South Dakota State improved to 2-1 on the season following a 24-3 victory over in-state rival Augustana in the Beef Bowl.
It was a historic day for attendance yet again for Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Saturday’s game pulled in the second largest attendance in the Dykhouse stadium history at 19,376, including 4,389 students, breaking the previous student record set just last week in the victory over Incarnate Word.
Despite the blowout victory, the Jackrabbits and SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers felt their performance on Saturday night could’ve been a lot better.
“We’ve got to mature in many ways,” said coach Rogers. “Some of this Is lack of discipline and some of this is an immaturity thing and it’s on me, surely.”
It was a game that left much to be desired for SDSU, starting from the opening kickoff when safety Kolton Tilford fumbled the return, setting up Augustana for its first drive at the SDSU 11-yard line. The fumble set up the only points of the game for AU, a 32-yard field goal by kicker Jake Pecina gave the Vikings its first and only lead of the game.
SDSU responded to the early statement from Augie with an efficient six-play drive lasting just three minutes, capped off by quarterback Mark Gronowski taking the option play himself for a nine-yard touchdown.
Gronowski totaled 28 yards on the ground on six carries, including two rushing touchdowns.
Momentum seemed to be back with the Jacks after the defense forced a three-and-out, but after tallying 60 yards in drive number one, the final three SDSU drives in the opening quarter totaled just 15 yards, including a Gronowski interception.
But SDSU was able to find a rhythm in the second quarter. After an Augie punt, Amar Johnson completely took over the Jackrabbit’s second touchdown drive tallying runs of 16, 26, and 12 yards before punching it in from a yard out.
Johnson played a huge part in the Jacks offense Saturday, totaling 126 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while catching three passes for 14 yards in the win.
“When you get a new O-line it does kind of take a minute to mesh with those guys. But I’ve got all my faith in those guys,” said Johnson. “Even putting up however many yards I had, I still couldn’t do it without them.”
The Vikings were able to make some plays throughout the game and had another opportunity for points with a 36-yard field goal, but was quickly taken away after a bobbled snap never gave Pecina the chance to boot it.
The Jacks added on a 39-yard field goal by Hunter Dustman to take a two-score lead over Augie at halftime, but the 14-point lead at the break felt smaller with the mistakes and missed opportunities that occurred throughout the first 30 minutes of play.
Augie forced a turnover or punt on five of SDSU’s eight first-half possessions.
“That was a good game by Augustana. Well coached by coach OJ (Jerry Olszewski),” said coach Rogers. “We didn’t execute in so many ways.”
If it wasn’t for the Jackrabbit defense putting on a clinic, things could’ve been a lot more interesting in Brookings. But the defense showed out especially in the first half allowing 79 total yards.
The second half was much of the same as the first for both teams. Augie struggled against a stout defense, punting on each of its third-quarter drives, while SDSU tacked on another score with Gronowski’s second rushing touchdown of the game from a yard out.
Despite the multi-rushing touchdown game for the reigning Walter Payton award winner, Gronowski struggled in the passing game, completing 19 of his 27 passes for 141 yards and two interceptions.
“Sometimes you just got to take into consideration that the passing game might not be there,” said Johnson. “You got to run the rock to open up the passing game and vice versa.”
Augie strung out one final drive in the fourth quarter that set up a third field goal attempt, but this time was missed by Pecina to end a rough night for the Vikings’ special teams.
“Missed a couple of field goal opportunities with a bad snap and didn’t put one through the pipes. We got to overcome those things,” said coach Olszewski. “But at the end of the day, I thought the effort of our kids and the play of our kids showed out well today.”
SDSU had 203 more total yards, 209 more rushing yards, 12 more first downs, and doubled the Vikings’ yards per play. But when you’re the back-to-back national champions, you tend to hold yourself to a higher standard.
“When you look at the stats there are some things that are positive,” said Rogers. “But in the end when you have three turnovers and nine penalties for 110 yards and almost as much penalty yardage as they (Augustana) do total offense, we got to learn and learn in a hurry.”
True freshman Maxwell Woods made the most of his debut in the Yellow and Blue in the absence of Angel Johnson due to injury. Woods rushed six times for 61 yards, including a 44-yard scoot down the right sideline.
“Maxwell Woods, very great player,” said Johnson. “I was glad to see him get a lot of reps, even break a big one for us. With him in there, the future for the Jacks is bright.”
Griffin Wilde caught six passes for 47 yards to lead the Jacks in receptions and receiving yards.
Defensive ends Kobe Clayborne and Dawson Ripperda were dominant combining for nine tackles (2.5 for loss), including a 1.5 sack game for Ripperda. Defensive end Aaron Wolfcale-Holsten tallied a sack in the victory, while cornerback Colby Humphrey reeled in an acrobatic interception for his first takeaway of the season.
Up Next
South Dakota State hits the road next week for its final non-conference matchup against Southeastern Louisiana University. Kickoff in Hammond, La. is slated for 6 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
