FARGO — North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek has put an emphasis on the “middle eight,” a reference to the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. Saturday afternoon, it turned into the Middle Three.

A critical turn of events — a Southern Illinois fumble followed by a Bison touchdown — in the final minute before halftime was a key stretch before 15,812 fans at Gate City Bank at the Fargodome. NDSU went on to take a 45-17 victory to improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in a matchup of the Nos. 1 and 8 teams in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

It was also a battle of two of the best quarterbacks in FCS in NDSU’s Cole Payton and SIU’s DJ Williams. Both showed what they’re made of, but it wa

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