CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw three touchdown passes, including a 68-yard stroke to Angel Johnson, and Noah Thompson returned a punt 49 yards for a score to lead No. 1-ranked South Dakota State to a 41-3 win over Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools.
The Jackrabbits, No. 1 in the FCS coaches poll, held the Panthers to 246 yards of offense and allowed just a 40-yard second-quarter field goal by Caden Palmer.
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MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Travis Theis ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns, Charles Pierre Jr. scored three times on the ground, and South Dakota buried Murray State 59-0.
The Coyotes scored seven rushing touchdowns and ran for 361 yards. Aidan Bouman threw one touchdown pass and was 16-of-22 for 221 yards. No. 4 FCS South Dakota (4-1, 2-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) had 582 total yards and averaged 10.0 yards per pass attempt and 7.7 yards per rush.
The Coyotes had long touchdowns such as a 44-yard run by Theis that made it 21-0 in the first quarter and a 74-yard run by Nevan Cremascoli for a 52-0 lead in the fourth.
