Third-ranked South Dakota State and No. 4 South Dakota went toe-to-toe in the their Interstate Series matchup Saturday night at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, but it was the Jackrabbits who delivered the final blow on their home field as Amar Johnson scored on a 3-yard touchdown run in overtime to prevail, 20-17.
SDSU improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, extending its home winning streak to 25 games. The Coyotes dropped to 6-2 overall and suffered their first league loss in falling to 4-1.
The game wound up going to an extra session after a wild sequence of events late in the fourth quarter.
With SDSU holding a 14-7 lead, USD moved into the red zone for the first time since the opening stanza, reaching the Jackrabbit 10-yard line after a 12-yard run by Travis Theis that came on the heels of having an apparent touchdown called back by an illegal shift penalty. On the next play, however, Theis attempted a halfback pass that was intercepted by SDSU linebacker Graham Spalding and returned to the Jackrabbit 19 with 4 minutes and 23 seconds remaining in regulation..
The Jackrabbits’ momentum was short-lived, however, as on the first play of the ensuing drive, USD safety Dennis Shorter knocked the ball loose from SDSU running back Angel Johnson and defensive end Mi’Quise Grace scooped up the loose ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good, tying the game at 14-all.
SDSU went three-and-out on its next possession, giving the ball back to the Coyotes at its own 5 with under three minutes to play after a 50-yard punt by Hunter Dustman. Two pass interference penalties along with Thies runs of 10 and 15 yards allowed USD to move into scoring territory. However, Will Leyland’s 46-yard field goal attempt into a stiff southerly breeze with 26 seconds left on the clock sailed wide left, sending the game to overtime.
The Jackrabbits won the overtime toss and elected to go on defense first. USD mustered only two yards on its first play, which was followed by a pair of incomplete passes. This time, Leyland connected from 40 yards with the wind at his back to give the Coyotes a momentary 17-14 lead.
In its overtime possession, SDSU faced fourth-and-1 from the 16 and, after the previous play was reviewed, the Jackrabbits decided to put the offense back on the field after initially opting to go for the game-tying field goal. Quarterback Mark Gronowski plunged forward for 2 yards, then connected on pass plays of 6 and 5 yards to Griffin Wilde and Grahm Goering, respectively, for first and goal at the 3. Two plays later, Amar Johnson plunged in for his second touchdown of the game and the game-winning score.
Both teams scored on their first drive of the game. The Coyotes marched 65 yards on the 10 plays with Theis scoring from a yard out before SDSU countered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive.Gronowski threw for 46 yards and gained 25 more on the ground, including the final yard for a touchdown.
SDSU grabbed a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard run by Amar Johnson as the Jackrabbits cashed in on a shorter field after taking over at the USD 46 after one of seven Coyote punts on the eveing.
The Jackrabbits finished with a 329-275 edge in total offensive, including a 166-82 advantage in total rushing yards. Angel Johnson was the top rusher with 81 yards on 14 carries, while Gronowski carried 15 times for 54 yards and completed 20-of-27 passes for 163 yards.
Goering led the SDSU receiving corps with six catches for 46 yards and Wilde tallied five catches for 61 yards.
USD quarterback Aidan Bouman ended the night 20-of-32 passing for 163 yards, with Carter Bell catching five passes for 53 yards. Theis paced the rushing attack with 78 yards on 15 carries.
Adam Bock registered a team-high tackles for the Jackrabbits, followed by seven stops each by Caleb Francl and Colby Huerter.
Shorter notched a game-high 12 tackles and broke up two passes while Gary Bryant III added 11 tackles.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits close out their two-game homestand with a Nov. 2 matchup against Murray State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
NOTES
- SDSU leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1889, 58-52-7
- The Jackrabbits have won 10 of the 12 meetings in the Division I era
- SDSU improved to 6-6 in overtime games, including a 3-1 record on its current home field
- Gronowski’s rushing touchdown was the 31st of his career, putting him in sole possession of eighth place on the SDSU career charts as he broke a tie with Scott Nedved (30 TDs from 1998-2002)
- Goering’s six receptions were a career high
- Bock notched double figures in tackles for the 16th time in his career and he also moved into fourth place on the SDSU all-time charts with 402, passing J.D. Alexander (393 tackles from 1971-74)
- Attendance was 19,351, making it the fifth-largest crowd in stadium history