BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO.com) — South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns, more than enough offense in a 28-3 win against South Dakota Saturday at Dykstra Stadium.
It was the 116th meeting in a series that dates back to 1889. The Jackrabbits (5-1, 3-0 MVFC) hosted the game for the first time since 2018 and ended a two-game skid against the Coyotes (1-4, 0-2). SDSU outgained its rival 344-136. South Dakota mustered six first downs to 22 for the home team.
South Dakota running back Travis Theis was the bright spot. He muscled for 73 yards on 13 carries against a team that hasn’t allowed 100 yards on the ground this season. Many of those yards came after initial contact. His 29-yard scamper on the opening possession of the game was the longest SDSU had allowed all season and it helped give South Dakota a 3-0 lead.
South Dakota marched 50 yards on its opening possession that Eddie Ogamba capped with a season-best 37-yard field goal. But the Jackrabbits didn’t allow another first down until USD’s first play of the second half. In fact, the Coyotes’ only other drive of note was their final one when they had 1st-and-goal from the 2 and were turned away in four plays.
South Dakota State led 14-3 at halftime, then held the ball for the majority of the second half with Davis and a ground game that totaled 208 yards. Davis capped touchdown drives of 70 and 80 yards out of the break to cap the scoring. South Dakota had three second-half possessions and ran just four offensive plays in the third quarter.
Turnovers were equal at two apiece. South Dakota recovered a muffed punt on the Jacks’ 9-yard line on the first play of the second quarter while maintaining its 3-0 lead. But Carson Camp was intercepted in the end zone on 3rd-and-goal from the 8. Mark Gronowski led SDSU back the other way and hit Jaxon Janke on a 28-yard touchdown strike that got the Jackrabbits on the board.
Camp was intercepted twice early on and the Coyote passing game never got going. Camp completed 5-of-14 passes for 44 yards. He was sacked seven times and has taken 22 sacks in five games.
South Dakota’s other forced turnover was a sentimental one as safety Josh Manchigiah picked off a deflected pass from Gronowski in the fourth quarter and returned it 38 yards to set up USD’s final possession. Manchigiah played in 53 games for SDSU over the last six seasons. He started for the red team in this one and had six tackles to go with his first pick as a Coyote.
South Dakota stays on the road for the fourth time in six games next week. The Coyotes will take on Illinois State in a 2 p.m. kick Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.
