North Dakota State 34, South Dakota 17
2021North Dakota State 52, South Dakota 24

Around this game

North Dakota State

South Dakota