BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — No. 3 SDSU returned to the FCS semifinals with a 55-14 win over No. 6 Incarnate Word at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in the quarterfinals Saturday.
The Jackrabbits scored the first 38 points of the game. They outgained the Cardinals 477-345, including 274-87 on the ground. South Dakota State scored on nine of its 14 drives.
Mark Gronowski tossed a pair of 35-yard touchdown passes to Sioux Falls native Griffin Wilde to put the Jacks on top 14-0 early in the second quarter. On the second TD strike, the senior QB eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards. The Naperville, Ill., native added a pair of rushing scores as State in the first half.
Gronowski finished the game 7-for-16 for 174 yards. He had three passing touchdowns and two rushing TDs. He picked up 19 yards on the ground.
Amar Johnson led the rushing attack with 133 yards on 18 carries. Wilde tallied three catches for 67 yards.
Sophomore tight end David Alpers, from Sioux Falls, registered his first career touchdown catch with a 59-yarder to begin the scoring in the second half. Brenden Begeman, from Selby, rushed for his first career TD in the fourth quarter.
The attendance for the game was 8,671.
State advances to the FCS semifinals next Saturday at 11 a.m. It will take on the winner of the NDSU-Mercer game.
