A fast start by North Dakota proved too much for visiting Missouri State to overcome here Saturday as the Fighting Hawks scored on their first four possessions of the game and cruised to a 44-10 win over the Bears in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Making their first NCAA appearance since 1990, Missouri State fell behind 27-3 at the intermission, but did not allow an offensive touchdown in the second half until the 2:17 mark of the fourth quarter with the game already in hand. The Fighting Hawks added a pair of unconventional scores on a blocked punt and an interception return in the third that put things out of reach.
The defeat snapped Missouri State’s four-game winning streak but not before the Bears turned the attention of the nation to Springfield for football this spring. MSU’s 5-1 conference record not only earned the Bears a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title for the first time since 1990, but also matched a program record for conference wins. MSU also returned to the FCS Top 25 and achieved a No. 12 national ranking in the process.
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