South Dakota State, Montana Renew Rivalry in FCS Title Game

South Dakota State will attempt to repeat as the Football Championship Subdivision national champion and complete a perfect season when it takes on Montana Sunday afternoon in Frisco, Texas.

Kickoff before a national television audience on ABC is set for 1 p.m. Central at Toyota Stadium.

The top-seeded Jackrabbits bring a 14-0 record and an overall winning streak of 28 games into their third title-game appearance — all of which have been over the last four seasons. SDSU outscored its first three 2023 playoff opponents by a combined 123-12 with a pair of shutouts in posting wins over Mercer (41-0), Villanova (23-12) and UAlbany (59-0).

Montana, which is seeded second, holds a 13-1 overall record. The Grizzlies have won 10 games in a row, including consecutive overtime victories over Furman and North Dakota State to advance to their eighth championship game in program history. Montana won national titles in 1995 and 2001, and was runner-up on five occasions (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009).

THE SERIES: The FCS national championship game will mark the ninth all-time meeting between South Dakota State and Montana on the gridiron.

Montana holds a perfect 8-0 mark in the series, which includes a 2-0 record in the postseason. Seven of the eight previous matchups were played in Missoula, including first-round playoff games in 2009 and 2015.

The 2009 opening-round playoff game, played Nov. 28, 2009, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula featured an epic second-half comeback by Montana. SDSU led 48-21 with five and a half minutes to play in the third quarter, but the tide began to turn on the ensuing kickoff as Marc Mariani went 98 yards for a touchdown. He then brought the Griz to within 48-34 with a 15-yard TD catch on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Mariani’s third touchdown of the game — a 4-yard reception from Andrew Selle with 1:08 remaining in regulation — gave Montana its first lead of the game at 55-48. The Grizzlies capped the comeback with an interception return for touchdown moments later to pull out a 61-48 victory.

The 2015 playoff matchup is the last meeting between the two programs and was played six years to the day from their first postseason meeting. This time it was Montana that led early, building a 24-0 halftime advantage.

SDSU staged a second-half comeback, pulling to within 24-17 with 4:44 to play on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Taryn Christion to Dallas Goedert. However, the Grizzlies were able to run out the clock and secure the first-round victory.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: South Dakota State is making its 14th postseason appearance in its football history, with 13 of those berths coming as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision. SDSU’s lone appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs came in 1979, when the Jacks dropped a 50-7 decision at Youngstown State.

The Jackrabbits have compiled a 21-12 record in the playoffs and are making their 12^th consecutive appearance in the FCS playoffs, including advancing to the semifinal round for the fourth season in a row and sixth time in the last seven seasons. SDSU made its first appearance in a national title game during the 2020-21 spring season, falling to Sam Houston, 23-21, then claimed its first-ever national championship in football with a 45-21 victory over North Dakota State this past January.

SDSU has earned the top seed for the second year in a row and third time in four seasons. In all seasons the Jackrabbits have been the top seed they have advanced to the FCS national title game.

SWEET 16 IN THE MVFC: The 2023 season marked South Dakota State’s 16th as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since joining the league in 2008, SDSU is the only program in that span to not have a losing season in conference play.

The Jackrabbits hold a 92-34 record (.730 winning percentage) in MVFC games and have won six or more league games eight times. SDSU has now claimed the league title four times: previously earning a share of league titles in 2016 and during the 2020-21 spring season before running the table with an 8-0 record in conference play en route to outright conference championships in both 2022 and 2023.

YEAR 20 IN FCS: The 2023 season marks the 20th season South Dakota State has competed in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Since joining the Division I ranks in 2004, the Jackrabbits have compiled a 170-79 record (.683 winning percentage).

ELITE COMPANY: Heading into the 2023 postseason, South Dakota State was one of only two Football Championship Subdivision programs to reach the playoffs each of the last 12 seasons, including advancing to the national semifinals or championship game in six of the last seven seasons. The Jackrabbits secured the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s automatic bid to the 2023 playoffs, assuring SDSU of its 12th consecutive postseason appearance and 13th overall at the FCS level.

MVFC rival North Dakota State holds the longest active streak with 14 consecutive trips to the playoffs after gaining an at-large berth to the 2023 tournament.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: South Dakota State was selected as the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week after its 37-3 victory at No. 4/9 South Dakota on Oct. 28. The Jackrabbits’ 34-point margin of victory was the largest in the series by either program since 1963.

WINNING STREAKS CONTINUE: South Dakota State extended several winning streaks with its 59-0 shutout over UAlbany in semifinal playoff action Dec. 15.

First, the Jackrabbits extended their overall winning streak to 28 games dating back to the 2022 season opener. SDSU has won 18 games against ranked opponents in that span, including three victories over North Dakota State and two each against North Dakota and Montana State.

SDSU also lengthened its current winning streak in home games to 21.

