FARGO (KFGO) -- The road to Frisco will again go through Fargo.
Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State hammered Youngstown State 38-14 Saturday at the Fargodome, securing the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and likely securing the top seed in the field.
The victory was tempered by the bad news that standout linebacker Travis Beck ruptured his Achilles tendon and will be lost for the season.
The Bison finished 7-1 in the conference and 11-1 overall. If the Bison indeed get the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs, or the second seed, they will host all playoff games leading up to the national championship game. The FCS title game is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2015, in Frisco, Texas.
The FCS playoff selection show will be aired Sunday on ESPNU at 10 a.m.
NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz rushed for a career-high 126 yards and one touchdown while completing 12 of 19 passes for 126 yards and two scores. John Crockett had 168 yards and a TD on 28 carries.
Bison safety Christian Dudzik had two interceptions and forced a fumble. The Bison forced four turnovers, all leading to touchdowns.
Dudzik forced a fumble on Youngstown State’s first possession, recovered by Carlton Littlejohn, that led to NDSU’s first score. Wentz’s 18-yard TD pass to Zach Vraa gave NDSU a 7-0 lead with 11:27 left in the first quarter.
Dudzik intercepted a Hunter Wells pass later in the first quarter, setting up Wentz’s 17-yard TD run that gave the Bison a 14-0 lead.
A Nick DeLuca interception late in the second quarter led to Crockett’s 4-yard TD run and a 28-0 Bison lead at halftime.