Weber State holds on to beat North Dakota in FCS playoffs

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Josh Davis and Damon Bankston combined for 251 yards rushing and three touchdowns and Weber State held on to beat North Dakota 38-31 on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

The Wildcats (10-2) will play at Big Sky rival and fourth-seed Montana State in the next round. The Wildcats lost to the Bobcats in Bozeman 43-38 during the regular season.

Weber State scored 24 points in the second quarter for a 31-14 halftime lead. A pair of North Dakota touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including Tommy Schuster’s 4-yarder to Jack Wright with three minutes to go, got the Fighting Hawks (7-5) within seven points.

Weber State recovered the onside kick. North Dakota got the ball back on its own 16 with 1:49 remaining but went backwards and turned the ball over on downs.

Davis rushed for 129 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns, including a 2-yarder for Weber State’s final score in the third quarter. Bankston had 122 yards on 15 carries with a score. The Wildcats, ranked 10th in the coaches poll, finished with 330 yards rushing. Bronson Barron passed to Hayden Meacham for another score.

Schuster was 23-of-43 passing for 184 yards and three scores for North Dakota, ranked No. 24. Tyler Hoosman rushed for 138 yards on 14 carries.

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