The Jackrabbits’ 28-game winning streak is now the third-longest in the history of the Football Championship Subdivision, which dates back to 1978. The FCS winning streaks of 20 or more games are:

• 39 games – North Dakota State (2017-20)
• 33 – North Dakota State (2012-14)
• 28 – South Dakota State (2022-present)
• 26 – James Madison (2016-17)
• 24 – Pennsylvania (1992-95); Montana (2001-02)
• 22 – Harvard (2013-15); Sam Houston (2019-21)
• 21 – Montana (1995-96); Colgate (2002-03)
• 20 – Holy Cross (1990-92); Dayton (1996-97)

RANKINGS STREAK: By being ranked first in the Stats Perform FCS preseason poll and again in all 12 polls conducted through the end of 2023 regular season, SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 158 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012.

The Jackrabbits have held the top spot in the poll for more than a year — taking over the top spot on Oct. 17, 2022, and keeping that ranking for the final seven surveys of the 2022 season. SDSU was a unanimous No. 1 selection to start the 2023 season to hold the top ranking in a preseason poll for the first time in program history.

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team are six captains:

• Adam Bock, Sr., linebacker, Solon, Iowa;
• Isaiah Davis, Sr., running back, Joplin, Missouri;
• DyShawn Gales, Sr., cornerback, North Chicago, Illinois;
• Garret Greenfield, Sr., offensive lineman, Rock Valley, Iowa;
• Mark Gronowski, Jr., quarterback, Naperville, Illinois;
• Mason McCormick, Sr., offensive lineman, Sioux Falls.

McCormick is in his third season as a team captain, while Bock, Greenfield and Gronowski are in their second seasons in the role. Davis and Gales are first-time captains.

ALL-AMERICANS: A number of South Dakota State players have been named to various Football Championship Subdivision All-America teams during the 2023 season, including four who earned first-team honors from the Associated Press in mid-December. Co-Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Players of the Year Mark Gronowski and Isaiah Davis were joined by offensive linemen and repeat selections Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick.

A junior quarterback from Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski has been the top-rated passer in the Football Championship Subdivision with a 182.72 efficiency mark through 14 games. He has completed 196-of-286 passes — 68.5 percent — for 2,833 yards with 28 touchdowns against only four interceptions. On the ground, Gronowski has added another 349 yards and seven touchdowns.

Davis, a senior running back from Joplin, Missouri, tallied 1,075 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season and has added another 416 yards and six touchdowns in three playoff games. He also has caught 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 campaign.

With McCormick at guard and Greenfield at tackle, the duo have manned the left side of the line for an SDSU offensive unit averaging 38.4 points and 456.1 yards per game. The Jackrabbits lead the FCS ranks in both third-down (.548) and fourth-down (.818) conversion percentage, as well as red-zone offense by scoring on 52-of-54 possessions (.963) inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

PAYTON FINALIST: South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski is one of three players invited to the announcement of the 2023 Walter Payton Award, which honors the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football and is presented by FedEx Ground.

Quarterback Max Brosmer of New Hampshire and running back Jaden Shirden of Monmouth were also invited to attend the award presentation, which will be part of the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.

The trio of standout players were among 30 finalists for the 37th annual Payton Award, which is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. The winner is selected by a national voting panel and is based on regular season play.

Gronowski, from Naperville, Illinois, has helped SDSU maintain the No. 1 ranking following its 2022 national championship season, and was the co-offensive player of the year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. While leading the FCS in pass efficiency (184.1) during the regular season, the 6-3, 225-pound junior passed for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns against three interceptions, rushing for seven more scores.

A three-year starter, Gronowski has led the defending national champion Jackrabbits to a combined 36-3 record.

South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis finished seventh in the balloting for the Walter Payton Award after receiving six first-place votes.

ROBINSON AWARD WINNER: South Dakota State head coach Jimmy Rogers was named Dec. 7 as the 2023 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS national coach of the year and is presented by FedEx Ground.

Now in its 37th season, the award is named for legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. Rogers, who was one of 20 finalists, will be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.

As of Oct. 21, South Dakota State was the only FCS team out of 128 overall without a loss, and it hasn’t changed since then. The Jackrabbits swept their way to a second straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title, and their schedule didn’t even include the three lowest finishers in the 12-team standings. Add in a victory over non-conference power Montana State and Rogers’ squad defeated six Top 25 teams – two more than any other FCS team – while going 11-0 in regular season play.

South Dakota State has added three more Top 25 wins by shutting out Mercer 41-0 in the second round of the playoffs, followed by a 23-12 quarterfinal win over Villanova and a 59-0 drubbing of UAlbany in the semifinals. The latest Jackrabbit victory was their 28th straight triumph since last season, making it the third-longest winning streak in FCS history.

Rogers was a linebacker and team captain on SDSU’s first FCS playoff qualifier in 2009 as well as a 10-year assistant coach in the program and the defensive coordinator of the 2022 national championship team. He was elevated to head coach after his mentor John Stiegelmeier’s retirement last January. Stiegelmeier was the 2022 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, making this the second year in a row a Jackrabbit head coach has been chosen for the honor.

In Rogers’ first season guiding the program, South Dakota State is the only team to rank in the top 10 of the FCS in average points and yards gained per game and fewest points and yards allowed per game.

