The Fighting Sioux improved their unmarked record to 4-0 while Idaho State is now 0-3.

UND grabbed a 31-7 lead just three minutes into the third quarter, but with three consecutive touchdowns by the Bengals, the lead was cut down to 31-28 with 9:03 left in the contest.

North Dakota answered right back with a 12-play, 80-yard drive to take 6:40 off the clock. The drive was capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Freund to fullback Marcus Tibesar (St. Paul, Minn.) with 2:23 remaining to clinch the victory.

Idaho State scored the final touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.

UND had 478 yards of total offense, 241 of those yards on the ground as they held the Bengals to just 83 yards on the ground.

Brady Trenbeath (Kenosha, Wis.) led UND in receiving with 9 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

In the first half alone, Murray had 122 yards rushing on 23 carries for an average of 10.9 yards per carry as the Sioux ran out to a 24-7 lead.  The Sioux had a 309 to 186 advantage in total offense in the first half as Freund completed 14 of 18 passes for 171 yards and two scores. UND scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions of the first half.

ISU got on the board with 7:14 left in the half as they drove 82 yards in just four plays with Jaron Taylor catching a 41 yard touchdown pass from Russel Hill.

UND could have had a bigger lead late in the first half but lost a fumble at the Bengal 8-yard line with 2:34 left in the half.  The Sioux didn't let that mistake haunt them going into the locker room as they forced ISU to punt and Brent Hellevang converted a 43-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

The Sioux seemed to put the game seemingly out of reach early in the second half by taking the ball 55 yards on six plays with Brady scoring from six yards out to increase the lead to 31-7.  The drive was set up by a 45-yard kickoff return by Dominique Hawkins (Rockford, Minn.).

But Idaho State responded with touchdown drives of 79, 70 and 91 yards to cut the lead to three.

Murray started the game-clinching drive with an 11-yard gain on first down.  Freund completed passes of 11 yards to Blair Grover (Mequon, Wis.) and 20 yards to Trenbeath to give the Sioux a first down on the Bengal 37-yard line.

Brandon Brady (Bloomington, Minn.) than carried the ball three consecutive times, gaining 11 yards to give UND a first down at the ISU 26.

The Sioux went back to Murray as he carried the ball three consecutive times for 19 yards to give UND a second and three on the ISU seven yard line, setting up Freund's scoring pass to Tibesar.

Idaho State quarterback Russell Hill finished 30-of-44 for 396 yards and three touchdown passes.  Receiver Jaron Taylor had eight catches for 159 yards and two scores.

ISU had 479 yards of total offense, 293 of those yards in the second half.

With Idaho State University winning the toss and electing to receive, the game got underway with a 66-yard Brandon Hellevang (Fargo, N.D.) kickoff to the ISU four yard line.

After moving 57 yards on 15 plays, the Bengals had their first opportunity in 42 years to score on the Sioux. ISU came up short as Jerrett Huck's 45-yard field goal attempt traveled wide right.

UND 7, ISU 0

With the ball in their possession for the first time of the evening, North Dakota wasted no time making its way towards the end zone. Three carries and a nine-yard reception sophomore running back Josh Murray (Pepin, Wis.) and completions to wide receivers Jake Caufield (Sr., Minot, N.D.) and Alex Nicholas (Sr., Franklin, Wis.) pushed the Sioux inside the 20-yard line. With 5:34 left in the first quarter, quarterback Danny Freund (Kenosha, Wis.) connected with wide receiver Brady Trenbeath (Cavalier, N.D.) for a 17-yard touchdown reception. The extra point by Hellevang gave UND the 7-0 advantage.

UND 14, ISU 0

Just six seconds into the second quarter, UND struck again to take a 14-0 lead over the Bengels. Otto recovered an Eddie Thompson fumble on the ISU 37 yard line to regain the Sioux possession. Four plays and a little over two minutes later, Murray balanced himself along the right side line for a 26-yard touchdown run.

UND 21, ISU 0

Next it was running back Brandon Brady's turn to make a trip to the end zone. Freund found the senior from Bloomington, Minn. on the nearside for a 12-yard touchdown reception.

UND 21, ISU 7

With 7:14 left in the first half, Russell Hill found Jaron Taylor deep on the far side of the field. The 41-yard touchdown pass marked the first time in history that Idaho State had scored on North Dakota. Since then and including tonight's game, UND had outscored ISU, 89-0.

Late in the second quarter, UND had yet another chance to up the score on Idaho State, but a hard hit by D.J. Clark inside the 5-yard line popped the ball loose from grip of Trenbeath's. Daniel Urias jumped on the ball to give the Bengels possession at the ISU8.

UND 24, ISU 7

With 58 seconds remaining in the half, North Dakota opened up their final scoring drive of the half. A total of four plays moved the Sioux to the 35 yard line. With time expiring quickly, UND relied on the foot of their leading scorer to split the uprights. With Hellevang's 43-yard field goal, the Sioux went into the locker-room leading the Bengels, 24-7.

UND 31, ISU 7

3:07 into the first half, Brady crossed the goal line for the second time of evening and the 17th time in his career. A 45-yard kickoff return by Dominique Hawkins (Rockford, Minn.) started off the three-minute, six-play, 55-yard scoring drive. Completions to junior Marcus Tibesar (FB, St. Paul, Minn.) and Trenbeath, combined with 21 yards rushing by Murray put Brady in position for an 11-yard carry and a 6-yard run across the goal line.

UND 31, ISU 14

Another long-distance Hill-Taylor connection cut UND's lead down to 17. Sitting on the UND 49 yard line, Hill sat back and waited for his chance to toss to Taylor. Deep and with coverage, Taylor snatched a 47-yard pass out of the air and jumped into the end zone for his, and the Bengels, second touchdown of the night.   

UND 31, ISU 21

The Bengels tightened the gap even more at 2:46 in the third quarter. A 70-yard, 10-play drive culminated with a short touchdown run for ISU. After a pickup of four first downs off of six completions and three short runs, Clint Knickrehm found an opening on the nearside to slide in for six.  

UND 31, ISU 28

Idaho State scored its third consecutive touchdown on a 13-yard run by Ken Cornist. The four minute and 21 second drive started on ISU's nine yard line. Cornist gained the first 26 yards of the drive off of three carries and a nine-yard reception. After a five-yard pass to Taylor put the ball on the 13 yard line, Cornist took a handoff from Hill and barreled down an opening in the middle for his first touchdown of the night.

UND 38, ISU 28

Marcus Tibesar nabbed a 7-yard pass from Freund to push the Sioux back ahead with a 10-point lead. A span of six consecutive rushes, three each by Brady and Murray set up UND's fifth TD of the night.

UND 38, ISU 35

ISU's Edsel Logan capped the night's scoring with a 21-yard touchdown reception with 00:00 left on the clock. Huck made the point after, but it wasn't enough as UND held off for the 38-35 victory. Their first road win of the season.

North Dakota remains road bound as it heads to Hammond, La. for a Saturday evening meeting with Southeastern Louisiana. The Fighting Sioux and the Lions will meet at Strawberry Stadium for a 6 p.m. game.

- Go Sioux -

GAME NOTES: On the opening drive alone, senior corner back Drake Otto logged six tackles and a pass breakup... Nathan Wayne and Dominique Hawkins tallied their first career pass break-up... It took Idaho State 43 years, 21 minutes and 31 seconds to score for the first time against the Sioux; the Bengels did so with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Russell Hill to Jaron Taylor... Second 100+ yard game in a row for Josh Murray... Danny Freund has not thrown an interception in 445 total passes...