BROOKINGS South Dakota State last lost a game on Oct. 19. It was the first time the Jackrabbits had lost in over two years and it came to rival North Dakota State. On Saturday, the Jacks will have a chance at redemption as theyll take on the Bison in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.
After the loss to the Bison, SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers and senior quarterback Mark Gronowski said they would see the Bison again in December. They were right, and Rogers said during his weekly news conference that his team is ready for their seecond chance at NDSU.
Theres emotion to it, Rogers said. Anytime you lose to a rival and youre fighting for the same thing, it matters. It matters and there will be emotion behind it. We felt like that because were well aware of who North Dakota State is and the rivalry.
We were really expecting them to have the type of success [the rest of the season] if they were to beat us and were capable of beating us like they did, that we would see them again because we felt capable in what we would end up doing with our season. Its more of a compliment to them than anything else.
In the October meeting the Bison took a 7-0 lead with just over six minutes left in the first half on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Cam Miller to RaJa Nelson. SDSU responded with a 66-yard touchdown run from Chase Mason. Hunter Dustmans extra point was blocked but he redeemed himself with a 42-yard field goal to end the half and that put the Jacks up 9-7.
That score remained until under two minutes to play. The Bison went on a 10-play 92-yard touchdown drive and a 20-yard pass from Miller to Nelson put the Bison in front with 1:49 to play. SDSU would drive into Bison territory but a Gronowski pass to Griffin Wilde was intercepted by Logan Kopp at the 38 yard line with one minute left and NDSU came out on top.
SDSU senior cornerback Dalys Beanum said the game-winning touchdown drive that the Bison went on cant happen in that situation.
I think defensively, we didnt execute to our fullest potential [on that last drive]. Its stuff that we watched on film this week and its stuff that well correct. I thought we played well for most of the game, but obviously, to end the game like that, its never acceptable for our defense. We had some highs and some lows. We just have to make sure we execute for a full 60 minutes this time, Beanum said.
SDSU outgained NDSU 333-275 in that first matchup. The only turnover of the game was the Gronowski interception but the Bison were 2-for-2 in the red zone and the Jacks didnt run a play inside NDSUs 20 yard line. Rogers said he felt like there were a lot of things that SDSU didnt do well in the first meeting.
I dont think we played very well on offense. We were a little inconsistent in throwing the ball, getting spooked out of the pocket. We didnt run the ball nearly to the standard of what were capable of. Special teams were a little sloppy. Defensively, I thought we played well and then you turn on the film and theres some things that show up here and there that could have hurt you that didnt. So, we have to clean up everything, Rogers said.
The first game against the Bison was the lowest point total of the season for the Jacks and it was the lowest since their last loss before that when they scored three points against Iowa in the 2022 season opener.
Co-offensive coordinator Ryan Olson said the biggest reason for the lack of points in the first matchup was how the Jacks did on first down. SDSU faced 16 third downs on Oct. 19 and converted eight of them. The Jacks average distance to go on third down was 6.8 yards and they were 1-of-4 on third downs that were nine yards or more.
Olson said his offense needs to do a better job on first down so they put themselves in position to convert on second down or set up more third and shorts.
I think we were not great on first down in the first game. Our first down efficiency was the lowest of the season. So, really it just gets back to we have to find ways to get more than four yards on first down. Whether thats running the ball or throwing the ball, we just have to get back to getting the chains moving. If we put ourselves in more manageable third down situations, we can extend drives, Olson said.
With all of the mistakes and missed opportunities, the Jacks were still right in the game at the end on Oct. 19. Senior offensive lineman Ethan Vibert said him and his teammates are as confident as they could be heading up to Fargo this time.
I think we have a ton of confidence going into this game. We know that none of us played to the best of our abilities and were excited to show what we can do, Vibert said.
This will be the sixth time that two rivals have played each other in the FCS Playoffs. The Jacks lone win against the Bison FCS postseason came in the 2023 National Championship when they won 45-21.
SDSU had won five-straight games against NDSU until the Bison knocked off the Jacks in October. Rogers said it doesnt matter when the two teams play. Its always going to be a battle and it takes a lot of focus and preparation to knock off the rivals to the North.
Reality is, its a rivalry game. Whether you play them up [in Fargo] in the regular season or the playoffs, its going to be a challenge. We need to prepare with the right mindset to go up there and execute. That will be our focus. We know whats at stake. Its going to come down more to whos on the field and the competitiveness in which is needed to play and focus on every single play. We know what theyre going to do, they know what were going to do. There is no mystery about how weve each had success, so its going to take 60 minutes and we need to lock into the preparation this week, Rogers said.
Kick off between NDSU and SDSU is set for 11 a.m. You can watch the game on ABC or listen to the game on AM 570 WNAX. The winner of NDSU and SDSU will play either Montana State or South Dakota in the national championship on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.
Leave a Reply