MACOMB, Ill. - Fourth-ranked North Dakota State rushed for 453 yards and seven touchdowns to beat winless Western Illinois 56-17 at Hanson Field on Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

TaMerik Williams carried 12 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns and TK Marshall had six carries for 118 yards and two scores for the Bison, who improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

NDSU scored on its first offensive play with a 47-yard touchdown run from Kobe Johnson. Williams added a 25-yard TD run on NDSU's next possession and the Bison led 14-0 less than three minutes into the game.

Marshall scored his two touchdowns 91 seconds apart with a 1-yard run at the end of the third quarter and another one-play scoring drive early in the fourth quarter with a 65-yard run down the right sideline.

With winds gusting between 20-30 mph, NDSU attempted only five passes and rushed 55 times for 453 yards. It was the most Bison rushing yards since running for 454 at Youngstown State in 2021.

The Bison defense intercepted four passes. Marques Sigle had a 43-yard pick six, Courtney Eubanks and Anthony Coleman each had their first career interceptions, and Logan Kopp had a late interception to close out the game.

North Dakota State is back on the road next week to play Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. The Salukis are 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference.