FARGO, N.D. – Carson Wentz found RJ Urzendowski in the corner of the end zone inside the final minute for the winning score, and Tre Dempsey sealed North Dakota State's 27-24 FCS playoff win over upset-minded South Dakota State Saturday with an interception in the last 43 seconds.
The second-ranked Bison (12-1) advance the quarterfinals for the fifth straight year, hosting no. 7 seed Coastal Carolina (12-1) either Dec. 12 or 13.
The near-capacity 18,113 in the Fargo Dome saw a thriller — with underdog South Dakota State driving for a go-ahead 24-20 score with 3:18 to play when Austin Sumner found Jake Wieneke from 3 yards out to cap a nine-play drive.
But the Bison, starting at their 24, went all the way — Wentz scrambling for nine yards and hitting Urzendowski for 29 and 12 yards.
South Dakota State's Zach Zenner rushed for 133 yards and two TDs while becoming the first FSC player to gain more than 2,000 yards for three straight seasons.
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