South Dakota State extended their win streak to 20 straight on Saturday against Northern Iowa, coming away with a 41-6 victory.
The Jackrabbits have now won 63 games on Hobo Day since it was first created back in 1912.
The Panthers have always been a tough opponent for the Jackrabbits, as they have alternated wins in their last 11 matchups, including eight straight wins for the road team in this series.
UNI also has a history of spoiling Hobo Day for Jacks, as the last three times SDSU played the Panthers on Hobo Day in 2021, 2017, and 2015, they all ended in losses.
“It felt really good,” senior tight end Zach Heins on the Jackrabbits’ victory on Hobo Day. “Just hearing about our past history against these guys on Hobo Day and then just going out there and taking care of business today, it felt good.”
The Jackrabbits have finally overcome the hump and knocked off the Panthers on homecoming.
It was the third consecutive sellout crowd for Jackrabbits at home this season, with this game having 19,357 people in attendance. That also marks the second-highest attendance in Dana J. Dykhouse’s history.
As usual, the Jackrabbits got off to a hot start again, led by five-first-half turnovers from the defense.
After an opening drive punt by UNI, the Jacks would march right down the field and score on a 1-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Mark Gronowski.
The defense would then force a fumble on just the third play of the ensuing drive for the Panthers.
Isaiah Davis would follow up the Gronowski touchdown with a touchdown of his own, this one coming from 3 yards out.
“I was really excited with the way we started the game, we started fast, and we played with urgency throughout,” Coach Rogers said. “Every time that we stumbled on offense, the defense was there to respond.
With a score of 14-0 in favor of the Jacks, the next five possessions of the game would result in turnovers. The Jackrabbit defense would record an interception and two fumble recoveries, while UNI recorded two fumble recoveries as well.
South Dakota State would eventually clean things up to end the half, as Gronowski would hook up with wide receiver Jadon Janke on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Gronowski has now recorded 11 straight games with a passing and rushing touchdown.
“Mark is his biggest critic, I think he plays great every week,” Coach Rogers on Gronowski’s performance today. “Honestly everybody else in the country, even on his worst day, would probably want the kid.”
After another interception from Northern Iowa quarterback Theo Day to defensive back Dyshawn Gales, the Jackrabbits would score once again, coming from a 42-yard field goal by Hunter Dustman.
Northern Iowa would get on the board right before half, as kicker Matthew Cook would drill a 38-yard field goal as time expired.
In the first half alone, the Jackrabbit defense recorded five turnovers, with forced fumbles coming from linebacker Isaiah Stalbird, defensive back Steven Arrell, and defensive tackle Logan Green. Linebacker Jason Freeman and defensive back Dyshawn Gales would record the two interceptions.
Coming out of halftime, the Jackrabbits would continue to dominate, scoring on their first three drives of the second half.
SDSU would take the opening drive of the third quarter right down the field, with Gronowski finding tight end Zach Heins for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
After a UNI three-and-out, Gronowski would connect with Heins once again, this time from 23 yards out for his second receiving touchdown of the day.
Up by 35 points, the Jackrabbits would continue to cause havoc for this Northern Iowa offense.
After another three-and-out by the Panthers, the Jackrabbits would put up another field goal off the leg of Hunter Dustman.
Northern Iowa would score a field goal late in the game, but it was not enough as the Jackrabbits walked away at home with the 35-point victory.
Offensively, quarterback Mark Gronowski was phenomenal in the game, completing 81% of his passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing in another 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Three receivers each caught four passes from Gronowski in the contest. Zach Heins had four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns, Jadon Janke had four catches for 58 yards and a score, and Griffin Wilde added another 60 yards on four catches as well.
It was an unusually quiet game for senior tailback Isaiah Davis, but still powered his way to a third straight 100-yard rushing game. Finishing with 103 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, he has now reached the century mark 19 times in his career.
Defensively, the Jackrabbits had their best game of the year against the Panthers. They forced five turnovers to go along with four sacks, which more than doubles their season sack total.
“The defensive line knows what they have to do every week, sometimes it just doesn’t happen it’s part of the game,” linebacker Jason Freeman on the struggles getting to the quarterback. “I’m glad they finally got after it this week, they got a bunch of sacks, it’s key, especially against a team with a very good quarterback.”
Linebacker Isaiah Stalbird led the team in tackles with nine, including two tackles-for-loss, one sack, and a forced fumble. Linebacker Saveion Williamson recorded six tackles and a forced fumble. Defensive End Cade Terveer recorded 1.5 sacks to go along with five tackles.
For Northern Iowa, quarterback Theo Day finished 16-24, with 210 passing yards.
Running back Zach Brand had 30 yards rushing on six carries, while Harrison Bey-Buie had 19 yards on two carries.
The leading receiver for the Panthers was Sam Schnee, who finished with 104 yards on four catches.
With this win, the Jackrabbits are now tied for the tenth-longest win streak in FCS history.
Up Next:
The Jackrabbits have a two-game road trip coming up, first against the Salukis of Southern Illinois on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., and then against the South Dakota Coyotes in an in-state rivalry game on Oct. 28.
SDSU’s next home game is on Nov. 4 where they will take on North Dakota State at 2 p.m. in the annual Dakota Marker game.
