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BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Top-ranked South Dakota State displayed a swarming defense throughout the day and the offense found its stride in the second quarter for a Jackrabbit squad that completed a perfect season in Missouri Valley Football Conference play with a 31-7 victory over Illinois State Saturday afternoon at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
With their school-record 10th consecutive victory, the Jackrabbits improved to 10-1 overall and 8-0 in league play. Illinois State dropped to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the MVFC.
SDSU spotted Illinois State a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when the Redbirds’ Dillon Gearhart blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone by Sy Dabney.
The Jackrabbits responded with scores on each of their next three drives to take a 13-7 lead into intermission. On the first play of the second quarter, Mark Gronowski hooked up with Jadon Janke deep downfield for a 51-yard pass play that put the ball at the Illinois State 10. However, SDSU could only come away with a field goal as Hunter Dustman put the Jackrabbits on the board with a 22-yard field goal.
SDSU and Gronowski turned to a power running game on the next possession as the sophomore quarterback rushed for gains of 8 and 14 yards on third-down plays to extend the drive, that capped a 14-play, 79-yard march with a 6-yard scamper up the middle on another third-down attempt for the Jackrabbits’ first touchdown of the game and a 10-7 lead.
Dustman later matched his career-long field goal with a 45-yarder, making the second week in a row he connected from that distance on the final play of the first half.
Illinois State mustered only seven offensive plays for 25 yards in the second quarter. The Redbirds were held to 100 total yards in the game, marking the lowest total by an SDSU defense since giving up only 90 yards to Indiana State on Sept. 19, 2009.
It was more of the same for the Jackrabbits in the third as they scored two more touchdowns on short fields after Illinois State miscues. Following an interception by DyShawn Gales, SDSU needed only four plays to cash in. A 43-yard pass from Gronowski to Janke was followed by an 8-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Davis.
Then, after Illinois State punted into its own player with the ball coming to rest at the Redbird 30, Gronowski fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Zach Heins in the final minute of the quarter.
Dustman closed out the scoring with his third field goal of the day, a 35-yarder midway through the fourth quarter.
In not allowing an offensive touchdown, the Jackrabbit defense held Illinois State to 100 yards of total offense and forced the Redbirds to punt nine times.
SDSU racked up 431 yards of total offense, with Gronowski completing 20-of-28 passes for 283 yards. Jadon Janke tallied a career-high 129 yards on five receptions, while twin brother, Jadon, added four receptions for 67 yards. Tucker Kraft hauled in a game-high six passes for 44 yards.
Davis led the Jackrabbit rushing attack with 50 yards on 16 carries.
Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse finished the afternoon 9-of-20 passing for 55 yards and also was the leading ball-carrier with nine carries for 18 yards.
Jason Freeman paced the SDSU defense with seven tackles, including a sack, while linebacker Saiveon Williamson added four tackles and a pass breakup in his first career start.
Jeff Bowens and Zeke Vandenburgh each made 10 tackles for Illinois State, with Vandenburgh notching three sacks and four tackles for loss.
