Box Score FARGO, ND--North Dakota State University's defense and special teams did the damage as the Bison rolled to a 48-9 season-opening win over Angelo State of Texas in the Fargodome here Thursday night.

The defense scored twice in the second quarter--on a 23-yard fumble recovery return by outside linebacker Mike Sheppard and on a 25-yard pass interception return by freshman corner Matt Gorman--and the Rams of Angelo State never recovered.

The special teams chipped in as well with senior Richard Lewis setting up NDSU's first touchdown with a 21-yard punt return to the Angelo State 38 and then breaking a 94-yard kickoff return for a score in the third quarter.

NDSU's offense collected four touchdowns, two by Harlon Hill candidate and consensus All-American Lamar Gordon. Gordon capped the first scoring drive with a five-yard run and gave NDSU its fourth and final TD of the second quarter with a four-yard run. The all-time leading rusher at NDSU finished the game with 101 yards rushing on 18 carries and did not play the entire fourth quarter with the game well in hand.

Junior quarterback Graig Gorder completed five of 15 passes for 147 yards and one score in his first collegiate start. The scoring pass was a 37-yarder to Lewis in the third quarter to give the Bison a 35-0 lead. NDSU's final score came in the fourth quarter on backup quarterback Jason Jordan's 55-yard pass to freshman Charles Wiest.

The Bison defense was so dominating that Angelo State collected just 80 yards of total offense and generated negative yardage rushing (-9). NDSU recorded 13 tackles for lost yardage including five quarterback sacks.

NDSU finished the game with 152 yards rushing, 242 yards passing, and 394 yards of total offense. The only negative for the Herd was the three lost fumbles.

Angelo State lost All-American defensive tackle Curry Dawson to a knee injury on the second play of the game. He did not return and the preliminary word was a torn ligament.

A crowd of 13,060 was on hand to watch NDSU win its 17th straight home game and capture its 26th win in the last 30 games.

NDSU returns to action on September 8th with a home game against Western State of Colorado. Angelo State is off until September 15th when the Rams host East Central Oklahoma.