<p>GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Tommy Schuster threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and North Dakota never trailed in its 44-10 win over Missouri State in the opening round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Fighting Hawks won their first playoff game since moving to the FCS in 2008. North Dakota (5-1) will play at third-seeded and No. 1 James Madison in the quarterfinals. </p>
<p>Missouri State (5-5) went three-and-out on its first two possessions and Schuster hit Garrett Maag for a <a href="https://twitter.com/thebluepennant/status/1386053563382517761">50-yard touchdown</a> before connecting with Bo Belquist for a 38-yard score on a flea flicker to make it 14-0 with 8 minutes left in the first quarter and the Fighting Hawks led the rest of the way. </p>
<p>Hayden Reynolds <a href="https://twitter.com/UNDinsider/status/1386077955210817542">returned a blocked punt 15 yards for a touchdown</a> and fewer than 3 minutes later Hayden Galvin picked off a pass at the UND 10, linebacker Devon Krzanowski threw a block — the first of a few by the Hawks — and Galvin weaved and winded his way 90 yards for a score to make it 38-3 with 6:31 left in the third quarter. </p>
<p>Missouri State, under first-year coach Bobby Petrino, went 5-1 in conference play to earn a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title after the Bears won just one game in 2019. </p>
<p>UND had eight sacks, a D-I program record, and forced Missouri State into eight three-and-outs. The Bears had minus-21 yards rushing and just 50 total yards in the first half. </p>
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