JACKS POST BIG ROAD WIN AT MISSOURI STATE

Saturday, September 24

Springfield, Mo.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

3-1 , 1-0

Missouri State

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota St.

Missouri St.

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

9/24/2022 6:09:00 PM | Football

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — South Dakota State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the Jackrabbit defense turned in a strong performance throughout the afternoon to come away with a 28-14 victory over Missouri State in a battle between top-five programs in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Plaster Stadium.

The Jackrabbits, tied for second in the Stats Perform media poll and third in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches' poll, improved to 3-1 overall. Missouri State, tied for fourth in the coaches' poll and sixth in the media poll, dropped to 2-2 on the season.

SDSU broke into the scoring column first, putting together a 10-play, 92-yard drive late in the first quarter that ended on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mark Gronowski to Jadon Janke.

The Jackrabbits couldn't add to their lead in the opening half, however, as they missed three field goals. A 50-yard attempt on the opening drive of the game sailed wide left, while a 35-yard attempt in the second quarter was blocked and a 44-yarder on the final play of the half was also off the mark.

Meanwhile, the Jackrabbit defense harassed Missouri State quarterback and Walter Payton Award candidate Jason Shelley all day. SDSU defenders sacked Shelley three times in the first half and four times in the game, and also intercepted Shelley twice.

Colby Huerter recorded the first SDSU interception on a Shelley pass in the red zone on the Bears' first possession of the second half. The ensuing 70-yard return by Huerter put the ball at the MSU 24 and the Jackrabbits quickly cashed in. Four plays after the turnover, Gronowski found Jaxon Janke over the middle for a 13-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Jackrabbit lead.

Missouri State appeared to wrest the momentum away from the Jackrabbits later in the period as the Bears scored touchdowns on each of their next two possessions. Jacardia Wright finished off a six-play, 71-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run for the first score, then Shelley found Raylen Sharpe deep down the field on the first play of the next drive for a 67-yard touchdown.

As the game flipped to the fourth quarter, SDSU put together two methodical drives to take the victory. Zach Heins scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 21-yard pass down the middle to cap a 10-play, 70-yard march with 7 minutes, 59 seconds remaining in regulation. Heins set career highs with seven catches and 127 yards receiving.

Following MSU's seventh punt of the contest, the Jackrabbits covered 84 yards on seven plays, with Jadon Janke scoring his second touchdown of the game from 40 yards on a catch and run along the left sideline with 2:30 remaining. Jadon Janke finished with 102 yards on a career-high eight catches, while Jaxon Janke added six receptions for 83 yards.

A Matthew Durrance interception of Shelley in the end zone in the final minute secured the victory.

SDSU finished with a 475-258 advantage in total offense. Gronowski established new career highs with 22 completions — in 29 attempts — as well as 319 passing yards and four touchdown passes.

Isaiah Davis led the ground game with 83 yards on 20 carries.

Shelley ended the day 19-of-29 passing for 185 yards, while Wright paced the rushing attack with 63 yards on 13 carries and tallied a team-high five catches for 14 yards.

Adam Bock led SDSU with seven tackles, including a sack. Dillon Thomas recorded a game-high 11 tackles for the Bears.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return home to face Western Illinois on Oct. 1. Kickoff for the Hall of Fame Game and Precision Ag Bowl is set for 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

NOTES

SDSU leads the all-time series, 12-1, and has won the last seven meetings
Saturday's game marked John Stiegelmeier's 300^th game as head coach at South Dakota State (188-112 record in 26 seasons)
The Jackrabbits improved to 47-52 all-time against ranked opponents since moving to the FCS ranks in 2004
SDSU improved to 8-7 in MVFC openers
The Janke twins caught a touchdown pass in the same game for the second game in a row and the sixth time in their careers
Both Jaxon and Jadon Janke ended the day with 17 career touchdown receptions, putting them in a tie with Rusty Lenners (1993-96) for eighth place in program history
Jaxon Janke moved into sole possession of ninth place in career receptions at SDSU with 146, breaking a tie with Aaron Rollin (140 receptions from 2009-12)
Reece Winkelman moved into ninth place in career tackles for loss with the 33^rd TFL of his career
SDSU notched seven tackles for loss in the contest
The interceptions by Huerter and Durrance were each the first of their collegiate careers
The Jackrabbits have intercepted a pass in all four games this season and 45 of their last 55 games dating back to the start of the 2018 season
Temperature at kickoff was 90 degrees
Attendance was 13,189