FARGO, N.D. - No. 1 seed North Dakota State rushed for 302 yards and rolled to a 36-10 victory over eighth-seeded South Dakota State in the NCAA Division I FCS quarterfinals Saturday, Dec. 10, before a crowd of 18,285 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

North Dakota State rebounded from its first double-digit deficit in more than a year with 36 unanswered points and advanced to next week's semifinal round, where the Bison (12-1) will host No. 4 seed and Colonial Athletic Association champion James Madison (12-1).

South Dakota State (9-4) gashed the Bison for 162 yards in the first quarter with Brady Mengarelli scoring on a 5-yard trick running play to cap the game's opening drive and Chase Vinatieri tacking on a 34-yard field goal on SDSU's second possession.  But NDSU's defense allowed only 30 yards over the final three quarters.

Greg Menard had a strip sack and fumble recovery at the SDSU 1 that the Bison couldn't convert into points before the halftime whistle, Grant Morgan scored on a safety in the third quarter, and Caleb Butler had a pair of sacks in the fourth quarter to put a stamp on NDSU's 22nd straight postseason victory.

North Dakota State pulled within 10-7 late in the first quarter on Lance Dunn's 49-yard touchdown run, then took over the game with a commanding 20-play, 82-yard scoring drive that ate up 12 minutes and 9 seconds of the second quarter before Easton Stick's 3-yard rushing TD.

"They have really good weapons and to have those guys on the sideline was key," said NDSU head coach Chris Klieman.  "When we're holding the football for 20 plays, it gives our defense a chance to make adjustments, which we needed to do."

King Frazier carried 15 times for 101 yards, Dunn finished with 13 carries for 91 yards, and Easton Stick had 16 carries for 83 yards and added a second touchdown in the fourth quarter from 14 yards out.  The Bison averaged 5.8 yards per carry and held the ball for a season-high 40:55.

"We played the way we had to play owning the time of possession and limiting their plays and keeping a really good offense down to under four plays," Klieman said.  "That was the formula for our success."

NDSU converted 10 of 13 third down attempts including a 17-yard reception by RJ Urzendowski on a third-and-15 deep in NDSU territory that extended the Bison's second drive of the game and set up Dunn's 49-yard score three plays later.

North Dakota State converted four third downs on that 12-minute drive in the second quarter, including a 23-yard pass from Stick to Urzendowski after the Bison were backed up to their own 14 on a penalty and tackle for loss.

Stick finished 12 of 21 passing for 188 yards and Darrius Shepherd, who sat out the first half nursing a hamstring injury, came in to make four catches for a career-high 105 yards in the second half, including a career-long 67-yard TD.

Menard and Robbie Grimsley had five tackles apiece to lead the Bison defense.  Tre Dempsey intercepted his sixth pass of the season, which set up the second of two field goals by Cam Pedersen, who connected from 35 and 45 yards.

South Dakota State, after racking up 523 yards of total offense in October's last-second 19-17 win over NDSU, was outgained 490-192 by the Bison.  Quarterback Taryn Christion finished 13 of 17 passing for 155 yards and the Jackrabbits managed just 37 rushing yards.

"Year in and year out, this football team continues to get better, and that's the thing I'm most excited about as a coach," Klieman said.  "We do continue to improve. We don't really plateau in the season. We continue to gain momentum."