FARGO, N.D.-- An interception on the opening drive of the second half squashed any remaining momentum for visiting North Dakota as top-ranked North Dakota State recorded a 38-7 win Saturday afternoon at Fargodome. UND (1-1) trailed just 21-7 at the break and got the ball to open the second stanza but NDSU's Michael Tutsie nabbed one of his two interceptions on the afternoon to help keep the Hawks at arm's length. 

"I think we can play a little bit better-- we have to play more physical football," UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said via a post-game radio interview. "We have to put this in perspective, though. It's game two and we've got a big one next week, too."

Senior Andrew Zimmerman made his first career start at quarterback for North Dakota, going 16-for-27 for 150 yards and two interceptions. Sophomore Garett Maag (6 catches for 76 yards) and Noah Wanzek (6-46) led the way for the Fighting Hawk offense. 

NDSU (2-0) took the opening kickoff right down the field, going 68 yards on nine plays capped by a Dimitri Williams 3-yard run for a quick 7-0 lead. North Dakota went three-and-out on its first offensive possession and the Bison later made it a two-score lead on a Trey Lance 8-yard scamper. The Bison quarterback accounted for four scores on the afternoon, running for 95 yards and two scores while going 11-for-15 for 162 yards passing with two touchdowns. 

UND's lone score came on the ensuing possession as the offense chewed up 6:14 of game clock, going 75 yards on 13 plays with James Johannesson punching it in from three yards out for a 14-7 score midway through the second. 

The Bison added a touchdown before the half and tallied a pair of picks in the second half to thwart UND drives en route to the win. The first interception was as Zimmerman was under siege and threw across his body. 

"You try to make a play and sometimes it's best to throw it away," Schweigert said. "You've got to keep learning and moving forward. That's where we are at, learning from this and taking it into the next week." 

Defensively, Donnell Rodgers piled up a career-high 16 total tackles for North Dakota while Jordan Canady tallied a new career best with 14 stops. 

Johannesson rushed it seven times for 21 yards and UND's lone touchdown. 

North Dakota will return home to host 25th-ranked Sam Houston State next Saturday at Alerus Center. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. on Midco Sports Network.

Notes: UND leads the all-time series with NDSU, 62-47-3 ... This marks the final non-conference tilt between the teams as North Dakota will join the Bison in the Missouri Valley Football Conference next season ... Noah Grover got his first game action, playing the final offensive series at quarterback for North Dakota ... Freshman Chrysten Cochran recorded his first two career catches (2-12) ... The UND defense compiled three sacks for -11 yards ... This was the first game against a No. 1 ranked team sicne 2007 (UND moved to Division I in 2008) ... UND falls to 4-3 all-time inside the Fargodome (0-2 in DI era) ... Garett Maag's 76 yards receiving were a new career high ... Jordan Canady's 14 total tackles were a career high ... Evan Holm did not play due to an injury.