BROOKINGS, SD (KELO) – No. 3 SDSU returned to the FCS semifinals with a 55-14 victory over No. 6 Incarnate Word in the quarterfinals on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The Jackrabbits scored the first 38 points of the game. They outscored the Cardinals 477-345, including 274-87 on the ground. South Dakota State scored on nine of its 14 drives.

Mark Gronowski threw two 35-yard touchdown passes to Sioux Falls native Griffin Wilde to give the Jacks a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. On his second TD strike, the senior QB surpassed 10,000 career passing yards. The Naperville, Illinois, native scored two outstanding goals for State in the first half.

Gronowski finished the game 7-for-16 for 174 yards. He had three passing touchdowns and two rushing TDs. He accumulated 19 yards on the ground.

Amar Johnson led the rushing attack with 133 yards and 18 carries. Wilde had three catches for 67 yards.

Sophomore tight end David Alpers of Sioux Falls scored his first career touchdown catch on a 59-yarder to start scoring in the second half. Brenden Begeman of Selby rushed for his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The attendance for the game was 8,671.

State advances to the FCS semifinals next Saturday at 11 a.m. There it will face No. 2 NDSU in a rematch of their Dakota Marker showdown, which the Bison won 14-9 on Oct. 19.

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