MODELS OF EFFICIENCY: South Dakota State has made 54 trips into the red zone so far this season and has come away with points 52 of those times for an FCS-best 96 percent efficiency rate. The Jacks have scored a touchdown on 43 of those trips — 28 rushing, 15 passing — with nine field goals.

SDSU is 10-for-11 in red-zone trips during the postseason, scoring seven touchdowns with three field goals. The Jackrabbits’ lone red-zone trip in which they did not score ended with a kneel-down to run out the clock against Villanova.

The Jacks had a streak over two seasons of scoring on 70 consecutive drives into the red zone come to end with an interception in the end zone early in the fourth quarter Oct. 21 at Southern Illinois. Before that, the last time SDSU did not score when inside the opponent’s 20-yard line was on a missed field goal in the second quarter of their Oct. 1, 2022, game versus Western Illinois. SDSU had scored 57 touchdowns and kicked 13 field goals in that span.

In addition, the Jackrabbits continue to lead the FCS ranks in both third-down and fourth-down conversions on offense. SDSU has converted on an FCS-best 54.8 percent (80-of-146) of its third-down attempts, highlighted by a 9-for-14 performance in the opening round of the playoffs against Mercer.

SDSU finished above 50 percent in the first six games of the season before being limited to a 4-for-12 performance Oct. 21 at Southern Illinois.

On fourth down, the Jackrabbits have converted 9-of-11 times for 82 percent, including making good on their lone attempt in the Dec. 9 playoff matchup against Villanova.

DEFENSE TRENDING UPWARD: Since the calendar flipped — first to October, then to November and finally to December — the SDSU defense has improved dramatically in both the number of turnovers forced and sacks.

Over the past 10 games, the Jackrabbits have combined to force 22 turnovers — eight fumbles and 14 interceptions — and have tallied 22 sacks. SDSU posted four sacks against both Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois, while forcing a season-best five turnovers versus UNI.

The Jackrabbits’ eight fumble recoveries over the past 10 games matches their season total from a year ago of eight in 15 contests.

Fourteen different players have registered at least a half-sack since the start of October. Quinton Hicks leads the Jackrabbits in the sack category during postseason play with 2.5.

BLOCK THAT KICK: South Dakota State entered its Nov. 4 matchup with North Dakota State without a blocked kick this season. That quickly changed when the Jackrabbits blocked a pair of kicks against their rivals to the north.

Ryan Van Marel came up with the first block as he got a hand on an extra-point attempt following the Bison scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Jarod DePriest did the honors for the second time in the game as he blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter after the Bison moved into scoring position with a 77-yard kickoff return.

Van Marel notched his second blocked kick in as many weeks as thwarted a 29-yard field goal attempt by Youngstown State in the second quarter of their Nov. 11 matchup. Van Marel’s block helped the Jackrabbits preserve a 34-0 shutout victory.

Meanwhile, Matthew Durrance recorded SDSU’s first blocked punt of the season in the Dec. 9 playoff win over Villanova. Not only did Durrance block the punt, but the ball bounced into his arms and he returned it 45 yards for a touchdown that gave the Jackrabbits a much-needed momentum boost and the lead for good at 10-6 with 4:23 to play in the second quarter.

PICKING OFF THE COMPETITION: The Jackrabbit defense has continually taken the ball away from the opposition in recent seasons, including leading the Football Championship Subdivision in interceptions each of the last two seasons.

After leading the subdivision with 21 interceptions in 2021, SDSU tallied an FCS-best 18 interceptions last season, including two in the 2022 national championship game against North Dakota State. Jackrabbit defenders recorded at least one interception in each of their 11 regular season games, continuing that streak with an interception by DyShawn Gales in the Nov. 12 regular season finale against Illinois State. Gales went on to finish with a team-high four interceptions en route to all-MVFC honors.

The Jackrabbits also ranked sixth in turnover margin with an average of plus-1.07 turnovers per game after forcing 26 total turnovers compared to losing 10. SDSU held a 115-16 advantage in points off turnovers last season.

Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, the Jackrabbits have intercepted at least one pass in 64 of their last 80 games for a total of 106 pickoffs. SDSU tallied three interceptions in its 2023 season opener against Western Oregon (Colby Huerter, Tucker Large, Kolten Tilford) and again in the Dec. 15 semifinal playoff game versus UAlbany (Large, DyShawn Gales, Dalys Beanum). The Jackrabbits added two interceptions Oct. 14 versus Northern Iowa (Jason Freeman, Gales), Oct. 28 at South Dakota (Large, Isaiah Stalbird) and Nov. 4 versus North Dakota State (Graham Spalding, Jason Freeman).

Cornerback Dalys Beanum recorded an interception in each of SDSU’s first three playoff games. Six of Beanum’s 10 career interceptions have come in the postseason.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: South Dakota State raced out to a 28-0 lead a minute into the second quarter of its Aug. 31 season opener against Western Oregon thanks to a pair of long interception returns for touchdowns by its starting safeties.

First, Colby Huerter hauled in an interception off a deflection by DyShawn Gales for a 54-yard return for touchdown. On the first play of the second quarter, Tucker Large picked off a pass deep over the middle and weaved his way through traffic for a 64-yard score.

