South Dakota State wins 1st FCS title over North Dakota State

play

Mark Gronowski threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as South Dakota State won its first national championship with a 45-21 victory over North Dakota State.

Two years ago, Gronowski tore his left knee on the opening series of the Football Championship Subdivision title game and missed the rest of the season. The Jackrabbits beat their border-state rival for the biggest prize in coach John Stiegelmeier's 26th season at his alma mater after losing in the spring finale.

South Dakota State had two players with over 100 yards and both scored a touchdown. Gronowski ran for a touchdown on the third play of the second half to extend the lead to 34-14.

The Bison went from Fargo to Frisco for the 10th time in 12 seasons, as Cam Miller passed for 257 yards and two scores.

In the past two years, the Jackrabbits have won four out of five meetings against their rivals. The Dakota Marker trophy wasn't up for grabs in the MLS soccer stadium, so the previous three games had been in regular season games. Their 114th meeting was the fifth in the playoffs and the first in the title game.

South Dakota State's only previous title game appearance was a last-minute loss to Sam Houston State in May 2021. In the abbreviated regular season, the Jackrabbits beat North Dakota State twice before defeating them in the playoffs.

Early in the second quarter, Johnson's 32 yard run broke a 7 all tie. The Jackrabbits were able to get the ball back when Steven Arrell stripped the ball from Kobe Johnson. Four plays after Gronowski hit Janke for the 18-yard touchdown, Janke had a 30-yard reception.

There was a 44-yard touchdown pass before the half. On third-and-1, Gronowski went forward as if he was going to run for the first down, but instead he threw to Mike Morgan all alone behind the defense. Eli Green scored a 44-yard touchdown.

The way forward.

North Dakota State missed out on a chance to match the record of 45 wins by Georgia Southern, which is now playing at the highest level of college football. Since they won the first of their nine titles in 2011, they have 14 losses, six of which are to South Dakota State.

Since opening the season with a loss to Iowa, the Jackrabbits have won 14 in a row.

Up next.

The school's largest alumni base will be in Minneapolis for the opening game against Eastern Washington.

South Dakota State still hopes to fill an open slot on its schedule in the future. The first set is against Montana State, who the Jackrabbits beat in the national semifinals.