FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Steve Walker threw three touchdown passes in the first half to lead North Dakota State to a 59-7 victory over the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday.
Running back Kyle Steffes rushed for 114 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown for the Bison (1-0). Steffes broke the 100-yard mark with 12:15 left in the second quarter.
North Dakota State won its opening game for the seventh straight season.
Quarterback Adam Fisher was held to 42 yards passing, completing 6 of 14 attempts for Arkansas-Monticello (0-2). He was intercepted twice.
The Bison started the scoring five plays into the game, when Walker connected with Marques Johnson on a 54-yard touchdown pass.
Steffes scored less than three minutes later on a dive from 7 yards out to make it 14-0.
The Bison extended their lead in the second quarter when Walker hit tight end Andy DelaBarre on a pair of 3-yard touchdown passes.
Sophomore running back Shamen Washington, who had two touchdown runs, scored from 31 yards out in the second quarter. Cory Vartanian booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Bison a 38-0 halftime lead.
Only one scoring drive in the first half took longer than two minutes.
North Dakota State continued to build its lead in the second half.
Kole Zimmerman recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, as the Bison opened a 52-0 lead.
The Boll Weevils' only touchdown came when Fisher hit Walter Warfield for a 19-yard scoring strike with 12:14 left in the fourth quarter.
Backup quarterback Ryan Parsons threw his first career collegiate touchdown pass to Derek Arndt for the final score.
