BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third and top-seeded South Dakota State dominated fourth-seeded Montana State 39-18 on a frozen field in the FCS semifinals.
The Jackrabbits, who have won 13 straight, head to Texas next month for a Missouri Valley Football Conference showdown with third-seeded North Dakota State.
SDSU beat the defending national champion Bison 23-21 on Oct. 15.
Gronowski led South Dakota State to touchdowns on its first five drives with a balanced offense that had 281 yards rushing and 192 passing.
On the other side, the Jackrabbits’ nation-best rushing defense (85.4 yards a game) held the nation’s best rushing offense (331.8) to 52 yards.
The game started with the temperature at 10 degrees and the wind chill at minus-7.
