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Montana State at South Dakota State

Saturday, December 17, 2022, FCS Championship – Semifinals, CFP Semifinal

South Dakota State beat Montana State 39–⁠18. It was their sixth meeting; after it, South Dakota State led the series 4–⁠2.

AwayMontana State12–⁠2 in 2022
18
HomeSouth Dakota State14–⁠1 in 2022
39

Final at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, BrookingsTV: ESPN+, ESPN2Attendance 7,195

At kickoff
8°F, mostly cloudy, wind 20 mph from the northwestWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Brookings Municipal Airport (KBKX), 3 km from the stadium
Official
Matt OvertonGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Montana State633618
South Dakota State14148339

Standouts

  • PassingMark Gronowski10 of 13, 189 yards, 2 TDSouth Dakota State
  • RushingIsaiah Davis16 carries, 158 yards, 1 TDSouth Dakota State

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Montana State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tommy Mellott11/1817400
Sean Austin3/54800
Ryan Lonergan1/1100
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Isaiah Ifanse72808
Sean Chambers51216
Elijah Elliott1505
Sean Austin1404
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Clevan Thomas474033
Ravi Alston252030
Willie Patterson336024
Derryk Snell332015

South Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Mark Gronowski10/1318920
Rudy Voss1/2300
Isaiah Davis0/1000
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Isaiah Davis16158141
Amar Johnson757138
Mark Gronowski1052116
Tucker Kraft1303
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jaxon Janke374038
Tucker Kraft469136
Amar Johnson331123
Jadon Janke118018

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Montana StateSouth Dakota State
275Total yards462
223Passing yards192
52Rushing yards270
9.3Yards per pass12.0
1.7Yards per rush7.9
15First downs21
3–⁠11Third downs4–⁠8
2–⁠3Fourth downs1–⁠1
0Turnovers0
4–⁠20Penalties3–⁠20
27:12Possession28:18

Efficiency

Montana StateSouth Dakota State
42%Success rate64%
0.09EPA per play0.60
1.35Explosiveness1.25
−0.10Rushing EPA0.50
0.31Passing EPA0.81
28%Passing-down success33%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

South Dakota State 59% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

South Dakota State −4, over/under 56.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were South Dakota State 61%, Montana State 39%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

South Dakota State end zoneMontana State end zoneQ1 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ1 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 Montana StatePunt, 8 playsQ2 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 3 playsQ2 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 Montana StateField goal, 6 playsQ3 Montana StatePunt, 5 playsQ3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 Montana StateField goal, 6 playsQ3 South Dakota StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 South Dakota StateField goal, 6 playsQ4 Montana StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StateResult not recorded, 6 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. South Dakota State drives left to right, Montana State right to left.
  1. Q1 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 67 yards
  3. Q1 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 plays, 79 yards
  4. Q1 Montana StatePunt, 8 plays, 42 yards
  5. Q2 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 3 plays, 80 yards
  6. Q2 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, −1 yard
  7. Q2 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 85 yards
  8. Q2 Montana StateField goal, 6 plays, 0 yards
  9. Q3 Montana StatePunt, 5 plays, 9 yards
  10. Q3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 80 yards
  11. Q3 Montana StateField goal, 6 plays, 6 yards
  12. Q3 South Dakota StatePunt, 6 plays, 14 yards
  13. Q3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 3 yards
  14. Q4 South Dakota StateField goal, 6 plays, 47 yards
  15. Q4 Montana StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 66 yards
  16. Q4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  17. Q4 Montana StateResult not recorded, 6 plays, −52 yards

