BROOKINGS, S.D. — In a commanding performance, Mark Gronowski shone for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, scoring two rushing touchdowns and passing for two more. The Jackrabbits, the two-time defending national champions, showcased their dominance over the Montana Grizzlies with a 35-18 victory in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.
While Gronowski was instrumental in driving the team’s offense to a total of 399 yards, the Jackrabbits’ defense proved to be a formidable challenge for the Grizzlies, restricting them to 306 yards overall. Notably, 160 of those yards were gained on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter after South Dakota State had established a substantial 35-3 lead. Adam Bock made a significant contribution on defense with a 30-yard interception return in the final quarter.
With this win, South Dakota State improves to an impressive 11-2 record, and they are set to face sixth-seeded Incarnate Word, who also holds an 11-2 record, at home next weekend. This match-up adds to the intensity, as South Dakota State had already bested Montana earlier in January during the national championship game, with a score of 23-3.
In this latest contest, Gronowski completed 12 out of 16 passes for a total of 151 yards. He connected with Griffin Wilde for two notable touchdowns in the second quarter, with receptions of 34 and 24 yards. Gronowski also executed two 1-yard quarterback sneaks, one in the first quarter and another in the fourth, contributing significantly to the scoring. To highlight his versatility, he made a 21-yard reception to set up his initial rushing touchdown, giving the Jackrabbits an early 7-3 advantage.
Griffin Wilde was a standout receiver with seven catches accumulating 114 yards, while Amar Johnson rushed for 103 yards on 16 attempts. Additionally, Angel Johnson added 91 yards on 13 carries to the strong offensive display. On the other side, Montana’s quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat finished with 19 completions out of 32 attempts for 231 passing yards, but he faced difficulty with two crucial interceptions that hindered the team’s efforts. One interception was returned for a touchdown, while the other came at a critical moment near the goal line, denying the Grizzlies a chance to narrow the scoring gap.
The Jackrabbits demonstrated effectiveness on third down, converting 7 of 12 attempts, while the Grizzlies struggled with a 5 out of 13 conversion rate, managing only 2 of 9 through the first three quarters of play.
