Ground game fuels North Dakota rout of N. Colorado 45-14

Nov 14, 2015, 06:08 pm

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- John Santiago ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns and North Dakota built a 45-0 lead through three quarters in a 45-14 Big Sky Conference rout of Northern Colorado on Saturday.

North Dakota's (6-4, 4-3) ground game churned out 408 yards on 52 carries. Iwarri Smith carried 14 times for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Kyle Norberg carried 13 times for 80 yards and a score.

Brian Labat picked off Jacob Knipp on Northern Colorado's second play from scrimmage and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring for North Dakota. The Bears surrendered three turnovers in their first four possessions.

Keaton Studsrud threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Zach Adler a minute into the second quarter. Santiago had touchdown runs of 49 and 81 yards, and Norberg ran 19 yards for a score as North Dakota built a 35-0 halftime lead.