Keller, defense lead No. 1 Bison past Montana

Sep 20, 2014 - 11:11 PM Fargo, ND (SportsNetwork.com) - Whenever North Dakota State's record winning streak ends - if it ends, some may wonder - it's going to take a rare occurence:

The Bison being off their game.

That just doesn't seem to happen to the top-ranked team in the FCS.

NDSU won a matchup of elite FCS programs on Saturday, never trailing against fourth-ranked Montana while posting a methodical, 22-10 victory at the Fargodome - the three-time reigning national champion's FCS-record 28th straight dating to the 2012 season.

NDSU improved to 4-0 under first-year coach Chris Klieman, controlling the game clock with its ground game. John Crockett rushed for 144 yards, just over half of the Bison's 280 yards on the ground, and the Bison won as usual with defense and special teams, including Adam Keller's school-record five field goals.

The Bison built a 12-10 halftime lead and then extended it to 19-10 on Carson Wentz's 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Vaadeland with 8:22 left in the third quarter. Then on Montana's ensuing possession, the Grizzlies' first turnover of the season was ill-timed as Bison safety Christian Dudzik intercepted a Jordan Johnson pass in the back of NDSU's end zone.

Keller kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining in the fourth quarter to finalize the scoring at 22-10. In the first half, he connected on field goals of 41, 22, 32 and 47 yards.

Montana (2-2) was held to nine first downs and 256 yards (NDSU had 24 and 447). A Jamal Jones 72-yard reception set up Montana's only touchdown, a 4-yard run by Jordan Canada in the second quarter. Dan Sullivan also kicked a 20-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half, pulling the Grizzlies within 12-10.

While NDSU has become the pre-eminent power in the FCS, Montana has made the second-most national title game appearances in history with seven (two titles and five runner-up finishes).