Marion Moore’s Defensive Onslaught Fuels North Dakota State’s Victory Over UTEP
North Dakota State’s defensive dominance continued under the Saturday lights at the Fargodome, anchored by a second-year cornerback. Marion Moore put together an all-conference type performance, securing an interception and returning a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown to account for the game’s final score in a 31-7 win over the University of Texas at El Paso on October 31, 2026.
The victory advanced the Bison to a plus-nine turnover margin on the season, driven by an afternoon where NDSU forced three turnovers while conceding just one. Moore capped the scoring in the fourth quarter. After linebacker Alex Elliott forced a fumble, Moore scooped up the loose ball and dashed down the left sideline for a 46-yard score, marking his second defensive touchdown of the year following a pick-six against Fordham in the second game of the year.
Final#NDSU 31UTEP 7NDSU scores twice late on Hayes sneak and Marion Moore fumble returnBison are 7-2 and are on a bye next before heading to Hawaii
Moore and Steil Intercept Passes in Win
Earlier in the final frame, Moore easily intercepted an errant pass from UTEP quarterback E.J. Colson and returned it 22 yards. That turnover was his fifth interception of the season. He’s a great player. He knows how to get to the ball, you know, to create takeaways,
Bison linebacker Donovan Woolen said. That’s awesome as a defense and a team to get the offense the ball back. He’s a special player and really important to this defense and this team.
The defense capitalized in other ways, too. Third-year safety Will Steil grabbed his first career interception in the second quarter, picking off a throw from Colson intended for a receiver near midfield. Woolen spearheaded the defensive effort with a team-high 11 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a quarterback hurry. In total, the Bison registered four sacks and 10 tackles for loss, with Ray James and Logan Larson each contributing a pair of TFLs.
NDSU: Marion Moore 46 fumble return (Klein kick), 1:06, 4th qtr.Key play: Moore picks up fumble after a UTEP pass play and scores untouched.NDSU 31, UTEP 7
Offensively, the Bison maintained continuity up front despite lingering injuries. The starting offensive line featured third-year players Noah Stommes at left tackle, Nate Tastad at left guard, Gage Schmidt at center, Coy Okeson at right guard, and Kene Anene at right tackle. Stommes started his second straight game in place of Ryan Babatz, who remained sidelined with a high ankle sprain after warming up prior to kickoff. Tastad filled in at left guard because Griffin Empey was listed as out with an injured hand or wrist.
In the stands, a crowd of 15,513 watched the proceedings unfold during NDSU’s first Halloween home game since 1981, with many fans arriving in costume. Observers on hand included a representative from the New Mexico Bowl and New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, whose son Carson, a New Jersey high school quarterback, was visiting NDSU. UTEP relied on Colson at quarterback, with the Incarnate Word transfer battling injuries throughout the season. Ultimately, the 23.5-point favorites according to BetMGM secured a 31-7 outcome.
FUMBLE! Marion Moore scoops it up and takes it back 46-yards to the endzone! @NDSUfootball-31 @UTEPFB-7 1:06 left in the fourth