It marked the fifth time in the Division I era of Jackrabbit football (since 2004) that SDSU returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. The others:

• Sept. 29, 2007 vs. Stephen F. Austin – Jimmy Rogers (32 yards, Q2), Conrad Kjerstad (82 yards, Q4);
• Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Southern Utah — Tyler Koch (45 and 99 yards in Q4);
• Oct. 1, 2016 vs. Western Illinois – Christian Rozeboom (37 yards, Q3), Dallas Brown (19 yards, Q3);
• Nov. 27, 2021 vs. UC Davis — Adam Bock (39 yards, Q3), Dalys Beanum (59 yards, Q4).

SDSU scored two return touchdowns in the Dec. 15 semifinal victory against UAlbany when Tucker Large returned a punt 79 yards to the end zone midway through the second quarter and Jason Freeman scooped up a fumble on the second play of the second half and returned it 34 yards to push the Jackrabbit lead to 42-0.

GROUND GAME SHINES: South Dakota State’s rushing attack was on full display over a three-game span as the Jacks combined for 999 yards on the ground.

That total surpassed the previous three-game high of 964 yards over the final two games of the 2018 regular season — 315 yards at Southern Illinois and 323 yards vs. South Dakota — and the first game of the FCS playoffs vs. Duquesne (326 yards).

SDSU’s rushing onslaught began with a 359-yard performance against Drake at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sept. 16. The Jackrabbits gained 266 yards on the ground in their Sept. 30 league opener against North Dakota, followed by racking up 374 yards Oct. 7 at Illinois State.

Isaiah Davis led the Jackrabbit rushing attack with 406 yards on 44 carries (9.2 ypc) over those three games with five touchdowns. Amar Johnson added 225 yards on 36 attempts (6.3 ypc) and a score, while Angel Johnson contributed 179 yards on only 11 carries (16.3 ypc) with three touchdowns.

Since moving to the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008, the Jackrabbits are a perfect 21-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards in a game, most recently reaching the milestone with a 346-yard performance Dec. 2 against Mercer.

BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM: Heading into this week’s finale, the Jackrabbits rank in the top three of the Football Championship Subdivision in both scoring offense (third, 38.4 points per game) and scoring defense (first, 9.7 points per game). SDSU has scored 20 or more points in 27 of the 28 games in their current winning streak and has held the opposition to 10 points or less 12 times, including eight times this season.

The Jackrabbits have pitched a shutout in three of their last five games — a 34-0
victory at Youngstown State on Nov. 11, a 41-0 whitewashing of Mercer on Dec. 2 and blanking UAlbany, 59-0, on Dec. 15.

SDSU’s shutout of Mercer marked the Jackrabbits’ first in postseason play.

OWNING THE THIRD: South Dakota State has held a huge advantage coming out of the locker room at halftime by outscoring the opposition by a 107-14 margin in the third quarter of games so far this season. The only points allowed by SDSU coming out of the locker room to start the second half were touchdowns by Illinois State (Oct. 7) and Missouri State (Nov. 18).

SDSU added to that margin Dec. 15 by outscoring UAlbany, 7-0, in the third stanza.

SPOTTING THE LEAD: Scoring first has mattered little during South Dakota State’s school-record 28-game winning streak. Jackrabbit opponents have drawn first blood 10 times in that span, including four games (Montana State, Drake, South Dakota, North Dakota State) this season.

The largest deficit faced by SDSU during its winning streak has been 14 points on two occasions, the last of which came against North Dakota in the squads’ 2022 meeting in Grand Forks. UND scored the first 14 points of the game before the Jackrabbits took control by scoring 42 of the next 49 points en route to a 49-35 win.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: South Dakota State put up its most points and total yards in a game since the 2018 season in its Target Field victory over Drake. The Jacks’ 70 points were the most since scoring a school-record 90 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 15, 2018.

SDSU also racked up 618 yards of total offense against Drake for its highest total since a 656-yard day at Southern Illinois on Nov. 10, 2018.

In addition, the Jackrabbits accumulated another 252 yards on returns versus Drake — a school-record 179 yards on six punt returns and 73 yards on two kickoff returns.

SHARING THE WEALTH: Nine different South Dakota State players scored touchdowns in the Jackrabbits’ 70-7 victory over Drake on Sept. 16 at Target Field in Minneapolis. Angel Johnson was the lone Jackrabbit to score more than once as he found the end zone on runs of 21 and 66 yards in the second half.

Backup quarterback Chase Mason tallied the longest touchdown of the game with a 69-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, while Kevin Brenner — previously a defensive end for the Jackrabbits — scored his first career touchdown on his first collegiate reception, a 3-yarder late in the first quarter.

GRONOWSKI A DUAL THREAT: South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski reached one career milestone in the Jackrabbits’ Sept. 9 victory over Montana State and added another the following week against Drake.

On his 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the game against Montana State, Gronowski topped the 1,000-yard mark for career rushing. One week later, Gronowski surpassed 5,000 career passing yards as he completed 18-of-25 passes for 226 yards and a career-high five touchdowns against Drake.

