The South Dakota State Jackrabbits moved from Division II to the FCS 20 seasons ago. They now stand atop that FCS world as the back-to-back champions and unquestioned gold standard of the division.
The Jacks, as they are affectionately referred to by their loyal and boisterous fans, defeated the Montana Grizzlies 23-3 in the FCS championship in a game played against the final week of the NFL season on Sunday.
The first quarter was a blur. Both teams used efficient and methodical opening drives to drain time. The Jacks began the proceedings with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took off nearly seven minutes of clock. Quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game — one day after winning the Walter Payton Award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the FCS — found connected with receivers on the drive. He added a clutch 9-yard run on third down, which got the ball to the 6-yard line. One play later, senior running back Isaiah Davis (Dane Brugler’s No. 2 senior RB draft prospect for 2024) ran it in for the first touchdown of the game.
Montana answered with a 15-play, 57-yard drive that devoured the remaining time in the first. It began with Griz receiver and lights-out return specialist Junior Bergen’s only legitimate opportunity to return a kick — and he picked up 39 yards. Quarterback Clifton McDowell started the game five-for-five and was able to advance the ball down to the 1. But on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Jerry Rice Award winner (given to the nation’s top freshman) running back Eli Gillman was stopped by Jacks all-world linebacker Adam Bock — and they came away with no points.
The next drive Gronowski threw an interception and the Griz were only able to get three points off it. That would set the stage for a second quarter — featuring 109 yards of total offense from both teams — where the Jacks muffed a punt and the Griz threw an interception. Nobody scored a point.
In the second half, the South Dakota State defense continued to squeeze the life out of the Griz. The Jacks forced two fumbles, recorded five sacks and only allowed 128 total yards. Meanwhile, the offense systematically added 16 points via a 10-yard Gronowski touchdown run, a 23-yard touchdown pass from Gronowski to Jadon Janke and a Hunter Dustman 32-yard field goal.
First-year South Dakota State head coach Jimmy Rogers took over for the legendary John Stiegelmeier, who retired after the Jacks defeated rival North Dakota State to win last year’s title. Rogers is a former defensive player for the Jacks and has been on the coaching staff since 2013. As the defensive coordinator, he was instrumental in the Jackrabbits’ 2022 title run. So it is not surprising that he was complimentary to the defensive effort.
“Overall,” he said, “if they can’t score points, they can’t beat you — and we stayed consistent with that.”
Rogers referred to his defense as an all-time great unit. During its 15-game run to the championship, the defense only allowed 9.27 points per game. It gave up fewer than 90 yards rushing and 170 yards passing per game.
In their 20-year FCS history, the Jackrabbits have only finished below .500 twice — in 2010 and 2011. Since that time, they have never failed to make the playoffs. They have appeared in the quarterfinals every year since 2015, and during the past four seasons, they have been in the championship game three times. This was not a slow burn; it was a flaming meteor barreling down on an FCS powerless to stop its oncoming destruction.
The question for Jacks fans — and the entire FCS — is can they continue this run? The team is losing a lot of talented players, but some more talented players will remain to try and achieve a feat that only Appalachian State and North Dakota State have even accomplished: the three-peat.
One of the key players who plans to return is Bock. He has dealt with injuries during the past two seasons that have limited his ability to truly show what he’s capable of. He hopes that next season he can put it on full display as they chase another title.
“I just want to have a chance to play a full season and show what I can do,” Bock said. “That’s what ultimately came into the decision. I love this team, I love these guys, and it made it an easy decision. I’m just excited for what the future holds running it back next year.”
He will be joined by several other seniors who will return for their extra season, as well as a bevy of talented…
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