BROOKINGS, S.D.--South Dakota State was able to handle North Dakota State's ground game here Saturday afternoon and the result was a 25-20 Jackrabbit win over the slumping Bison.

NDSU could muster just 134 yards rushing in the contest but just 35 yards in the second half when the Bison needed to control the ball. The result had SDSU controlling the clock in the final 30 minutes including 10:20 of the fourth quarter.

The loss for NDSU (2-5 overall, 1-4 in the NCC) was its fifth in the last six games and the Bison continued to have its road woes, losing for the sixth times in the last seven visits to enemy stadiums.

SDSU jumped to a 9-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes on a field goal on the opening possession and a touchdown when Scott Nedved broke a 45-yard touchdown run with 2:47 left in the quarter.

The Bison got something going in the final five minutes of the half, marching 85 yards to the Jacks' 9-yard line before a penalty forced the Herd to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Cory Vartanian.

NDSU cut the margin to 9-6 with the first possession of the second half on a 43-yard Vartanian field goal but SDSU answered.

The Jacks marched 70 yards with the next possession, converting two huge third down conversions with QB Dan Fjeldheim hitting receiver Solomon Johnson with 10 and 27 yard completions. The second one put the Jacks up 15-6.

The Bison came right back to score when Graig Gorder threaded a pass to tight end Mike Wieser for a 21-yard score and it was 15-13 late in the third quarter.

SDSU put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, scoring on a one-yard run by Walter Dosh and a 21-yard field goal by Keith Witt.

NDSU did not quit. The Bison marched 73 yards in eight plays in just 1:14 when Gorder hit freshman Marques Johnson with a 14-yard slant pass to cut it to 25-20.

But NDSU's onside attempt was covered by the Jacks with 1:38 left and South Dakota State ran out the clock.

SDSU freshman Walter Dosh, who had carried the ball just once this season, racked up 145 yards on 17 carries and one TD and senior quarterback Dan Fjeldheim completed 24 of 39 passes for 252 yards and one score to spark the Jacks to 468 yards of total offense.

Gorder completed 16 of 29 passes for 217 yards and two TDs as the Bison totaled 351 yards of offense.

The win lifted the Jacks to 4-3 on the season and 2-3 in the NCC.