In a thrilling showdown on Saturday night at Dykhouse Stadium, South Dakota State pulled out a 20-17 victory over rival South Dakota in overtime. The game saw back-and-forth action, with USD scoring a field goal in overtime before SDSU responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by Amar Johnson to seal the win. This victory denied USD its first win in Brookings since 2000.
The Jackrabbits held a 14-7 halftime lead, but USD tied the game late in the fourth quarter with a defensive touchdown. The game ultimately went to overtime, where Johnson’s heroics secured the win for SDSU.
Despite being held to just 17 rushing yards, Johnson managed to score two touchdowns on the ground for the Jackrabbits. Quarterback Mark Gronowski contributed with 163 passing yards and 54 rushing yards. On the other side, Travis Theis ran for 78 yards and a touchdown for USD, while Aidan Bouman threw for 163 yards.
With this victory, South Dakota State improves to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while South Dakota falls to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference. SDSU will host Murray State next, while USD has a bye week before facing Indiana State. The intense game between these rivals showcased the competitiveness of college football in South Dakota.
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