FARGO, N.D. – Cam Miller threw two touchdown passes to Bryce Lance and ran for another to lead North Dakota State to a 31-7 victory over Mercer on Saturday and into the FCS semifinals.

The second-seeded Bison (12-2), who have won nine straight FCS playoff titles in their 15th, will face No. 3 seed South Dakota State, which defeated Incarnate Word 55-14. The Bison defeated the Jackrabbits 13-9 in the regular season.

NDSU, SDSU and fourth-seeded South Dakota shared the Missouri Valley Conference title. South Dakota will face top-seeded Montana State in the other semifinal.

Miller was 16 of 25 for 259 yards passing despite being intercepted twice by Myles Redding. Miller passed Easton Stick (11,216) and tied his school career total yards record with 11,406 after rushing for 299 yards on Saturday. Mekhi Collins had 119 yards receiving.

Whitt Newbauer was 8 of 18 for just 90 yards with a touchdown to Kelin Parsons and an interception for the seventh-seeded Bears (11-3), Southern Conference champions, who are making their first appearance in the quarterfinals.

Miller hit Lance on the left side for a 40-yard touchdown and then threw to Lance for a 4-yard score less than three minutes later, giving him a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. and-run.

Newbauer found Parsons in the end zone for a 38-yard score, trailing 14-7 after one quarter.

Miller raced down the left sideline for a 34-yard score, and Griffin Crosa hit a 38-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half for a 24-yard lead.

Barika Kpeenu scored the only point of the second half from a meter away with two minutes left.

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