SALUKIS SHOCK N.D. STATE, END 39-GAME STREAK

Javon Williams Jr. and Romeir Elliott each had a pair of touchdown runs, and Southern Illinois beat top-ranked North Dakota State 38-14 on Saturday in Carbondale, Ill., ending the Bison’s 39-game winning streak.

North Dakota State (2-1, 1-1 Missouri Valley), which has won three straight FCS championships, last lost on Nov. 4, 2017 to then-no. 8 South Dakota State.

“We didn’t show up and play very well,” Bison coach Matt Entz said. “There was not any position group that played well.”

It was the Bison’s worst defeat since a 37-6 loss at Cal Poly during the 2005 season.

Williams ran for a 3-yard score and Elliott broke loose for a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Both scores followed a North Dakota State turnover. Elliott finished with 91 yards rushing and Williams had 41, and the pair also had touchdown runs in the second quarter.

The Salukis (2-1, 1-1) snapped an eightgame losing streak to the Bison, who were 161⁄2-point favorites.

“This game will be recognized for a long time, maybe the biggest win in that stadium,” Southern Illinois coach Nick Hill said of ending North Dakota State’s Fcsrecord winning streak.

Avante Cox had seven receptions for 138 yards for Southern Illinois. His 65-yard catch set up Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down to give the Salukis a 17-0 lead with about a minute left in the second quarter.

Elsewhere

North Dakota 28, No. 3 South Dakota State 17: At Grand Forks, N.D., Otis Weah had a 40-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and the Fighting Hawks upset the Jackrabbits. South Dakota State’s Isaiah Stalbird punched the ball out of Weah’s hands at the 7, but it bounced back up into Weah’s path and the back recovered it just before he plunged into the end zone.

Northern Arizona 34, Southern Utah 33: At Flagstaff, Ariz., Keondre Wudtee threw a 2-yard TD pass to Coleman Owen on the final play of the game, and the Lumberjacks won the spring season and Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.