South Dakota State University kicked off their Missouri Valley Conference season with a dominating victory over Northern Iowa. The Jackrabbits took control early and never looked back, securing a 42-14 win in front of a home crowd.
SDSU’s offense came out firing on all cylinders, with quarterback Mark Gronowski leading the way. Gronowski threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding 67 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Running back Pierre Strong Jr. also had a standout performance, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Jackrabbits were equally impressive. They held the Panthers to just 234 total yards and forced three turnovers. Linebacker Logan Backhaus led the way with six tackles and an interception, while defensive back Don Gardner added a pick-six to seal the victory.
Head coach John Stiegelmeier praised his team’s performance, stating, “I thought we played really well in all three phases of the game. Our offense was clicking, our defense was flying around and making plays, and our special teams were solid. It was a complete team effort.”
The win not only improves SDSU’s record to 3-0 on the season, but it also sets the tone for their conference play. The Jackrabbits will look to build on this momentum as they continue to navigate through the tough Missouri Valley slate.
Next up for SDSU is a road matchup against Southern Illinois, another conference rival. The Jackrabbits will look to carry their strong play from this game into their upcoming matchups as they aim to compete for a conference championship.
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