TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- No. 2 North Dakota State was opportunistic en route to a 52-0 victory over home standing Indiana State on a beautiful afternoon at Memorial Stadium in Missouri Valley Football Conference action. The Sycamores played their first home game since the August 31 opener against Eastern Illinois -- a span of 37 days.

The Bison improved to 5-0, 2-0 MVFC while the Sycamores fell to 0-5, 0-2 MVC. North Dakota State made five victories in a row against the Sycamores dating back to 2012 when Indiana State went on the road and downed a then No. 1 nationally-ranked NDSU team by the score of 17-14. 

LeMonte Booker paced the way for the Sycamores with 104 rushing yards on 10 attempts marking the second time this season in which he has gone over the 100-yard rushing mark. Bob Pugh was the leading receiver who finished the game two receptions for 69 receiving yards. On the defensive side of the ball, KeAaris Ardley was the top tackler with nine stops. Rondell Green forced a Bison fumble late in the first half which was recovered by Jordan Jackson.

The Sycamores took possession first in the game and were not able to move the chains. The Bison then countered with a 6-play, 54-yard drive which was highlighted by a 31-yard pass from Easton Stick to Darrius Shephard and was capped two plays later by a six-yard scoring strike from Stick to Connor Wentz with 11:05 remaining in the first half which staked North Dakota State to an early 7-0 advantage.

Cade Sparks found Bob Pugh twice on the Sycamores' second drive which moved the ball into Bison territory but Indiana State was forced to punt and pushed NDSU deep into their own territory. After one first down, Indiana State held, aided by a holding penalty before a big open field tackle from Rondell Green forced NDSU to punt the ball back to the Sycamores. Once again, the Sycamores were able to pick up a first down this time behind the running of LeMonte Booker before the drive stalled and an excellent punt by Thomas Bouldin pinned the Bison back at their own 17-yard line with 1:35 left in the opening stanza.  That is how the first quarter would end with the Bison nearing midfield and holding a touchdown advantage.

The Bison would go on to cap an 11-play, 83-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Stick to Wentz at the 10:43 mark of the second quarter to stretch their lead out to 14-0. The key play of the drive came right as the first quarter ended when Stick found Shepard right at the sticks on 3rd-and-13 which kept the drive alive. On the ensuring kickoff, Rontrez Morgan fumbled and the Bison recovered to set them up at the ISU 18-yard line. The Indiana State defense battled in a tough situation, forcing a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line but Lance Dunn capped the drive a one-yard plunge with 8:00 to go in the first half to take a 21-0 lead. NDSU tacked on a 36-yard field goal from Cam Pederson with 6:17 left in the half as the lead grew to 24-0.

After a fumbled punt set the Bison up deep in Sycamore territory, on third-and-goal a big hit from Rondell Green jarred the ball loose from Bruce Anderson where Jordan Jackson was waiting to pounce on the ball as the Sycamores gained their first turnover the contest. On the first play after the turnover, Booker broke free for a 46-yard rush -- the longest rush from scrimmage this year for Indiana State -- to get the ball near midfield. A face mask penalty on the Bison pushed the ball into NDSU territory as the clock ticked towards halftime. Sparks then found Jacquet McClendon for a 10-yard pass before he was picked off with just under a minute remaining before the half to stymie the drive. That is how the first half would end as NDSU held a 24-0 advantage. The Bison held a 191-103 edge in total yards through the first half of play with Booker amassing 79 yards on the ground through the first 30 minutes of play.

The Bison took the second half kickoff and powered by a 44-yard run from Stick moved down the field to score with 13:42 on the clock on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stick to Dallas Freeman to make it 31-0. NDSU's lead grew to 38-0 when Dunn plunged in from two yards out with 8:29 to go in the third quarter. That was set up by a 27-yard pass from Stick to Wentz which put the ball near the goal line. The Sycamores drove into Bison territory as Booker went over the 100-yard rushing mark but Sparks' second interception of the game stopped the drive. NDSU captialized with a 7-play, 70-yard drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Stick to Ben Ellefson with 2:42 remaining in the quarter for a 45-0 lead. Adam Cofield scored from 11 yards out with 12:11 to go which moved their lead out to 52-0.

In the fourth quarter, Issac Harker found Bob Pugh for a big gain of 51 yards -- the second longest gain for the Sycamores this season through the air. Pugh them had a nice punt return of 54 yards -- the longest return of the season for the Sycamores with 1:24 left in the contest. 

Easton Stick paced the Bison with a 18-of-23 passing effort which included four touchdowns. His top target was Shepard who made six receptions for 94 yards.

Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, October 14 when they travel to Missouri Valley Football Conference foe South Dakota at 3 pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live world-wide on ESPN3.