EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Aidan Chiles threw for 273 yards and a touchdown in his debut, and Northwestern pulled away late to top FCS South Dakota State 34-18 on Saturday night.

Chiles, who made 20 starts for Michigan State before joining the Wildcats during the offseason, made it a two-possession game with a 14-yard draw-play touchdown with 4:34 to go.

South Dakota State’s (1-1) Josiah Johnson scored with 8:16 left to cut the lead to 20-18, but a two-point try failed. Northwestern took the kickoff and burned off almost four minutes before Chiles scored.

Joseph Himon II (four carries, 87 yards) took off for an 80-yard touchdown run with 1:14 left to widen the final score.

Meanwhile,

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Charles Pierre Jr. rushed for two touchdowns, Tennel Bryant took his only carry for a score, and South Dakota defeated Northern Colorado 38-23 on Saturday.

The Coyotes (2-0) won their first road opener in a full season since 2017, and their fifth straight against Northern Colorado.

After the Bears (1-1) started the scoring late in the first with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Lueth to Trey Olsen, the Coyotes answered with three touchdowns before the break.

Bryant took the ball on a reverse and easily broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run late in the first, Pierre ran it in from 11 yards and Austyn Modrzewski passed to Brayden White for a 10-yard score and a 14-point lead.

In other area college football action, Sioux Falls defeated Jamestown 31-0.