<p>GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Tommy Schuster threw three touchdown passes, Otis Weah had 91 yards rushing and a score, and North Dakota beat Southern Illinois 44-21 on Saturday in a FCS spring season opener. </p>
<p>Weah carried 13 times and his 1-yard TD run midway through the third quarter gave the Fighting Hawks a 22-14 lead. Schuster had added two of his three TD passes later in the third to stretch the lead to 37-14. Schuster finished 15-of-23 passing for 118 yards. </p>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/UNDinsider/status/1363207198525054979?s=20">C.J. Siegel blindsided quarterback Kare Lyles and forced the Salukis’ third fumble of the first half. Devon Krzanowski scooped up the ball and ran untouched 36 yards into the end zone</a> to give North Dakota a 16-7 lead with 1:39 remaining. Lyles left the game with a rib injury and did not return. </p>
<p>Nic Baker led a 75-yard drive, capped by Romeir Elliott’s 1-yard TD run, to cut the Salukis’ deficit to 16-14 at halftime. </p>
<p>North Dakota (1-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) began its first season as a MVFC member after spending the previous two as an FCS Independent. The Fighting Hawks face South Dakota State at home on Saturday. </p>
<p>Southern Illinois (1-1, 0-1), which beat Southeast Missouri 20-17 on Oct. 30, hosts North Dakota State on Saturday. Schools which played in the fall will have their results considered in the selection process for the spring championship field. </p>
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<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/Collegefootball">https://apnews.com/Collegefootball</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
