South Dakota State holds off North Dakota to stay undefeated in conference play

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Dakota Information Now) – For the second week in a row the top-ranked South Dakota State soccer group was on the ropes early on the highway, however as soon as once more the Jackrabbits owned the second half to down twentieth -ranked North Dakota, 49-35, Saturday afternoon on the Alerus Heart.

SDSU scored 35 consecutive factors within the center portion of the sport, together with a 21-0 outburst within the third quarter to run its profitable streak to seven and enhance to 7-1 general. Coupled with Southern Illinois’ loss Saturday at South Dakota, the Jackrabbits took over sole possession of first place within the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention with a 5-0 mark. UND dropped to 4-3 general and 2-2 within the MVFC.

The Preventing Hawks constructed a 14-0 lead within the first seven minutes of the sport. UND took the opening kickoff and completed a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard landing cross from Tommy Schuster to Bo Belquist. Belquist arrange the following Preventing Hawk landing with a 61-yard punt return to the SDSU 11. 5 performs later, backup quarterback Quincy Vaughn plunged in from a yard out.

With UND trying to go up three scores on its subsequent possession, the Jackrabbits have been capable of stem the tide as DyShawn Gales picked off a cross and rolled 31 yards to the tip zone to chop the deficit to 14-7 with 4:20 to play within the first half. The 2 squads traded touchdowns within the second quarter, though UND went again up by 14 on a 2-yard landing run by Tyler Hoosman that got here after a 34-yard flea flicker cross from Schuster to Jack Wright.

What adopted was a Jackrabbit avalanche.

SDSU put collectively its finest offensive drive of the primary half within the closing minutes, overlaying 75 yards on eight performs, with the ultimate 32 yards approaching a landing cross from Mark Gronowski to Tucker Kraft, the latter of whom returned to the lineup Saturday after lacking the final six video games as a result of harm. SDSU put collectively a six-play, 66-yard landing drive to open the second half and knot the sport at 21-all. Jaxon Janke, who had an 18-yard reception earlier within the drive, capped the march with a 10-yard catch and run.

A flurry of extra massive performs adopted, beginning with a 58-yard punt return by Jadon Janke to the UND 8-yard line that led to a 2-yard landing cross from Gronowski to Zach Heins for the Jackrabbits’ first lead of the sport at 28-21. On the Preventing Hawks’ first play from scrimmage on the following drive, Saiveon Williamson compelled a fumble and Isaiah Stalbird’s restoration and 8-yard return to the UND 17 produced one other brief subject for the Jackrabbits. First, Gronowski caught a throw-back cross from Jadon Janke for 16 yards, then the sophomore quarterback scored from a yard out on the following play.

Gronowski would rating once more on a 10-yard run early within the fourth quarter and Amar Johnson added a 1-yard landing run halfway by means of the ultimate stanza to shut out the Jackrabbits’ scoring. The Preventing Hawks scored a pair of touchdowns within the fourth quarter on a 9-yard Schuster run and their second blocked punt of the sport resulted in an 11-yard landing.

Gronowski accounted for a career-high 5 touchdowns — three passing and two dashing — and completed the sport 15-of-20 passing for 197 yards. He additionally gained 20 yards on six carries whereas Johnson, taking part in instead of an injured Isaiah Davis, led SDSU with 71 yards on 14 carries. Jadon Janke tallied 5 catches for 86 yards, with Kraft including three receptions for 53 yards. Kraft additionally returned an onside kick 30 yards to arrange SDSU’s last rating of the competition.

UND completed with a 365-308 benefit in whole offense as Schuster accomplished 27-of-39 passes for 291 yards, however was sacked 5 instances. Hoosman carried 15 instances for 44 yards. Stalbird and Jason Freeman every have been credited with eight tackles to guide the Jackrabbits.

Recap courtesy of SDSU Athletics.

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