Play by play

1st quarter4 drives, then South Dakota State 14, Montana State 6
South Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Blake Glessner kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:401st & 10 at own 25Isaiah Davis run for 22 yds to the SDkSt 47 for a 1ST down
14:001st & 10 at own 47Mark Gronowski pass complete to Tucker Kraft for 7 yds to the MntSt 46
13:302nd & 3 at opp 46Mark Gronowski run for 7 yds to the MntSt 39 for a 1ST down
12:501st & 10 at opp 39Isaiah Davis run for 3 yds to the MntSt 36
12:172nd & 7 at opp 36Mark Gronowski pass complete to Tucker Kraft for 36 yds for a TD, (Hunter Dustman KICK)South Dakota State 7, Montana State 0
Montana State Touchdown, 10 plays
12:122nd & 7 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 48 yds , Derryk Snell return for 16 yds to the MntSt 33
12:001st & 10 at own 33Sean Chambers run for 4 yds to the MntSt 37
11:252nd & 6 at own 37Tommy Mellott pass complete to Willie Patterson for 4 yds to the MntSt 41
11:003rd & 2 at own 41Sean Chambers run for 6 yds to the MntSt 47 for a 1ST down
10:051st & 10 at own 47Tommy Mellott sacked by Adam Bock for a loss of 3 yards to the MntSt 44
9:452nd & 13 at own 44Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 19 yds to the SDkSt 37 for a 1ST down
9:301st & 10 at opp 37Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 33 yds to the SDkSt 4 for a 1ST down
8:561st & 0 at opp 4Timeout SO DAKOTA ST, clock 08:56
8:451st & goal at opp 4Isaiah Ifanse run for 2 yds to the SDkSt 2
8:002nd & goal at opp 2Sean Chambers run for 1 yd to the SDkSt 1
7:303rd & goal at opp 1Sean Chambers run for no gain to the SDkSt 1
6:554th & goal at opp 1Sean Chambers run for 1 yd for a TD, (Two-Point Conversion failed)South Dakota State 7, Montana State 6
South Dakota State Touchdown, 12 plays
6:494th & 7 at own 35Blake Glessner kickoff for 61 yds , Jadon Janke return for 17 yds to the SDkSt 21
6:351st & 10 at own 21Amar Johnson run for 7 yds to the SDkSt 28
6:202nd & 3 at own 28Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jadon Janke for 18 yds to the SDkSt 46 for a 1ST down
5:351st & 10 at own 46Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Tucker Kraft
5:202nd & 10 at own 46Mark Gronowski run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
4:453rd & 6 at the 50Mark Gronowski run for 6 yds to the MntSt 44 for a 1ST down
4:201st & 10 at opp 44Isaiah Davis run for 1 yd to the MntSt 43
3:402nd & 9 at opp 43Amar Johnson run for 4 yds to the MntSt 39
2:453rd & 5 at opp 39Isaiah Davis run for 20 yds to the MntSt 19 for a 1ST down
2:101st & 10 at opp 19Isaiah Davis run for 6 yds to the MntSt 13
1:402nd & 4 at opp 13Isaiah Davis run for 7 yds to the MntSt 6 for a 1ST down
1:001st & goal at opp 6Isaiah Davis run for 5 yds to the MntSt 1
0:402nd & goal at opp 1Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd for a TD, (Hunter Dustman KICK)South Dakota State 14, Montana State 6
Montana State Punt, 8 plays
0:342nd & 5 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 54 yds , Marqui Johnson return for 13 yds to the MntSt 24
0:201st & 10 at own 24Isaiah Ifanse run for 7 yds to the MntSt 31 Isaiah Ifanse fumbled, recovered by MntSt Isaiah Ifanse
0:002nd & 3 at own 31Tommy Mellott run for no gain to the MntSt 31
Q2 14:503rd & 3 at own 31Mellott, Tommy pass incomplete to Snell, Derryk, PENALTY SODAKOTAST pass interference (Stalbird, Isaiah) 0 yards to the MONTANAST46, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN MONTANAST.
Q2 14:301st & 10 at own 46MONTANA ST Penalty, False Start (Jacob Kettels) to the MntSt 41
Q2 14:001st & 15 at own 41Isaiah Ifanse run for 3 yds to the MntSt 44
Q2 13:502nd & 12 at own 44Isaiah Ifanse run for 2 yds to the MntSt 46
Q2 13:153rd & 10 at own 46Tommy Mellott pass complete to Willie Patterson for 24 yds to the SDkSt 30 for a 1ST down
Q2 12:451st & 10 at opp 30Tommy Mellott run for 1 yd to the SDkSt 29
Q2 12:302nd & 9 at opp 29MONTANA ST Penalty, Substitution Infraction (-5 Yards) to the SDkSt 34
Q2 11:452nd & 14 at opp 34Tommy Mellott run for no gain to the SDkSt 34
Q2 11:203rd & 14 at opp 34MONTANA ST Penalty, Delay of Game (TEAM) to the SDkSt 39
Q2 11:003rd & 19 at opp 39Elijah Elliott run for 5 yds to the SDkSt 34
Q2 10:174th & 14 at opp 34Bryce Leighton punt for 34 yds for a touchback
2nd quarter4 drives, then South Dakota State 28, Montana State 9
South Dakota State Touchdown, 3 plays
10:001st & 10 at own 20Mark Gronowski run for 16 yds to the SDkSt 36 for a 1ST down
9:301st & 10 at own 36Mark Gronowski pass complete to Amar Johnson for 23 yds to the MntSt 41 for a 1ST down
