CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Christian Watson scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the second quarter and No. 2-ranked North Dakota State led the rest of the way in a 23-20 victory over No. 21 Northern Iowa on Saturday, April 10, in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

UNI opened the scoring with two Matthew Cook field goals from 31 and 35 yards in the second quarter before Watson's kick return, which was the fourth 100-yard return in school history. Watson finished with 229 all-purpose yards including a 61-yard reception late in the second quarter that set up a 42-yard Jake Reinholz field goal. NDSU led 10-6 at halftime.

Bison quarterback Zeb Noland finished 8 of 16 passing for 154 yards with one touchdown, a 36-yard passing play to tight end Josh Babicz that gave North Dakota State a 17-6 lead late in the third quarter.

UNI pulled back within 17-12 early in the fourth quarter on Tyler Hoosman's 1-yard TD run, but NDSU responded with a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive that ate up nearly 7 minutes of clock.

Hunter Luepke rushed 19 times for 95 yards including a 2-yard touchdown with 6:17 left in the game that gave the Bison a 23-12 lead. Northern Iowa responded with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by another Hoosman TD and a two-point conversion that made it 23-20.

NDSU went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but Garret Wegner punted to the UNI 4 with 1:00 left and the Bison defense forced three incomplete passes and the Panthers turned over the ball on downs with 24 seconds left.

Linebacker James Kaczor made a game-high 13 tackles, defensive tackle Eli Mostaert had seven tackles including two sacks and three tackles for loss plus a pass breakup, and defensive end Brayden Thomas had two TFLs for the Bison. NDSU held UNI to 98 yards rushing and 5 of 14 on third down.

North Dakota State (6-1, 5-1 MVFC) is scheduled to host South Dakota State in the annual Dakota Marker game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17.