The South Dakota State Jackrabbit football team has once again established themselves as one of the leading FCS programs in the nation. They secured a spot in the FCS Semifinals on Saturday with a convincing 55-14 victory over Incarnate Word, building a commanding 31-0 lead by halftime. This total of 55 points is the second highest that SDSU has scored in a game this season. On the defensive side, they held the Cardinals to just 4.4 yards per play and generated two turnovers during the game.
South Dakota State stifled the high-scoring offense of Incarnate Word and made significant plays in the passing game, resulting in a dominant 55-14 victory Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, securing their spot in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.
With this win, the third-seeded Jackrabbits advanced to the FCS semifinals for the fifth year in a row and the seventh time in the last eight seasons, bringing their overall record to 12-2. They will face second-seeded North Dakota State on December 21 at 11 a.m., with a chance to compete for the national championship in Frisco, Texas on the line.
For the second week straight, the Jackrabbits bounced back after a fumble loss on their first possession. Following a defensive three-and-out against UIW, SDSU began scoring late in the first quarter when quarterback Mark Gronowski extended a drive with a 9-yard run on third down, then threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde in the end zone.
The duo connected again early in the second quarter as the Jackrabbits exploded for 24 points. Gronowski hit Wilde for another 35-yard touchdown pass, igniting the scoring surge.
Gronowski added two rushing touchdowns from 3 and 1 yard out, with the first score set up by an interception and 32-yard return by Matthew Durrance to the UIW 17.
The Jackrabbit defense contributed another turnover when Steven Arrell forced a fumble from a Cardinal receiver, recovered by Tucker Large at the UIW 31. Hunter Dustman then kicked a 36-yard field goal just before halftime, extending the lead to 31-0.
SDSU built on their lead in the second half with a touchdown on their opening drive, as Gronowski connected with a wide-open David Alpers for a 59-yard score, marking Alpers’ first college touchdown.
UIW, which finished the season at 11-3 and saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end, began to find their offensive rhythm in the third quarter with two scoring drives. Quarterback Zach Calzada led a 15-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Roy Alexander, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run by Calzada on the next drive.
In the final quarter, the Jackrabbits capitalized on short-field opportunities, scoring 17 more points. Backup running backs Kriby Vorhees and Brenden Begeman each scored on 1-yard runs, along with a 30-yard field goal by Dustman. Begeman’s first touchdown was set up by a 29-yard pass from Jon Bell to Kentrell Prejean.
SDSU outgained UIW 476-345 in total offense, rushing for 273 yards and passing for 203 on just eight completions. Amar Johnson led the rushing attack with 132 yards on 18 carries, while Gronowski completed 7 of 16 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns.
Wilde finished with three receptions for 67 yards, and freshman Lofton O’Groske added three catches for 48 yards.
Walter Payton Award finalist Calzada completed 37 of 51 passes for 258 yards, with Alexander as his main target, making 13 catches for 92 yards, and Jalen Walthall catching nine passes for 66 yards. Lontrell Turner was UIW’s top rusher with 41 yards on six carries.
On defense, senior linebackers Adam Bock and Graham Spalding recorded 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, in what may have been their final home game. Arrell also had a career-high eight tackles, matched by Tucker Large, who had eight stops as well.
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