North Dakota State Defeats UTEP, 31-7

Saturday, October 31

Fargo, N.D.

2:30 p.m.

North Dakota State

7-2 , 4-2

UTEP

1-7 , 0-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UTEP	7	0	0	0	7
North Dakota St.	0	10	7	14	31

Donovan Woolen hurries the UTEP quarterback

Photo by: Zachary Lucy

10/31/2026 7:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score Game Statistics

FARGO, N.D. - Nathan Hayes passed for 240 yards and North Dakota State forced three turnovers en route to a 31-7 victory over UTEP in Mountain West football Saturday, Oct. 31, before a crowd of 15,513 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

NDSU wide receiver Jackson Williams made a career-high 10 receptions for 111 yards and tight end Reis Kessel had career highs of six catches for 85 yards including a 3-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that gave the Bison a two-score lead.

Cornerback Marion Moore ended two UTEP drives in the fourth quarter, including his team-leading fifth interception of the season that led to a 1-yard Hayes touchdown run for a 24-7 lead.

Two plays later, Bison linebacker Alex Elliott forced a fumble near midfield and Moore scooped and scored from 46 yards for the final score of the game.

NDSU's first Halloween home game since 1981 had a spooky start just five plays in with Hayes getting intercepted by Kaleb Miles on a dropped pass. UTEP's Raymond Moore sprinted 57 yards on the next play to give the Miners a sudden 7-0 lead.

Drew Klein's 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter capped a 16-play, 83 drive that lasted more than 8 minutes, and DJ Scott scored on a 1-yard run later in the quarter to put the Bison ahead 10-7.

The Bison defense took over after the early touchdown, forcing a punt on UTEP's second drive and keeping the Miners in their own territory for the remainder of the game. NDSU allowed only nine total first downs and held UTEP to 181 yards the rest of the way.

Bison linebacker Donovan Woolen made a team-high 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss including a sack and one quarterback hurry. NDSU registered four sacks and 10 tackles for loss including a pair of TFLs each for linebacker Ray James and defensive tackle Logan Larson.

North Dakota State improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Mountain West heading into its second bye week of the season. NDSU returns to action at Hawaii on Saturday, Nov. 14.