Gronowski is the third SDSU quarterback to top 5,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in his career, joining Taryn Christion (11,535 passing/1,515 rushing from 2015-18) and Ted Wahl (6,016 passing/1,229 rushing from 1985-88). Gronowski ranks third in SDSU history with 7,415 passing yards and 8,749 yards of total offense.

He had a streak of passing and rushing for a touchdown in 11 consecutive games come to an end Oct. 21 at Southern Illinois, but has accomplished the feat in 21 of 39 career starts. The Jackrabbits have a 36-3 record in Gronowski’s 39 career starts, including a 10-1 mark in FCS playoff games.

A WINNING COMBINATION: Jackrabbit running back Isaiah Davis recorded his eight 100-yard game of the 2023 season and the 24th of his career when he gained 107 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns Dec. 15 against UAlbany.

SDSU improved to 23-1 in games in which Davis has topped the century mark, with the lone loss coming in the 2020-21 national championship game versus Sam Houston. Twelve of his 100-yard games have come in FCS playoff games, including seven in a row.

Davis reached a pair of milestones in the Nov. 18 victory over Missouri State. The Joplin, Missouri, native topped the 1,000-yard mark in a season for the second consecutive year, ending the day with 1,075 yards. Davis gained a team-best 1,451 yards in the Jackrabbits’ national championship season in 2022.

In addition, Davis became the fifth SDSU player to rush for 4,000 or more yards in a career, crossing that threshold with 4,045 yards entering postseason play.

SCORING BINGE: South Dakota State senior wide receiver Jadon Janke has made up for some lost time in recent weeks with a total of 10 touchdowns over the last 10 games.

After being slowed by injury during the non-conference portion of the schedule, Janke has caught two touchdown passes three times since the start of October in games at Illinois State, versus North Dakota State and at Youngstown State. He also caught touchdown passes in the Oct. 14 Hobo Day game against Northern Iowa and Nov. 18 victory over Missouri State, while running for a score Oct. 28 at South Dakota.

Janke currently leads the team with nine TD receptions after scoring on a 36-yard pass play late in the first half Dec. 15 against UAlbany as part of a six-catch, 151-yard performance. He previously set single-game career highs with 10 receptions and 187 receiving yards Nov. 18 versus Missouri State.

His recent scoring prowess has allowed him to tie his twin brother, Jaxon, for third place on the SDSU career TD catches chart with 29. Jadon Janke’s 187 receiving yards against Missouri State tied for the 10th most by a Jackrabbit in a game.

WILDE IMPRESSES IN DEBUT: True freshman Griffin Wilde (pronounced WILL-dee) finished as the Jackrabbits’ leading receiver in their Aug. 31 season opener versus Western Oregon. He opened the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown reception from Mark Gronowski and ended his collegiate debut with team bests of four catches and 79 receiving yards. A Sioux Falls native, Wilde added a second 31-yard reception in the second half to set up a Jackrabbit field goal.

Wilde continued his fast start to his collegiate career by being named Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week for his efforts in the Jackrabbits’ victory over Montana State on Sept. 9. He scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 35-yard catch and run with 1 minute and 30 seconds remaining as SDSU rallied for a 20-16 victory. He ended the night with two catches for 49 yards.

In the Sept. 16 victory over Drake, Wilde caught a touchdown for the third straight game to start his career, hauling in an 18-yarder in the second quarter.

Wilde, who was SDSU’s lone representative on the 2023 MVFC All-Newcomer Team, currently ranks fifth on the team with 20 receptions, while ranking third on the team with six touchdown catches. He also ranks third on the team with 399 yards receiving, highlighted by a career-long 71-yard touchdown Dec. 15 vs. UAlbany.

DEPTH ON DEFENSE: Whether based on philosophy or necessity, South Dakota State has built its standing as one of the top defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision by relying on its depth. Over the course of its 15-game schedule in 2022 22 different players earned a starting assignment on defense for the Jackrabbits.

Only nose tackle Ryan Van Marel and defensive end Cade Terveer started every game last season on the defensive side of the ball for the Jackrabbits last season and both return to the lineup in 2023.

EMPTYING THE BENCH: The Jackrabbits dipped deep into their list of reserves during the Aug. 31 season opener versus Western Oregon as a total of 76 players saw action in the contest. Offensively, eight Jackrabbits recorded a rushing attempt and eight players caught a pass. On the defensive side of the ball, 23 different players were credited with at least one tackle.

In the FCS semifinal win over UAlbany, 28 different players registered a tackle.

BOCK IS BACK: South Dakota State All-America linebacker Adam Bock has been limited to nine games so far this season, but has made starts each of the last seven games.

After missing the first three games of the season due to injury, the senior from Solon, Iowa, made his season debut in the MVFC opener against North Dakota on Sept. 30 and registered a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and the team’s first sack of the season.

However, Bock was again held out of the lineup in games against Illinois State and Northern Iowa before coming off the bench to record two tackles Oct. 21 at Southern Illinois.

Bock recorded double figures in tackles for the 13th time in his career with a team-high 11 as the Jacks defeated Villanova on Dec. 9. Earlier this season, Bock became the 12th player in program history to reach the 300-tackle benchmark. He currently ranks sixth in program history with 333 career stops.

