SDSU Athletic Communications | Des Moines Register
Quarterback Chase Mason returned to the South Dakota State football lineup after a long layoff and led the 14th-seeded Jackrabbits to touchdowns on their first four possessions en route to a 41-3 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the FCS playoffs at a snowy Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
The Jackrabbits, who were hosting a postseason game for the 10th season in a row, improved to 9-4 overall. New Hampshire had its season end with an 8-5 mark.
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SDSU took the opening kickoff and effectively mixed the run and the pass to find the end zone for the first time with a nine-play, 75-yard march. Julius Loughridge tallied the longest play of the drive with a 27-yard run before scoring on a 1-yard plunge.
After a UNH punt, Mason continued his hot start by completing all five of his passes for 63 yards as part of a 13-play, 88-yard scoring drive. Three of his passes went to Grahm Goering for gains of 17, 11 and 11 yards, with the other two going to tight end Coleman Kutz for 6 and 18 yards. Josiah Johnson finished off the drive with a touchdown run from a yard out for a 14-0 Jackrabbit lead with a minute to go in the first quarter.
Mason, who last played when he was injured on the opening series Oct. 18 at Murray State, completed his final 11 passes of the first half, including a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. His first scoring toss came on a tipped ball to Alex Bullock from 7 yards out, with the other going to Jack Smith on a bubble screen in which the redshirt freshman from Sioux Falls turned the corner down the left sideline and out-raced the Wildcat defense for a 42-yard touchdown.
Those Jackrabbit touchdowns were sandwiched around UNH’s lone scoring drive of the game. The Wildcats were able to get the run game going behind Denzell Gibson, who broke off a 26-yard run to move the ball into SDSU territory. Nick Reed connected on a 30-yard field goal to close out the 15-play, 63-yard drive.
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After a scoreless third quarter, SDSU added to its lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mason to Kuntz.
The Jackrabbits provided the final tally with a 14-play, 56-yard scoring drive that chewed up nearly eight and a half minutes later in the fourth quarter. SDSU ran 13 consecutive running plays before backup quarterback Jack Henry found fullback/tight end Andrew Gustad in the right flat for a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal.
SDSU ended the day with a 425-192 advantage in total offense, including a 232-48 disparity in the passing department. Mason completed 16-of-20 passes for 230 yards and tied a career high with his three touchdown passes.
Loughridge paced the ground game with 100 yards on 16 carries, followed by 32 yards on nine carries by Corey Blair Jr. and 30 yards on 10 carries by Johnson.
Bryce Johnson filled in for an injured Cullen McShane and registered 10 tackles for SDSU to tie a career high. Fellow linebacker Joe Ollman notched eight tackles.
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South Dakota State advances to face third-seeded Montana in second-round action Dec. 6. Kickoff is slated for noon Mountain Time (1 p.m. Central) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana. It will mark the third consecutive season and fifth time overall the two programs have met in postseason play, with each winning twice.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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