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🦁 Penn State handles SMU
☘️ Notre Dame beats Indiana
North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State for the second time this year, this time 28-21 with a national title berth on the line.
Bryce Lance stole the show for the Bison. His game-winning one-handed touchdown catch but the Bison in front late in the fourth quarter. It was his third touchdown catch of the day as he moved into first in the NDSU single-season receiving touchdown record book (16).
Defensively, North Dakota State held 2023 Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Mark Gronowoski to completing just 56 percent of his passes while forcing the games only turnover, a fumble in the second quarter.
With the win, North Dakota State will advance to Frisco, Texas to play in the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.
SEE YOU IN FRISCO, @NDSUfootball! 🦬#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/nZJFxfaGG8
Click or tap here for stats from the game
An inside stunt on a North Dakota Stateblitz led Jaxon Duttenhefer and Loshiaka Roques to land the game-winning sack on South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski on fourth down. North Dakota State takes over possession and South Dakota State only has one timeout. The Bison will win the game!
FRISCOOOOOOOOOO!!!! pic.twitter.com/bfUsUkSRsy
Bryce Lance. All he needed was one hand for his third touchdown of the day that put North Dakota State up seven points late in the fourth quarter. The catch puts Lance in sole possession of the single-season Bison receiving TD record.
South Dakota State will try to answer with 4:02 remaining and three timeouts.
Unreal. Absolutely unreal.
BRYCE. LANCE. pic.twitter.com/4FLaU44j3o
Quarterback Mark Gronowski found wide receiver Grahm Goering in the end zone for a 14-yard game-tying score.
Q4 | Welcome back, Grahm Goering!
14-yard touchdown pass from Mark Gronowski on third-and-8 leads to a tie game
📽️ » ABC/ESPN#GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/nrtXbFlSlC
Gronowski went 4-5 passing for 86 yards and the score on the 90-yard scoring drive.
Q4 | Jacks Convert!
Mark Gronowski on third and long connects with Griffin Wilde for 27 yards and a first down
📽️ » ABC/NCAA pic.twitter.com/jpzV7xOPEr
After a dormant third quarter, it took North Dakota State just three plays to go 70 yards and find the end zone. Quarterback Cam Miller found wide receiver Bryce Lance for the duo’s third touchdown of the day, this time from 47-yards out — the longest play of the day.
The score gives Lance five touchdowns for 115 yards and two scores. He’s tied the North Dakota State single-season receiving touchdowns record at 15.
TOUCHDOWN, Bison!
47-yard strike from Cam to Bryce!
Bryce Lance has now tied the NDSU single-season receiving TDs record with No. 1⃣5⃣! pic.twitter.com/tR5DuHKWfl
North Dakota State and South Dakota State went scoreless in the third quarter. There were five punts on all five drives, with South Dakota State facing a third-and-seven at its own 19-yard line when play resumes.
While there wasn’t much offensively, the defenses stood out.
North Dakota State had four tackles for loss. South Dakota State had two tackles for loss and forced a fumble that it didn’t recover.
See stats through three quarters below
Four punts opened the first four third quarter drives as both the South Dakota State and North Dakota State defenses are holding their own. We’re still deadlocked in the first FCS semifinal game.
Stuffed. pic.twitter.com/4yCL1EPRre
North Dakota State and South Dakota State are tied at 14 apiece after the first half. It’s been a tightly-contested battle as most battles between the two rivals are.
South Dakota State has been able to lean on its running attack, gaining 111 yards to NDSU’s 53. Amar Johnson and Mark Gronowski have scored on the ground.
Meanwhile, Cam Miller has accounted for both North Dakota State touchdowns, scoring once with his legs and once with his arm. Miller also has been efficient, completing six of seven passes.
The biggest play of the first half was the lone turnover, a fumble by Amar Johnson that gave North Dakota State the ball in Jackrabbit territory.
When play resumes, North Dakota State will receive the second half kick. See first half stats below.
Points off turnovers! After a 12-yard pass to Bryce Lance, North Dakota State ran the ball six straight plays until it found the end zone. It was Cam Miller running off the right edge for a two-yard score which tied the game up.
TOUCHDOWN, Bison!
We’re all tied up. pic.twitter.com/UD84sR2BOb
THAT’S OUR BALL pic.twitter.com/GSfVpuCtg1
Amar Johnson made plenty of defenders miss on a 39-yard touchdown run that featured both a hurdle and a stiff arm. The run gives the Jackrabbits 100 yards on the ground today and puts them in front 14-7.
The touchdown capped off an 86-yard scoring drive. In total, South Dakota State is outscoring opponents in the second quarter 238-43 this year.
Amar Johnson. Big. Time. Run.
39 yards and a 14-7 Jackrabbit lead
📽️ » ABC/NCAA#GoJacks🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/eEQbqw6Lrr
We’re tied after the first quarter in the Dakota Marker rematch. After both teams matched each other on their scoring drives, South Dakota State forced a three-and-out on North Dakota State after the Bison false started on fourth down and were forced to punt.
When play resumes, South Dakota State will have the ball at its own 42 yard line facing second-and-four. See first quarter stats below.
South Dakota State answered North Dakota State’s first points with a scoring drive of its own. The Jackrabbits didn’t have a negative play or an incomplete pass on its 10-play drive, capped off by a quarterback sneak from Mark Gronowski.
1st and Goal!
Mark Gronowski finds Lofton O'Groske open over the middle for a 35-yard gain
📽️ » ABC/NCAA pic.twitter.com/QHdghz6chr
Touchdown, Jackrabbits
Mark Gronowski sneaks in from a yard out, capping a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive … Gronowski’s fifth rushing touchdown of the 2024 playoffs
Jacks and Bison tied at 7 with 4:14 to play in Q1
📽️ » ABC/NCAA#GoJacks🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/tjS3fdBcVV
The Cam Miller-Bryce Lance connection is cooking early. The duo connected twice for games of 30 and 21 yards on North Dakota State’s opening drive, with the latter catch going for a touchdown.
Miller 🎯 Lance
TOUCHDOWN, Bison! pic.twitter.com/xzFXoLcRq5