WILLIAMSON STEPS UP: With All-American Adam Bock sidelined by injury to start the season, Saiveon Williamson filled the role of middle linebacker without any dropoff in production.

A senior from Waseca, Minnesota, Williamson led the Jackrabbits during the non-conference portion of the schedule with 23 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup over three games. He currently ranks third on the team with 58 tackles after tying his career high with 11 stops Oct. 7 at Illinois State.

Williamson, who also reached double figures in tackles with 10 against Montana State on Sept. 9, first spelled an injured Bock the second half of the conference season and into the playoffs during the 2022 campaign. He finished with 37 tackles to tie for seventh on the squad, including a career-high 11 stops against Delaware in the Jacks’ playoff opener, followed by nine tackles the next week against Holy Cross.

DOUBLE-DUTY DUSTMAN: Junior Hunter Dustman has figured prominently in the Jackrabbits’ special teams efforts the past two seasons.

Dustman handled all of the kicking duties in the 2022 season opener at Iowa, punting 11 times for an average of 41.5 yards (long of 52) and scoring the Jackrabbits’ only points on a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. Dustman’s 11 punts marked the most by an SDSU player in the Division I era (since 2004).

During the 2022 season, Dustman averaged 42.6 yards per punt and was 18-for-25 on field goals. He made 13 of his last 14 field goal attempts en route to 113 points.

Dustman has strung together a series of strong performances in recent weeks, earning back-to-back MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, receiving the award for the third and fourth times in his career.

At Southern Illinois on Oct. 21, he punted four times for an average of 54.2 yards that included a 59-yard boot on his first attempt and a career-long 62-yarder later in the game. He also connected on a 44-yard field goal that gave SDSU a 17-7 lead in the fourth quarter, capping a 15-play, 60-yard drive that consumed more than nine minutes.

Dustman booted three field goals, including a career-long 49-yarder, in the Oct. 28 win at South Dakota, then kicked a career-high four field goals Nov. 4 versus North Dakota State. His recent spree of field goals, including his most recent 27-yarder Dec. 15 against UAlbany, has upped his career total to 36, putting him in a tie for fourth place in SDSU history with Brett Gorden (36 field goals from 1995-98).

In addition, Dustman averaged 44.6 yards on his 16 punts in league play this season.

SEEING DOUBLE: The 2023 edition of the South Dakota State football team features two sets of twin brothers.

Returning for their senior seasons are wide receivers and Madison natives Jadon and Jaxon Janke. Jaxon Janke has been the team’s leading receiver each of the past three seasons to move into Jackrabbit career top 10s for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, while Jadon Janke also began the 2023 season in the SDSU top 10 for receiving touchdowns.

Another pair of twins with South Dakota roots are junior linebackers Aaron and Adam Kusler. Aaron played in nine games last season, while Adam has contributed mostly on special teams and saw action in 14 of the team’s 15 games in 2022.

TWIN TOUCHDOWNS: Twin brothers Jadon and Jaxon Janke caught respective touchdown passes of 31 and 60 yards as part of a 20-point first quarter by SDSU Oct. 7 at Illinois State. It marked the eighth time in their careers the dynamic duo from Madison caught TD passes in the same game and the second time they accomplished the feat in the same quarter.

Jadon Janke added a second touchdown catch in the second quarter against Illinois State, covering 22 yards.

Following are the games in which both Jankes have caught touchdown passes:

• April 24, 2021, vs. Holy Cross — Jadon (13/45 yards in Q2/3), Jaxon (11 yards in Q1);
• Sept. 25, 2021, at Indiana State — Jadon (33 yards in Q1), Jaxon (42 yards in Q2);
• Oct. 16, 2021, at Western Illinois — Jadon (8 yards in Q1, Jaxon (21 yards in Q3);
• Nov. 20, 2021, vs. North Dakota — Jadon (17 yards in Q2), Jaxon (21 yards in Q3);
• Sept. 17, 2022, vs. Butler — Jadon (17 yards in Q2), Jaxon (7 yards in Q1);
• Sept. 24, 2022, at Missouri State — Jadon (3/40 yards in Q1/4), Jaxon (13 yards in Q3);
• Dec. 10, 2022, vs. Holy Cross — Jadon (21 yards in Q4), Jaxon (18 yards in Q4);
• Oct. 7, 2021, at Illinois State – Jadon (31/22 yards in Q1/2), Jaxon (60 yards in Q1).

THE 12TH MAN: South Dakota State benefited from large crowds throughout the 2023 regular season, averaging 18,208 fans after coming off a national championship.

The Jackrabbits drew their first of four sellout crowds this season when 19,332 fans came out for the Sept. 9 showdown against Montana State, which at the time tied for the second-largest attendance in the seven-year history of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The crowd played a big role in the game, helping factor in nine false-start penalties by Montana State in the game, including six in the final quarter.

The Nov. 4 Dakota Marker game against North Dakota State, which was a rematch from this past January’s FCS national championship game, drew a stadium-record 19,431 fans.