8:471st & 10 at opp 41Isaiah Davis run for 41 yds for a TD, (Hunter Dustman KICK)South Dakota State 21, Montana State 6
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
8:331st & 10 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 54 yds , Marqui Johnson return for 34 yds to the MntSt 45
8:201st & 10 at own 45Isaiah Ifanse run for no gain to the MntSt 45
7:452nd & 10 at own 45Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the MntSt 49
6:453rd & 6 at own 49Tommy Mellott sacked by Caleb Sanders and Reece Winkelman for a loss of 5 yards to the MntSt 44
6:184th & 11 at own 44Bryce Leighton punt for 41 yds, downed at the SDkSt 15
South Dakota State Touchdown, 9 plays
6:051st & 10 at own 15Mark Gronowski run for 9 yds to the SDkSt 24
5:352nd & 1 at own 24Isaiah Davis run for 1 yd to the SDkSt 25 for a 1ST down
5:151st & 10 at own 25Mark Gronowski pass complete to Tucker Kraft for 19 yds to the SDkSt 44 for a 1ST down
4:241st & 10 at own 44Mark Gronowski run for 4 yds to the SDkSt 48
3:372nd & 6 at own 48Amar Johnson run for 5 yds to the MntSt 47
2:553rd & 1 at opp 47Amar Johnson run for no gain to the MntSt 47
2:304th & 1 at opp 47Tucker Kraft run for 3 yds to the MntSt 44 for a 1ST down
1:501st & 10 at opp 44Isaiah Davis run for 6 yds to the MntSt 38
1:032nd & 4 at opp 38Amar Johnson run for 38 yds for a TD (Hunter Dustman KICK)South Dakota State 28, Montana State 6
Montana State Field goal, 6 plays
1:032nd & 4 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 30 yds fair catch by Treyton Pickering at the MntSt 35
0:551st & 10 at own 35Tommy Mellott pass complete to Derryk Snell for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
0:351st & 10 at the 50Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ravi Alston for 30 yds to the SDkSt 20 for a 1ST down
0:221st & 10 at opp 20Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Ravi Alston
0:222nd & 10 at opp 20Tommy Mellott sacked by Cade Terveer for a loss of 11 yards to the SDkSt 31
0:223rd & 21 at opp 31Timeout MONTANA ST, clock 00:22
0:043rd & 21 at opp 31Tommy Mellott pass complete to Derryk Snell for 11 yds to the SDkSt 20
0:044th & 10 at opp 20Timeout MONTANA ST, clock 00:04
0:044th & 10 at opp 20Timeout SO DAKOTA ST, clock 00:04
0:004th & 10 at opp 20Blake Glessner 37 yd FG GOODSouth Dakota State 28, Montana State 9
3rd quarter5 drives, then South Dakota State 36, Montana State 12
Montana State Punt, 5 plays
14:531st & 10 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 53 yds , Derryk Snell return for 20 yds to the MntSt 32
14:451st & 10 at own 32Tommy Mellott run for 7 yds to the MntSt 39
14:202nd & 3 at own 39Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 6 yds to the MntSt 45 for a 1ST down
13:451st & 10 at own 45Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 1 yard to the MntSt 44
12:582nd & 11 at own 44Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 3 yards to the MntSt 41
12:323rd & 14 at own 41Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Derryk Snell
12:254th & 14 at own 41Bryce Leighton punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Jadon Janke at the SDkSt 20
South Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
12:151st & 10 at own 20Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 38 yds to the MntSt 42 for a 1ST down
11:301st & 10 at opp 42Isaiah Davis run for 12 yds to the MntSt 30 for a 1ST down
11:021st & 10 at opp 30Isaiah Davis pass incomplete to Mark Gronowski
10:452nd & 10 at opp 30Isaiah Davis run for 3 yds to the MntSt 27
10:223rd & 7 at opp 27Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 10 yds to the MntSt 17 for a 1ST down
9:551st & 10 at opp 17Mark Gronowski pass complete to Tucker Kraft for 7 yds to the MntSt 10
9:002nd & 3 at opp 10MONTANA ST Penalty, Defensive Offside (Ty Okada) to the MntSt 5 for a 1ST down
8:391st & goal at opp 5Mark Gronowski pass complete to Amar Johnson for 5 yds for a TD (Mark Gronowski pass to Jadon Janke for Two-Point Conversion)South Dakota State 36, Montana State 9
Montana State Field goal, 6 plays
8:261st & 10 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 56 yds , Derryk Snell return for 66 yds to the SDkSt 25
8:141st & 10 at opp 25Tommy Mellott pass complete to Derryk Snell for 6 yds to the SDkSt 19
7:502nd & 4 at opp 19Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the SDkSt 15 for a 1ST down
7:001st & 10 at opp 15Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDkSt 16
6:202nd & 11 at opp 16Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 3 yards to the SDkSt 19
5:333rd & 14 at opp 19Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Treyton Pickering
