FARGO, N.D. - Easton Stick passed for three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead No. 1-ranked North Dakota State to a 31-10 homecoming victory over 18th-ranked Illinois State on Saturday, Oct. 1, before a crowd of 18,907 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski caught a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play after Illinois State's only touchdown of the game to erase a 10-7 deficit, and Stick connected with running back Lance Dunn on a 38-yard pass and tight end Nate Jenson from 35 yards to give NDSU a 28-10 halftime lead.

Stick completed passes to nine different receivers and finished 13 of 18 passing for 256 yards, one yard shy of his career high.  King Frazier led the rushing attack with 20 carries for 76 yards.

"I was so happy in the first half with the big plays we were able to get," head coach Chris Klieman said.  "I thought Easton was on-point and made some excellent throws, and guys made catches that got us that early lead.  Defensively, we were kind of on our heels in the first half and probably needed to play a little bit better."

The defense held Illinois State scoreless over the final 43 minutes and limited the Redbirds to just 37 yards rushing due in part to six quarterback sacks, including two by defensive end Caleb Butler.

The Bison (4-0, 1-0 MVFC) were clinging to a 14-10 lead before Aaron Steidl had a strip sack inside the NDSU 10 that led to a four-play, 92-yard touchdown drive.  Pierre Gee-Tucker recovered the fumble, and Chase Morlock's 52-yard reception on third-and-8 set up Dunn's TD catch on the next play.

"I think that was really big because if they take that in for a touchdown they retake the lead," Klieman said.  "Our defense did a great job there and I think from there on we played pretty solid on defense. But that turnover was huge."

Illinois State went three-and-out on five of its next seven possessions.

Gee-Tucker led the Bison with seven tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and the fumble recovery.  MJ Stumpf and Robbie Grimsley also made seven tackles apiece.

Illinois State quarterback Jake Kolbe finished 23 of 35 passing for 285 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fowler that put the Redbirds ahead 10-7 at the 13:06 mark of the second quarter.

North Dakota State plays at Missouri State at 2 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 8.  The Bears (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) snapped a 13-game conference losing streak with a 45-24 victory at 24th-ranked Indiana State on Saturday.