BROOKINGS, SD – Mark Gronowski threw three touchdowns and ran for two to help lead two-time defending champion South Dakota State beat Incarnate Word 55-14 in an FCS quarterfinal on Saturday.

Third-seeded South Dakota State (12-2) will face No. 2 seed North Dakota State in the semifinals. North Dakota State defeated Mercer 31-7 on Saturday.

In the first half, Gronowski completed just four of 11 passes, but two of the completions were touchdown throws to Griffin Wilde. Gronowski also had touchdown runs of 3 yards and 1 yard.

South Dakota State’s defense allowed just 121 yards in the first half and held the offense to 10 points. A Matthew Durrance interception started a short touchdown drive, and a Tucker Large fumble recovery led to a field goal that made the score 31-0 at halftime.

Gronowski connected with David Alpers on a 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown early in the third quarter for a 38-7 lead.

UIW scored on consecutive possessions to get within 38-14, but the Jackrabbits broke through in the fourth quarter with a field goal and 1-yard touchdowns from Kirby Vorhees and Brenden Begeman.

Gronowski finished the game with 174 passing yards on seven completions in 16 attempts. Amar Johnson ran for 133 yards. The Jackrabbits gained 477 yards on offense.

Zach Calzada was 37 of 51 passing for 249 yards with a touchdown for UIW (11-3).

UIW finished the game with 337 yards of offense, but was 4-for-15 on third down and 1-for-5 on fourth down.

South Dakota State also defeated UIW in the regular season, 45-24, on Sept. 7. All three of UIW’s losses came against Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents, two against South Dakota State and one against Southern Illinois.

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