5:294th & 14 at opp 19Blake Glessner 36 yd FG GOODSouth Dakota State 36, Montana State 12
South Dakota State Punt, 6 plays
5:234th & 14 at own 35Blake Glessner kickoff for 60 yds , Angel Johnson return for 21 yds to the SDkSt 26
5:101st & 10 at own 26Isaiah Davis run for 7 yds to the SDkSt 33
4:202nd & 3 at own 33Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd to the SDkSt 34
3:553rd & 2 at own 34Isaiah Davis run for 3 yds to the SDkSt 37 for a 1ST down
3:141st & 10 at own 37Timeout SO DAKOTA ST, clock 03:14
2:501st & 10 at own 37Mark Gronowski run for 5 yds to the SDkSt 42
2:202nd & 5 at own 42Amar Johnson run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDkSt 41
1:453rd & 6 at own 41Mark Gronowski run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDkSt 40
0:514th & 7 at own 40Hunter Dustman punt for 40 yds , Taco Dowler returns for 27 yds to the MntSt 47
Montana State Turnover on downs, 4 plays
0:151st & 10 at own 47Isaiah Ifanse run for 6 yds to the SDkSt 47
0:002nd & 4 at opp 47Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Ravi Alston
Q4 14:503rd & 4 at opp 47Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 3 yards to the 50 yard line
Q4 14:054th & 7 at the 50Ryan Lonergan pass complete to Taco Dowler for 1 yd to the SDkSt 49
4th quarter4 drives, then South Dakota State 39, Montana State 18
South Dakota State Field goal, 6 plays
13:451st & 10 at own 49Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 26 yds to the MntSt 25 for a 1ST down
13:101st & 10 at opp 25Isaiah Davis run for 19 yds to the MntSt 6 for a 1ST down
12:381st & goal at opp 6Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Tucker Kraft
12:062nd & goal at opp 6Isaiah Davis run for 2 yds to the MntSt 4
11:453rd & goal at opp 4Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Canyon Bauer
11:414th & goal at opp 4Hunter Dustman 21 yd FG GOODSouth Dakota State 39, Montana State 12
Montana State Touchdown, 9 plays
11:364th & 8 at own 35Hunter Dustman kickoff for 50 yds , Derryk Snell return for 19 yds to the MntSt 34
11:311st & 10 at own 34Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Willie Patterson
11:202nd & 10 at own 34Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 10 yds to the MntSt 44 for a 1ST down
11:001st & 10 at own 44Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the MntSt 47
10:152nd & 7 at own 47Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Willie Patterson
9:553rd & 7 at own 47Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 16 yds to the SDkSt 37 for a 1ST down
9:431st & 10 at opp 37Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Treyton Pickering
9:382nd & 10 at opp 37SO DAKOTA ST Penalty, Roughing Passer (Caden Johnson) to the SDkSt 22 for a 1ST down
9:301st & 10 at opp 22Isaiah Ifanse run for 8 yds to the SDkSt 14
8:502nd & 2 at opp 14Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the SDkSt 10 for a 1ST down
8:081st & goal at opp 10Tommy Mellott run for 10 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed )South Dakota State 39, Montana State 18
South Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
8:081st & 10 at own 35Blake Glessner kickoff for 7 yds
7:401st & 10 at opp 42Amar Johnson run for 4 yds to the MntSt 38
7:302nd & 6 at opp 38SO DAKOTA ST Penalty, False Start (Zach Heins) to the MntSt 43
6:552nd & 11 at opp 43Rudy Voss pass complete to Amar Johnson for 3 yds to the MntSt 40
6:273rd & 8 at opp 40Rudy Voss pass incomplete to Jaxon Janke
6:214th & 8 at opp 40Hunter Dustman punt for 24 yds, fair catch by TEAM at the MntSt 16
Montana State Result not recorded, 6 plays
5:581st & 10 at own 16Sean Austin pass complete to Coy Steel for 18 yds to the MntSt 34 for a 1ST down
5:103rd & 10 at own 34Sean Austin run for 4 yds to the MntSt 38
4:564th & 6 at own 38Sean Austin pass complete to Ravi Alston for 22 yds to the SDkSt 40 for a 1ST down
4:301st & 10 at opp 40Sean Austin pass complete to Willie Patterson for 8 yds to the SDkSt 32

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Montana State–South Dakota State game

South Dakota State leads 6–⁠2 in eight meetings, counting the two since this game.

Recent meetings
2025South Dakota State 30, Montana State 24
2023South Dakota State 20, Montana State 16
2022South Dakota State 39, Montana State 18FCS Championship – Semifinals, CFP Semifinal
2021Montana State 31, South Dakota State 17
2018South Dakota State 45, Montana State 14
2017South Dakota State 31, Montana State 27

Around this game

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South Dakota State

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