FOUR-TD SECOND QUARTER LIFTS JACKS OVER UND

Saturday, November 9

Grand Forks, N.D.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

8-2 , 5-1

North Dakota

5-5 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota St.

North Dakota

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

11/9/2024 4:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — South Dakota State blitzed North Dakota for 28 second-quarter points as the third-ranked Jackrabbits went on to post a 38-7 road win Saturday afternoon at the Alerus Center.

SDSU improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference behind a balanced offensive attack. UND, which dropped its third game in a row, fell to 5-5 overall and 2-4 in league play.

North Dakota, which missed a field goal on the opening drive of the game, put its only points of the game on the board on its next possession in the first quarter. After forcing a Jackrabbit three-and-out, Isaiah Smith took a handoff on the first play of the ensuing drive and broke through the left side of the line for a 62-yard touchdown run.

From there, it was all Jackrabbits. SDSU responded first with a 32-yard field goal by Hunter Dustman late in the first quarter, then scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives.

On the first play of the second quarter, Angel Johnson turned the corner and rolled around the right side for a 29-yard touchdown run.

SDSU continued to take advantage of great field position for the remainder of the half as the longest of their scoring drives covered 59 yards. Mark Gronowski connected with Griffin Wilde on scoring strikes of 25 and 39 yards as SDSU built a 24-7 lead.

After linebacker Graham Spalding forced a UND fumble and Dawson Ripperda recovered at the Fighting Hawk 27-yard line, the Jackrabbit lead grew to 31-7 after a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Amar Johnson.

The SDSU defense held the Fighting Hawks in check the rest of the way, allowing only 53 net rushing yards after Smith's long touchdown run in the opening stanza.

Gronowski and Wilde hooked up again in the third quarter for the only points of the second half, this time from 47 yards out. Wilde finished the game with five catches for 140 yards and a career-best three touchdowns while Gronowski completed 11-of-19 attempts for 193 yards.

SDSU finished with a 457-248 advantage in total offense, picking up another 264 yards on the ground. Angel Johnson led the way with an even 100 yards on 13 carries to hit the century mark for the second game in a row and Amar Johnson added 74 yards on 15 carries. Kirby Vorhees tallied 66 yards on nine attempts.

Smith ended the afternoon with 87 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Simon Romfo was 16-of-23 passing for 124 yards, with Bo Belquist and Quincy Vaughn each catching four balls for 40 and 37 yards, respectively.

Matthew Durrance paced the SDSU defense with four tackles. Adam Bock and Caleb Francl each were credited with sacks among their four stops.

Jonnie Wiltshire led UND with a game-high 10 tackles. Wyatt Pedigo added eight tackles.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits wrap up the home portion of their regular season schedule by hosting Southern Illinois on Nov. 16. Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m., with Senior Day recognition beginning at approximately 1:40 p.m.

NOTES

North Dakota leads the all-time series, 47-38-5
The Jackrabbits have won six of the seven meetings between the two programs at the Division I level, including the last four
SDSU's 28 points in the second quarter marked its highest output since a 35-point second quarter against Dixie State (now Utah Tech) on Oct. 2, 2021
The Jackrabbits reached the eight-win mark for the 13^th consecutive season
SDSU improved to 34-6 in the month of November since the 2012 campaign
Tucker Large intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game
Max Baloun blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt by the Fighting Hawks in the second quarter
Gronowski topped the 11,000-yard mark in career total offense, ending the day with 11,022 yards
Gronowski added a 47-yard punt on a quick kick that was downed at the UND 1 late in the first half
Attendance was 9,797