Two other crowds this season have reached sellout status, with 19,357 fans clicking through the turnstiles for the Oct. 14 Hobo Day game versus Northern Iowa and a total of 19,231 fans in attendance for the Sept. 30 league opener with North Dakota.

SDSU also set program playoff attendance records in all three postseason games the Jackrabbits hosted, highlighted by a crowd of 12,265 for the semifinal game against UAlbany.

ACADEMIC HONORS: Seven South Dakota State student-athletes were honored Dec. 5 as members of the 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Scholar Team. The Jackrabbits’ seven selections tied with North Dakota State and Western Illinois for the most in the 12-team league and were highlighted by repeat first-team honorees Adam Bock and Mark Gronowski.

Bock, a senior linebacker from Solon, Iowa, was honored on the first team for the third consecutive year after compiling a 3.84 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in mechanical engineering. Bock was limited by injuries to only six games during the regular season, but still finished sixth on the team with 35 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

Gronowski, a junior quarterback from Naperville, Illinois, has compiled a 3.71 GPA as a mechanical engineering major to earn his second consecutive selection to the honor squad. A two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and a top-three finalist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, Gronowski ended the regular season leading the Football Championship Subdivision in passing efficiency (184.08) while throwing for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He passed and rushed for touchdowns seven times in 11 regular season contests.

Four Jackrabbits received second-team recognition, including repeat selection Jaxon Janke. A senior wide receiver from Madison, Janke tallied a 3.54 GPA as a general studies major. He closed out the regular season ranked second on the squad with 36 receptions and 602 receiving yards to go along with three touchdowns.

Also earning second-team honors were senior defensive end Caden Johnson, senior safety Cale Reeder and senior defensive tackle Ryan Van Marel.

Johnson, a native of Wahoo, Nebraska, turned in a 3.82 GPA while majoring in human biology and pre-medicine. He has been a part of the regular rotation at defensive end and was credited with 16 total tackles during the regular season, including three tackles for loss and a half-sack.

Reeder, from Yorkville, Illinois, posted a 3.66 GPA as a human biology/pre-medicine major. A three-year starter at safety, he completed the 2023 regular season with 47 tackles to rank fourth on a Jackrabbit team that leads the Football Championship Subdivision in both scoring defense and total defense.

Van Marel, originally from Sheldon, Iowa, checked in with a 3.61 undergraduate GPA in mechanical engineering and 3.85 GPA as a graduate student. On the field, Van Marel has been a two-year starter who contributed 17 total tackles, including five TFLs and two sacks in 2023, along with a pair of blocked kicks.

Completing the list of Jackrabbit academic award winners was honorable mention selection DyShawn Gales. A senior from North Chicago, Illinois, Gales has majored in physical education/ teacher education with a 3.58 GPA. He ranked seventh on the team this fall with 32 tackles in regular season action and also contributed an interception and three pass breakups from his cornerback position.

Selections to the 2023 MVFC Scholar-Athlete Team were determined by a vote conducted among the league’s sports information directors. Nominees must be starters or important reserves; must have participated in at least 50 percent of his team’s games and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale). Nominees in graduate school must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better both as an undergrad and in graduate school. Additionally, nominees must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution and must have completed at least one calendar year at their institution (graduate transfers excluded).

AFCA HONORS ASSISTANTS: South Dakota State coordinators Zach Lujan and Jesse Bobbit have been selected by the American Football Coaches Association for its 2024 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year’s class was chosen from a field of more than 175 highly qualified applicants from all levels of amateur football.

Lujan has served as the offensive coordinator at SDSU the past two seasons and has been a member of the Jackrabbits’ coaching staff for six seasons, serving as running backs coach in 2018 and mentoring the quarterbacks since 2019. SDSU averaged 34.2 points and 384.6 yards of total offense per game en route to the program’s first national title in 2022, and has exceeded those totals thus far in 2023 with averages of 38.4 points and 456.1 yards per game.

The Jackrabbits lead the Football Championship Subdivision in a number of offensive categories this season, including team passing efficieny (176.63), third-down conversion percentage (.548) and red-zone offense (.963). SDSU’s scoring and yardage totals rank third and sixth, respectively.

Bobbit is in his first season as the Jackrabbits’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after returning to SDSU in 2022 to coach the team’s safeties. His defensive unit leads the FCS ranks in both scoring defense (9.7 points per game) and total defense (257.1 yards per game) as the Jackrabbits bring a 28-game winning streak into this week’s FCS championship matchup against Montana.

Both Lujan (2014-16) and Bobbit (2013-16) are former Jackrabbit players who played key roles on SDSU teams that were part of the program’s current streak of 12 consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs.

The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.

STAFF SHAKEUP: Besides a change at the top, several new assistant coaches donned the headsets for the first time as Jackrabbits during the Aug. 31 season opener against Western Oregon.

New coaches on the offensive side of the ball include Jake Menage (wide receivers) and Robbie Rouse (running backs). Additions to the defensive staff include Mike Banks (cornerbacks), Jalon Bibbs (defensive line) and Pete Menage (safeties).

Pat Cashmore also is a recent addition to the coaching staff and will direct the special teams units.

