# 2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

The 2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led John Stiegelmeier in his 26th and final season as head coach, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 14–1 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Delaware in the second round, Holy Cross in the quarterfinals, Montana State in the semifinals, and fellow MVFC member North Dakota State in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's first national title. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 11:00 a.m. | at Iowa* | No. 2 | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | FS1 | L 3–7 | 69,250 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | UC Davis* | No. 2 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | MidcoSN/ESPN+ | W 24–22 | 15,182 |
| September 17 | 6:00 p.m. | Butler* | No. 2 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | MidcoSN | W 45–17 | 16,414 |
| September 24 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Missouri State | No. T–2 | Robert W. Plaster StadiumSpringfield, MO | ESPN3 | W 28–14 | 13,189 |
| October 1 | 2:00 p.m. | Western Illinois | No. 2 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | MidcoSN2 | W 34–10 | 15,237 |
| October 8 | 2:00 p.m. | South Dakota | No. 2 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (rivalry) | MidcoSN/ESPN+ | W 28–3 | 19,332 |
| October 15 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 1 North Dakota State | No. 2 | FargodomeFargo, ND (Dakota Marker) | MidcoSN/ESPN+ | W 23–21 | 18,603 |
| October 22 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 20 North Dakota | No. 1 | Alerus CenterGrand Forks, ND | MidcoSN+/ESPN+ | W 49–35 | 11,067 |
| October 29 | 2:00 p.m. | Indiana State | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | MidcoSN/ESPN+ | W 49–7 | 19,041 |
| November 5 | 4:00 p.m. | at Northern Iowa | No. 1 | UNI-DomeCedar Falls, IA | MidcoSN2/ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 9,449 |
| November 12 | 2:00 p.m. | Illinois State | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | MidcoSN2/ESPN+ | W 31–7 | 8,160 |
| December 3 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 23 Delaware* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Second Round) | ESPN+ | W 42–6 | 6,117 |
| December 10 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 7 Holy Cross* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal) | ESPN/ESPN+ | W 42–21 | 6,549 |
| December 17 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 3 Montana State* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Semifinal) | ESPN2/ESPN+ | W 39–18 | 7,195 |
| January 8, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 North Dakota State | No. 1 | Toyota StadiumFrisco, TX (NCAA Division I Championship Game) | ABC/ESPN+ | W 45–21 | 18,023 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Ranking movements

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 т (5) | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 (7) | 1 (51) | 1 (51) | 1 (53) | 1 (48) | 1 (47) | 1 (45) | 1 (54) |
| Coaches | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 (26) | 1 (25) | 1 (25) | 1 (21) | 1 (23) | 1 (24) | 1 (26) |

## Game summaries
### At Iowa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Jackrabbits | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Hawkeyes | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Statistics | SDST | IOWA |
| First downs | 6 | 10 |
| Total yards | 120 | 166 |
| Rushing yards | 33 | 57 |
| Passing yards | 87 | 109 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:44 | 30:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 10/26, 87 yards |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 18 rushes, 50 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Isaiah Davis | 5 receptions, 32 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 11/25, 109 yards, INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Leshon Williams | 24 rushes, 72 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Arland Bruce IV | 5 receptions, 68 yards |

### UC Davis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 22 |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Statistics | UCD | SDSU |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 322 | 250 |
| Rushing yards | 49 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 110 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:09 | 33:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UC Davis | Passing | Miles Hastings | 26/43, 273 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| UC Davis | Rushing | Ulonzo Gilliam | 11 rushes, 33 yards |
| UC Davis | Receiving | Ulonzo Gilliam | 8 receptions, 80 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 13/21, 110 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 25 rushes, 112 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 3 receptions, 36 yards |

### Butler

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 14 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 45 |
| Statistics | BUT | SDSU |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 264 | 463 |
| Rushing yards | 53 | 184 |
| Passing yards | 211 | 279 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:49 | 32:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 18/31, 211 yards, TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Bret Bushka | 9 carries, 29 yards, TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Luke Wooten | 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 17/25, 279 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 11 carries, 74 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD |

### At No. 6 Missouri State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| No. 6 Bears | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | SDSU | MSU |
| First downs | 25 | 13 |
| Total yards | 475 | 258 |
| Rushing yards | 156 | 73 |
| Passing yards | 319 | 185 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:55 | 25:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 22/29, 319 yards, 4 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 20 rushes, 83 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Zach Heins | 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD |
| Missouri State | Passing | Jason Shelley | 19/29, 185 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Missouri State | Rushing | Jacardia Wright | 13 rushes, 63 yards, TD |
| Missouri State | Receiving | Raylen Sharpe | 1 receptions, 67 yards, TD |

### Western Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Leathernecks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 34 |
| Statistics | WIU | SDSU |
| First downs | 11 | 28 |
| Total yards | 220 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 19 | 270 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 188 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 18:34 | 41:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Illinois | Passing | Clay Bruno | 10/20, 129 yards, INT |
| Western Illinois | Rushing | Jaylen Reed | 8 rushes, 22 yards |
| Western Illinois | Receiving | Naseim Brantley | 4 receptions, 107 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 17/33, 188 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 27 rushes, 199 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 9 receptions, 94 yards, TD |

