Offensive struggles and crucial second-half mistakes led to the South Dakota State football team falling 28-17 to North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND Saturday.

After a first half that saw the No. 3 Jackrabbits gain 266 yards and hold a 14-7 lead, the 15th ranked Fighting Hawks outscored SDSU 21-3 while forcing three second-half turnovers to come away with the victory.

Coach John Stiegelmeier blamed the loss on too many mistakes and lack of focus throughout the game. 

“These kids are human beings, and you let your guard down; you relax,” Stiegelmeier said. “Not to take anything away from UND, but it’s hard to go 60 minutes with total focus and total effort, and we did not do that. They did more of that than we did, and they got the win.” 

Special teams came up big for the Fighting Hawks. A fake punt and a blocked field goal in the first quarter helped keep them in the game. In the second half, a blocked punt and key kickoff returns setting up a good field position helped switch the momentum.

“Our guys really executed in those situations,” Hawks coach Bubba Schweigert said. “Obviously, they played a factor in the game.”

Offensively for the Jackrabbits, quarterback Mark Gronowski struggled after a successful first half. He would end up completing 16-32 for 309 yards, two touchdowns and three turnovers.

Gronowski’s main targets throughout the game were the Janke twins, who both eclipsed 100 yards receiving. Jaxon caught seven passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76 yarder in the first quarter. Jadon had five catches for 109 yards.

“This week in film, we saw opportunities to take a deep one, and we did on a few of them,” Jaxon Janke said. “I just wish we’d have gotten some of those ones that didn’t quite connect.” 

North Dakota was able to run the ball effectively on offense, with 177 total rushing yards. Otis Weah was the team’s leading rusher with 17 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Skokna added 73 yards and a touchdown.

Hawks quarterback Tommy Schuster passed for 184 yards on 20-39 passing, a touchdown and an interception.

But it was a rough day for the Jackrabbit defense, who could not stop UND’s offensive for most of the second half. 

Linebacker Preston Tetzlaff, who intercepted Schuster late in the game, credited North Dakota’s physicality. 

“I thought we’d come out here and kick them around,” Tetzlaff said. “But give them the credit they’re due; they were physical. They’re stout heavy guys that really pushed guys around.”

The Jackrabbits (1-1) hope to rebound at the first home game in 440 days. That near 15-month layoff ends Saturday, March 6, with SDSU hosting Western Illinois.

“We really did a good job of just sticking with it and staying as focused as we could against a very good football team,” Schweigert said. “They hit us with some big plays early. That’s tough to withstand, and that takes the life out of your team. But our guys hung in there. We had to really grind and stick with it the entire game.”