Returning for his second season as offensive coordinator is Zach Lujan, with Ryan Olson (run game coordinator/offensive line) and Chris Meyers (tight ends) providing further coaching continuity on the offensive side of the ball.

On defense, Jesse Bobbit is the lone coaching holdover as he moves into the coordinator’s role and also will coach the linebackers after mentoring the safeties in 2022.

Including Jimmy Rogers, five former Jackrabbit football players are full-time coaches at SDSU this season. The others are Bobbit, Lujan and both Menages, who are cousins.

DANA J. DYKHOUSE STADIUM: Jackrabbit football moved into a new home in September of 2016 with the completion of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the site of SDSU’s previous home field, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, seats 19,340 spectators and cost $65 million to build.

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is being funded through private gifts and long-term revenue streams, including concessions and suite, loge box and ticket sales. Bonds are financing nearly two-thirds of the project’s construction, with the remaining dollars coming from private support. Lead gifts totaling $12.5 million from former Jackrabbit football player and Sioux Falls banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford were announced in October 2013.

The stadium officially opened Sept. 8, 2016, featuring a concert by country music stars Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Lee Brice as part of the Jacks Bash opening weekend. The first football game was two days later, on Sept. 10, when the Jackrabbits defeated Drake, 56-28.

SDSU has gone on to post a 53-7 record at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium during its seven seasons of operation, including a 14-1 mark in FCS playoff games. The Jacks’ current home winning streak is 21 games (including playoff games), with their last home loss a 26-17 setback to Northern Iowa on Oct. 23, 2021.

In 2023, the Jackrabbits completed their fourth undefeated season while playing at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, compiling a 9-0 record. SDSU previously posted perfect home records in 2018 (7-0), the 2020-21 spring season (5-0) and 2022 (9-0).

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was designed by Kansas City-based Crawford Architects, with the construction firm JE Dunn serving as the project manager at risk and Henry Carlson Company of Sioux Falls serving as general contractor.

The stadium won the 2017 Alliant Build America Award from the Associated General Contractors of America South Dakota Building Chapter.

JACKS IN THE PROS: In the opening week of the 2023 season, five former South Dakota State standouts were members of National Football League teams, continuing the Jackrabbits’ long tradition of developing players into pro prospects.

Headlining the list is tight end Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles. After being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Goedert has gone on to record 306 receptions for 3,585 yards and 22 touchdowns in six seasons.

In helping lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl during the 2022 season, Goedert caught 55 passes for 703 yards and three touchdowns. Thus far in 2023, Goedert has tallied 58 receptions for 588 yards and three touchdowns. After missing three games due to injury, Goedert has caught 20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown over the last three games.

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom earned a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. A member of the Rams’ practice squad in 2020, Rozeboom made his NFL debut with the Kansas City Chiefs early in 2021 before returning to Los Angeles and seeing action mostly on special teams for the Rams.

After earning a starting spot at linebacker this season, Rozeboom currently ranks fourth on the team with 73 total tackles. He recorded his first career interception in the Rams’ Oct. 15 victory over Arizona.

For the first time since 1976, the Jackrabbits saw two players selected in the same NFL Draft following the 2021 campaign. Running back Pierre Strong was a fourth-round selection by the New England Patriots, while quarterback Chris Oladokun was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Strong went on to gain 100 yards on 10 carries and added seven receptions for 42 yards during his rookie season with the Patriots in 2022. He was traded at the end of the most recent training camp to the Cleveland Browns and has contributed 49 carries for 226 yards and a touchdown, as well as five receptions for 47 yards and 200 yards on eight kickoff returns, in action thus far in 2023.

Oladokun was released by the Steelers, but was assigned to the practice squad of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and again at the start of 2023.

Another former Jackrabbits who made his NFL debut in 2022 was receiver Cade Johnson, who tallied a pair of receptions during regular season play for the Seattle Seahawks before hauling in three receptions for 39 yards in a playoff game. Johnson began the 2023 season on the Seahawks’ practice squad.

Going through his first NFL training camp in 2023 was tight end Tucker Kraft. A third-round draft choice by the Green Bay Packers, Kraft has seen his playing time increase significantly in recent weeks, tallying 28 catches for a total of 324 yards and two touchdowns thus far in his rookie season. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 9-yard catch and run in a Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.

In addition, wide receiver Jake Wieneke continues to play in the Canadian Football League. After three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, Wieneke signed with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders for the 2023 season.

ROGERS SHOW: The Jimmy Rogers Radio Show airs throughout the 2023 season.

The weekly, hour-long show originates in front of a live audience at 6 p.m. Monday at Cubby’s Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Brookings. Hosted by Tyler Merriam, the show airs along the Jackrabbit Sports Network, including flagship station WNAX 570 AM, and can be heard through the Jackrabbit app and online at GoJacks.com.

Weekly segments include interviews with Jackrabbit coaches, student-athletes and others associated with SDSU football. Fans can submit questions through social media platforms and fans in attendance can register for weekly prizes.

A LOOK AHEAD: Sunday’s championship game marks the end of the 2023 season although several Jackrabbit players have been selected to play in collegiate all-star games in January and February.

The 2024 season opener is scheduled for Aug. 31 at Oklahoma State.