### South Dakota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Coyotes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | USD | SDSU |
| First downs | 6 | 22 |
| Total yards | 136 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 92 | 208 |
| Passing yards | 44 | 136 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:09 | 33:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Carson Camp | 5/12, 44 yards, 2 INT |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 13 rushes, 73 yards |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Javion Phelps | 1 reception, 17 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 12/20, 136 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 15 rushes, 108 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD |

### At No. 1 North Dakota State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Jackrabbits | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 23 |
| No. 1 Bison | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Statistics | SDSU | NDSU |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 359 | 354 |
| Rushing yards | 207 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 227 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:35 | 25:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 16/21, 152 yards |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 14 rushes, 114 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 7 receptions, 83 yards |
| North Dakota State | Passing | Cam Miller | 17/22, 227 yards, 2 TD |
| North Dakota State | Rushing | Hunter Luepke | 15 rushes, 58 yards |
| North Dakota State | Receiving | DJ Hart | 4 receptions, 59 yards |

### At No. 20 North Dakota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 7 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 49 |
| No. 20 Fighting Hawks | 14 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Statistics | SDSU | UND |
| First downs | 13 | 23 |
| Total yards | 308 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 95 | 74 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 291 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 23:38 | 36:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 15/20, 197 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Amar Johnson | 14 rushes, 71 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 5 receptions, 86 yards |
| North Dakota | Passing | Tommy Schuster | 27/39, 291 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Dakota | Rushing | Tyler Hoosman | 15 rushes, 44 yards, TD |
| North Dakota | Receiving | Bo Belquist | 6 receptions, 82 yards, TD |

### Indiana State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sycamores | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Statistics | ISU | SDSU |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Total yards | 260 | 409 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 162 |
| Passing yards | 154 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:18 | 30:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Indiana State | Passing | Cade Chambers | 11/24, 114 yards, TD, INT |
| Indiana State | Rushing | Justin Dinka | 16 carries, 52 yards |
| Indiana State | Receiving | Dante Hendrix | 4 receptions, 41 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 22/28, 233 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Amar Johnson | 10 carries, 75 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 5 receptions, 82 yards |

### At Northern Iowa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 3 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 31 |
| Panthers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | SDSU | UNI |
| First downs | 22 | 19 |
| Total yards | 427 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 88 |
| Passing yards | 263 | 270 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:36 | 26:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 21/34, 263 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 24 rushes, 105 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Tucker Kraft | 4 receptions, 69 yards |
| Northern Iowa | Passing | Theo Day | 16/30, 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Northern Iowa | Rushing | Vance McShane | 8 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| Northern Iowa | Receiving | Sam Schnee | 4 receptions, 69 yards |

### Illinois State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redbirds | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 0 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 31 |
| Statistics | ISU | SDSU |
| First downs | 7 | 23 |
| Total yards | 100 | 431 |
| Rushing yards | 45 | 148 |
| Passing yards | 55 | 283 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 20:26 | 39:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Illinois State | Passing | Tommy Rittenhouse | 9/20, 55 yards, INT |
| Illinois State | Rushing | Tommy Rittenhouse | 9 carries, 18 yards |
| Illinois State | Receiving | Daniel Sobkowicz | 4 receptions, 32 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 20/28, 283 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 50 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 5 receptions, 129 yards |

#### NCAA Division I playoffs
### No. 23 Delaware (second round)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 23 Fightin' Blue Hens | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
| Statistics | DEL | SDSU |
| First downs | 13 | 16 |
| Total yards | 192 | 353 |
| Rushing yards | 64 | 222 |
| Passing yards | 128 | 131 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:03 | 28:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Delaware | Passing | Ryan O'Connor | 10/21, 104 yards |
| Delaware | Rushing | Kyron Cumby | 10 carries, 23 yards |
| Delaware | Receiving | Thyrick Pitts | 5 receptions, 57 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 11/15, 131 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 14 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 3 receptions, 48 yards |

### No. 7 Holy Cross (quarterfinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Crusaders | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 6 | 15 | 0 | 21 | 42 |
| Statistics | HC | SDSU |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Total yards | 281 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 281 |
| Passing yards | 229 | 192 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:00 | 31:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Holy Cross | Passing | Tommy Mellott | 11/18, 174 yards |
| Holy Cross | Rushing | Isaiah Ifanse | 7 carries, 28 yards |
| Holy Cross | Receiving | Clevan Thomas Jr. | 4 receptions, 74 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 10/13, 189 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 158 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 3 receptions, 74 yards |

### No. 3 Montana State (semifinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Bobcats | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 39 |
| Statistics | MSU | SDSU |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Total yards | 281 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 281 |
| Passing yards | 229 | 192 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:00 | 31:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Montana State | Passing | Tommy Mellott | 11/18, 174 yards |
| Montana State | Rushing | Isaiah Ifanse | 7 carries, 28 yards |
| Montana State | Receiving | Clevan Thomas Jr. | 4 receptions, 74 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 10/13, 189 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 158 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 3 receptions, 74 yards |

### Vs. No. 4 North Dakota State (championship game)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Bison | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 7 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Statistics | NDSU | SDSU |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 420 | 506 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 283 |
| Passing yards | 260 | 223 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:00 | 32:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Dakota State | Passing | Cam Miller | 18/29, 260 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Dakota State | Rushing | Cam Miller | 13 carries, 64 yards |
| North Dakota State | Receiving | Zach Mathis | 7 receptions, 123 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 14/21, 223 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Amar Johnson | 9 carries, 126 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 78 | Tucker Kraft | TE | Green Bay Packers |