With a third consecutive trip to Frisco on the line, South Dakota State fell short to North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals, 28-21.
“Our guys played hard and so did they, we just came up short today,” said SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers. “I’m kind of at a loss for words. Felt like we were ready for this game, prepared for this game. Just didn’t make a couple of plays.”
The second round of the Jacks-Bison showdown had as much build-up and anticipation as the first go-around, a 13-9 SDSU loss in Fargo on Oct. 19.
And aside from the score, the game played out almost exactly how the first contest went. The Bison strike first, SDSU pulling ahead in the middle quarters, ending with some magic by NDSU quarterback Cam Miller.
“Every play matters, not just going to point the finger at one play,” said coach Rogers. “We dropped the ball, fumbled the ball. Part of that fumble is letting a guy through.”
After an opening punt by the Jacks, NDSU wasted little time to get points on the board, pushing a seven-play drive, 80 yards, ending with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Miller to receiver Bryce Lance.
Facing adversity early in a hostile and sold-out Fargodome of 17,849, Gronowski and the Jacks produced back-to-back touchdown drives, a goal-line touchdown run by Gronowski and a 39-yard burst for senior tailback Amar Johnson.
Johnson finished with 77 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, catching three passes for 30 yards in the loss.
After another NDSU punt, it felt as though SDSU were in firm control of the lead threatening to push the lead to two scores, until disaster struck.
NDSU linebacker Kody Huisman jarred the ball free on an Amar Johnson carry to set up a short field for the Bison offense and Miller took advantage, tying the game up on a two-yard touchdown run before halftime.
While there was plenty of game left to play, the halftime adjustments forced both teams’ offenses to a stalemate, punting on six consecutive drives going into the final quarter of play.
But again, just like the first meeting between these two great programs, Miller, who completed 13 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns, rushing 15 times for 93 yards and an additional score, turned it on in the final quarter.
“We had some plays defensively we didn’t execute,” said coach Rogers. “You play down-to-down and you better lock in. One down impacts the next call offensively, and one down impacts the call defensively. We just came up short.”
Early in the fourth, it took NDSU just three plays to take the lead, with Lance and Miller connecting on a 47-yard bomb.
Lance had a career day for NDSU in the win, catching six passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing an NDSU record with 16 receiving touchdowns this season.
However, Gronowski, in what was his last game as a Jackrabbit, wasn’t going down without a fight.
“He’s been an unbelievable player here, an unbelievable person here,” said coach Rogers. “One drive doesn’t make me think anything more about Mark Gronowski. He has impacted a community. This football program. We’re going to miss him.”
At the end of a 10-play, 90-yard drive, Gronowski found a wide-open Grahm Goering in his first game back from injury.
On the final Bison drive, Lance hauled in his third touchdown of the game, a 10-yard one-hand snag to take the lead with four minutes to play.
Facing a seven-point deficit, the Jacks got stuck behind the sticks on a facemask and couldn’t crawl back out, with Gronowski taking a sack on fourth down to end his Jackrabbit career.
The Bison advanced to the FCS national championship for the 11th time in the past 14 seasons.
Gronowski completed 14-of-25 pass attempts for 204 yards and a touchdown, adding 50 rushing yards and a score on 15 carries.
Griffin Wilde totaled 66 yards on four receptions, Greyton Gannon tallied 33 yards on three catches, and Lofton O’Groske had a catch for 35 yards in the loss.
Senior linebacker Adam Bock patrolled the Jacks defense with eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, while Daeton McGaughy and Colby Humphrey each had seven tackles in the loss. Kobe Clayborne recorded the only tackle for the Jacks’ defense.
South Dakota State ended its season with a final record of 12-3 and now looks ahead to the 2025 season.
Jacks fall 28-21 to Bison in FCS Semifinal
Jon Akre, Sports Reporter
December 21, 2024
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