South Dakota State wins 2023 FCS championship, goes back-to-back
🏆 South Dakota State wins back-to-back titles
South Dakota State Jackrabbits dominated Montana in the second half to secure their second-straight national title 23-3. Quarterback Mark Gronowski earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the second straight season after completing 13 of 21 passes (62 percent) for 175 yards and a touchdown, rushing for another 62 yards and a score. Gronowski's championship performance came one day after receiving the Walter Payton award as the best offensive player in the FCS, the first South Dakota State player to win the award in its 37-year history.
FINAL STATS: See the final stats from the FCS championship game
The highly-touted Jackrabbit defense held the Grizzlies to a mere field goal as they tacked on five sacks, five pass breakups and eight tackles for loss. South Dakota State also made high-impact turnovers, highlighted by an interception and two third-quarter fumble recoveries.
South Dakota State's head coach Jimmy Rogers took over the program this season, following the retirement of 26-year coach John Stiegelmeier. Rogers was named as Stiegelmeier's successor and continued the team's historic success with a perfect 15-0 record in his first season, earning the Eddie Robinson Award as FCS Coach of the Year.
The Jacks accomplished this feat in front of 19,512 FCS football faithfuls, and now boast a 29-game winning streak, the third-longest in FCS football history (North Dakota State leads with 33-game and 39-game runs).
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Fourth quarter: South Dakota State 23, Montana 3
16 points to zero. That's the run South Dakota State went on in the third quarter to pull away from Montana.
The Jackrabbit offense was clicking behind the arm and legs of Walter Payton Award winner Mark Gronowski, who scored touchdowns with both. Defensively, South Dakota State forced two fumbles during the penultimate quarter.
See stats through three quarters below.
Points of a turnover for the Jacks! SDSU 23, UM 3 | 3Q - 0:56
After South Dakota State defensive end Cade Terveer strip-sacked Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell with SDSU defensive tackle Ryan Van Marel recovering, the Jackrabbits boosted its lead to three touchdowns as kicker Hunter Dustman made a more-difficult-than-normal 32-yard field goal.
Janke for six! SDSU 20, UM 3 | 3Q - 2:36
South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski found wide reciever Jadon Janke for a 23-yard touchdown on a slot fade. Gronowski now has back-to-back second half touchdowns, on through the air and one rushing.
Jackrabbits build lead! SDSU 14, UM 3 | 3Q - 7:11
South Dakota State score for the first time since its first possession of the game as Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Mark Gronowski scrambled in for a 10-yard touchdown.
The touchdown capped off a quick, five-play, 58-yard drive bolstered by a 34-yard catch and run from tight end Zach Heins.
Fumble to the Jacks! | 3Q - 12:58
South Dakota State landed its first turnover of the game thanks to the pursuit of defensive tackle Brian Williams who punched out the football from Montana wide receiver Aaron Fontes. Cornerback DyShawn Gales recovered the fumble, ending Montana's opening second-half drive.
Halftime: South Dakota State 7, Montana 3
South Dakota State leads Montana 7-3 after the first half of the 2023-24 FCS Championship game. The game has been a defensive slugfest with neither team passing for more than 100 yards in the first half.
The Jackrabbits scored the first points of the game on its opening possession after Isaiah Davis scored on the a touchdown run. However, SDSU's offense stalled out on its three remaining drives with an interception and two punts. After South Dakota State's first drive, Montana's defense only allowed one first down.
Montana's offense found success after forcing two South Dakota State turnovers in the first half. While the Grizzlies weren't able to convert any turnovers into touchdowns, they did take advantage of field position with a 30-yard field goal. However, the Grizzlies might've left points on the board after getting stopped on the one-yard line on its opening drive.
Check out the first half stats below.
Another turnover for the Grizz! | 2Q - 4:12
Montana grabbed its second turnover of the game, this time from a South Dakota State error on special teams. Checkout the potentially game-changing play below.
Grizzlies on the board! SDSU 7, UM 0 | 2Q -10:51
Montana kicker Nico Ramos made a 30-yard field goal to give the Grizzlies their first points of the FCS Championship. The three points close a six-play drive from Montana following the game's first turnover.
Interception Grizzlies | 2Q - 13:24
Montana cornerback Corbin Walker intercepted South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski for the first turnover of the FCS Championship.
Walker's interception gets the Grizzlies the ball back in South Dakota State territory just moments after a goalline-stand from South Dakota State linebacker Adam Bock stopped Montana running back Eli Gillman inches away from pay dirt.
First quarter: South Dakota State 7, Montana 0
South Dakota State leads Montana 7-0 after a fast first quarter. Both schools have only had one possession each, with the Jackrabbits scoring on an 11-play 75-yard drive. On Montana's ensuing possession, it drove the ball to the SDSU one-yard line as the quarter expired. When play resumes, Montana will face a fourth-and-goal one yard away from the endzone.
Jackrabbits strike first! SDSU 7, UM 0 | 1Q - 8:08
South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis showed off his vision, bouncing outside on a six-yard run for the first touchdown of the FCS Championship. Davis has now scored a touchdown in all three of South Dakota State's FCS title games, dating back to the spring 2021 season.
The 2023 FCS Championship is underway
The FCS Championship is almost here
The 2023 FCS Championship game is almost here. Both No. 1 South Dakota State and No. 2 Montana have arrived and are warming up at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas for the 2 p.m. ET kickoff. Click or tap here for stats from the game and watch the game on ABC.
Check out some of the Jackrabbit and Grizzly player reading some supportive messages from fans below too.
South Dakota State's Mark Gronowski wins Walter Payton Award
On the eve of the FCS national championship, South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski won the premier offensive award in the FCS: the Walter Payton Award. Gronowski is the first SDSU player to win the award in program history.
Click or tap here for more on his award win.
South Dakota State head coach Jimmy Rogers and Montana running back Eli Gillman were also in attendance at the FCS awards ceremony, receiving the previously announced Eddie Robinson Award and Jerry Rice Award. Tennessee State's Terrell Allen won the Buck Buchanan Award.