North Dakota defeats Northern Iowa, returns to FCS semifinals

North Dakota State true freshman Bruce Anderson returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown to spark the four-time defending FCS champions to a 23-13 victory over Northern Iowa in a hard-fought quarterfinal game Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota.

It was the second straight week the 18-year-old Anderson took a kickoff all the way. Anderson spun out of a tackle and sprinted in on a 97-yard scoring play on Saturday to turn a three-point halftime deficit into a 14-10 lead.

The Bison (11-2) advance to next week’s semifinal Richmond, which surprised last year’s FCS runner-up Illinois State 39-27 on Friday.

Sam Houston State 48, Colgate 21: Jeremiah Briscoe threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bearkats over the Raiders in the FCS quarterfinals in Huntsville, Texas. The Bearkats are in the semifinals for the fourth time in five years.

In the other semifinal, Sam Houston (11-3) will face top-seeded Jacksonville State, which defeated No. 8 seed Charleston Southern 58-38 on Friday.