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Ogden • Don't ask new Weber State coach Jay Hill about moral victories.

He doesn't believe in them.

If he did, however, Hill could not be blamed for feeling considerable satisfaction after North Dakota State managed a 24-7 win over the Wildcats on Saturday night.

The Bison entered the game as the No. 1 ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision. They had opened the season with a 34-14 win at Iowa State.

Still, North Dakota State didn't secure its 26th straight victory until it stopped a fake field goal at the one-yard line early the fourth quarter, preserving a 21-7 lead.

"It was wide-open," Hill said. "It was just like we practiced it. But we miss a block and they stop us. It should have been a walk-in."

Instead, the Wildcats' spirited effort ended with their second loss this season and 21st in the program's last 25 games.

But Weber is improving and Hill knows it.

"I'm proud of the way these guys fought," he said. "... There were a lot of positive tonight and we can build it."

The first home game in Hill's tenure — against one of the two-time defending champion in the FCS — drew a crowd of 14,577. It was the largest crowd at Stewart Stadium since 2005, and the fans were treated to a physical, competitive battle from the beginning.

On the first play, Wildcat Billy Green handed to running back Zach Smith, who pitched the ball back to the Weber State quarterback.

On the flea-flicker, Green hit Cam Livingston for a 49-yard gain, although the drive stalled at the North Dakota State 30 when the Bison stuffed a run on fourth-and-one.

After NDSU took a 7-0 lead, the Wildcats countered with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

One play after Green completed a fourth-down pass to Shaydon Kehano, freshman Eric Wilkes bounced outside and and raced 27 yards for the tying touchdown with 1:14 left in the first quarter.

With 7:31 remaining in the half, North Dakota State's grabbed the lead when Green was sacked near the Wildcat goal line and fumbled.

The ball squirted out to the three, where linebacker Carlton Littlejohn scooped it up and ran into the end zone to make it 14-7.

"I was going through my reads and tried to step up," Green said. "... I got blindsided and ball came out."

Still, Weber kept battling.

It was 21-7 with 13 minutes left when the Wildcats drove to a first-and-goal at the North Dakota State. After three running plays lost two yards, though, the Bison stopped the fake field goal and ended Weber's upset hopes.

"That was a good football team we beat," said NDSU coach Chris Klieman. "They did a great job at the line of scrimmage. ... I was really impressed with their team." —

N. Dakota State 24, Weber State 7

N. Dakota St. 7 7 7 3 — 24

Weber St. 7 0 0 0 — 7

First Quarter

NDSt • Crockett 1 run (Keller kick), 5:36.

Web • Wilkes 27 run (Kealamakia kick), 1:14.

Second Quarter

NDSt • Littlejohn 3 fumble return (Keller kick), 7:31.

Third Quarter

NDSt • Frazier 1 run (Keller kick), 3:19.

Fourth Quarter

NDSt • FG Keller 38, 1:59.

Attendance • 14,577.

Weber NDSU

First downs 23 20

Rushes-yards 46-177 29-64

Passing 192 240

Comp-Att-Int 13-22-2 26-43-0

Return Yards 19 2

Punts-Avg. 4-43.8 5-44.4

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 9-71 5-69

Time of Possession 32:52 27:08

Individual Statistics

Rushing • N. Dakota St., Crockett 26-123, Ca.Wentz 8-23,

Frazier 6-17, Anderson 1-7, Morlock 4-7, Team 1-0. Weber St.,

Wilkes 11-50, Bolen 5-25, Zac.Smith 6-13, Kealamakia 1-2,

Green 6-(minus 26).

Passing • N. Dakota St., Ca.Wentz 13-22-2-192. Weber St.,

Green 26-43-0-240.

Receiving • N. Dakota St., Vaadeland 3-29, Bonnet 2-17,

Crockett 2-17, Vraa 1-27, Urzendowski 1-26, Woods 1-23, Anderson 1-21,

Illies 1-21, Gebhart 1-11. Weber St., Kehano 9-88, Kaimikaua 6-42,

Livingston 5-85, Bolen 4-17, Batchelor 1-6, Corpus 1-2. —

Storylines

O North Dakota State defeats Weber State 24-7

• Weber quarterback Billy Green completes 26 of 43 passes for 240 yards.

• The Bison snap a 7-7 tie when linebacker Carlton Littlejohn returns a fumble for a touchdown.