North Dakota State controls Sacramento State 31-10 with efficient passing and defense

North Dakota State beat Sacramento State 31-10 on the West Coast, using Nathan Hayes’ efficient passing and a defense that forced two interceptions to control the second half. Sacramento State moved the ball through Jackson Sharman, but the Hornets could not turn 238 passing yards into enough points against the Bison.

Hayes completed 14 of 24 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, finding Jackson Williams for a 33-yard score. Williams finished with 134 receiving yards on seven catches. DJ Scott added an 80-yard rushing line and a touchdown, giving North Dakota State a second way to keep drives moving after Sacramento State adjusted to the passing game.

Sacramento State’s Sharman completed 25 of 41 throws for 238 yards and a touchdown, but two interceptions ended promising possessions. The Hornets also gave up a 24-yard fumble return for a touchdown, a defensive score that widened the margin without requiring another long Bison drive.

The turning point was North Dakota State’s defensive sequence after the first quarter. The Bison turned pressure and takeaways into a two-score cushion, then let Hayes and Scott manage the game. Sacramento State’s passing volume produced yardage, but the mistakes kept the Hornets from sustaining a response once North Dakota State reached 31 points.

North Dakota State established the margin through three different scoring plays. Nathan Hayes opened with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Williams, and Darius Givance then returned a fumble 24 yards for a defensive score after Sacramento State's J. Curtis lost the ball. A 9-yard touchdown run by M. Mitchell gave the Bison a 21-0 cushion before Sacramento State finally answered on Jackson Sharman's 21-yard touchdown pass to O. Smith Jr. North Dakota State responded with a 42-yard touchdown run from DJ Scott, which restored the three-score gap.

The remaining points came from field position. Sacramento State's G. Meadors made a 25-yard field goal, and North Dakota State's D. Klein answered with a 29-yarder. Hayes finished 14 of 24 for 210 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson Williams caught seven passes for 134 yards and Scott ran 14 times for 80 yards and a score. Sharman completed 25 of 41 for 238 yards, but two interceptions joined the lost fumble as the decisive mistakes. The Hornets had enough passing volume to avoid disappearing from the game, yet each response arrived after North Dakota State had already created another source of points. The Bison closed a 31-10 road win by protecting that margin rather than chasing unnecessary plays.