South Dakota State football takes momentum, cruises to big 28-3 win over South Dakota

BROOKINGS -- A muffed punt by South Dakota State’s Jadon Janke, which started South Dakota’s late first-quarter drive at the 9-yard line, at least looked like it would end in three points. The Coyotes led 3-0 at that point, and the turnover was a chance to take complete control of the momentum, potentially staring down the first two-possession deficit SDSU has faced all season.

“I don’t know anybody believed the defense would get off the field,” South Dakota State defensive back Dalys Beanum said.

It certainly didn’t look like the unraveling play of an eventual 28-3 loss for the Coyotes on Saturday in Brookings. South Dakota tried two-straight runs to get some positive movement, but then, finally, tried to do something. Camp threw towards the right side and into the end zone at wide receiver Carter Bell. “It was a good play,” South Dakota head coach Bob Nielson said. But SDSU safety Cale Reeder stepped in front. An obvious scoring drive became an interception for the Jackrabbits, and at that point, the game changed.

“Every week I go through and pick out four or five plays and show it to our Booster Club and say, in my opinion, these are the plays that were difference-maker plays,” South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier said. “And that play will be on there.”

In the first USD-SDSU game at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in four years, with two South Dakota wins in between, South Dakota State dominated. The Jackrabbits (5-1, 3-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) cruised to a win over South Dakota (1-4, 0-2), building off first-quarter takeaways to turn in an offensive clinic in the second half. Following an instant-classic finish a season ago, the Jackrabbits captured the momentum early and never lost it.

Nielson said it looked like the Jackrabbits changed a few things on the defensive side, perhaps blitzing more. That’s just football, Stiegelmeier said, they do that every game. But SDSU defensive lineman Reece Winkelman said it wasn’t that they blitzed more, “it’s more up to the effort up front.” And Saturday, the Jackrabbits’ “effort” was better in every facet of the game.

“Offense is such a rhythm thing and you saw it with them: they got in rhythm running the football there,” Nielson said. “We had a hard time getting them off the field.”

Isaiah Davis leads SDSU's strong offensive performance

SDSU running back Isaiah Davis dominated, going for 108 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Jackrabbits quarterback Mark Gronowski had 136 yards, a touchdown and an interception. South Dakota’s offensive players were stymied, with quarterback Carson Camp getting just 44 yards through the air while throwing two interceptions. Running back Travis Theis was held to 73 yards and no scores.

Before Camp threw inside on a back-shoulder pass for an easy interception by Reeder, South Dakota was still operating with all the momentum. It was Camp’s second pick of the game, but on the first, the Coyotes scoring drive — a first-drive field goal by kicker Eddie Ogamba (his longest of the season) — was still more recent. Plus, SDSU hadn’t done anything to suggest they would capitalize.But after Camp was picked on third down, South Dakota State led a 4:31 touchdown drive (28-yard pass from quarterback Mark Gronowski to wide receiver Jaxon Janke) and USD went three-and-out twice in a row. South Dakota State, holding all the momentum, handed off to running back Isaiah Davis, who already looked to have a fairly solid hole to run. Then, at the second level, he broke one tackle. Then two. Then three. He ran all the way to the end zone and, in a flash, the Jackrabbits led 14-3.

“Credit to the whole offense: receivers, tight ends all lined up making the blocks,” Davis said. “Making my job easy.”

SDSU dominates second half

South Dakota State started the half with a 4:34 touchdown drive that ended with another touchdown to Davis. South Dakota had its best offensive response in a while, though only getting a single first down. Then the Jackrabbits put together their longest touchdown drive of the season, using 15 plays to take 8:13 seconds off the clock yet still, ending it with a touchdown on a rush by Davis (his third of the game).

“Just got to get off the field,” South Dakota safety Josh Manchigiah said. “They were getting chunks of yardage every time.”

It was 28-3 into the early fourth quarter, and the game had reached a methodical pace in favor of the Jackrabbits. On the drive after the touchdown, the Coyotes went three-and-out again. Camp was sacked twice.

South Dakota drove deep into Jackrabbits territory on its last drive of the game, but at that point it was too late. And, even still, Camp was sacked on fourth down. Again, it came up empty. And, finally, the Jackrabbits came up with a win.

“You hear the tradition of us beating them,” the senior Winkelman said, “but when you're 50% (against them), it's a pretty big deal to go out winning.”

Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota State football takes momentum, cruises to win over USD