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Montana State at South Dakota State

Saturday, September 9, 2023

South Dakota State beat Montana State 20–⁠16. It was their seventh meeting; after it, South Dakota State led the series 5–⁠2.

AwayMontana State8–⁠4 in 2023
16
HomeSouth Dakota State15–⁠0 in 2023
20

Final at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, BrookingsTV: ESPN+Attendance 19,332

At kickoff
71°F, a few clouds, wind 7 mph from the northWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Brookings Municipal Airport (KBKX), 3 km from the stadium
Official
Rick WarneGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Montana State730616
South Dakota State0071320

Standouts

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

Player stats

Montana State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Sean Chambers3/95301
Tommy Mellott6/63400
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Sean Chambers2090113
Julius Davis125709
Tommy Mellott114608
Jared White41606
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Derryk Snell338019
Treyton Pickering121021
Julius Davis31409
Clevan Thomas1909

South Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Mark Gronowski13/2218420
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Isaiah Davis1266016
Amar Johnson547026
Mark Gronowski1026120
Jaxon Janke1909
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Griffin Wilde249135
Grahm Goering140040
Jaxon Janke328011
Zach Heins225116
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Cale Reeder0001

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

Team stats

Montana StateSouth Dakota State
298Total yards341
87Passing yards184
211Rushing yards157
5.8Yards per pass8.4
4.4Yards per rush5.4
17First downs20
4–⁠11Third downs5–⁠9
1–⁠1Fourth downs0–⁠0
1Turnovers1
12–⁠80Penalties7–⁠75
35:23Possession24:37

Efficiency

Montana StateSouth Dakota State
44%Success rate53%
0.08EPA per play0.38
0.85Explosiveness1.14
0.09Rushing EPA0.44
0.25Passing EPA0.31
24%Passing-down success39%

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 going in

Our ratings (scores only)

South Dakota State 65% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

Every drive

South Dakota State end zoneMontana State end zoneQ1 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 South Dakota StateFumble, 6 playsQ1 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 Montana StateField goal, 12 playsQ2 South Dakota StatePunt, 6 playsQ2 Montana StatePunt, 8 playsQ2 South Dakota StateEnd of half, 10 playsQ3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 Montana StatePunt, 7 playsQ3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 playsQ4 Montana StateInterception, 2 playsQ4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StateField goal, 4 playsQ4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StateField goal, 11 playsQ4 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 2 playsQ4 Montana StateEnd of game, 9 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 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 82 yards
  2. Q1 South Dakota StateFumble, 6 plays, −37 yards
  3. Q1 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 57 yards
  4. Q1 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −25 yards
  5. Q1 Montana StateField goal, 12 plays, 56 yards
  6. Q2 South Dakota StatePunt, 6 plays, −25 yards
  7. Q2 Montana StatePunt, 8 plays, 93 yards
  8. Q2 South Dakota StateEnd of half, 10 plays, −7 yards
  9. Q3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, −25 yards
  10. Q3 Montana StatePunt, 7 plays, 75 yards
  11. Q3 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 plays, −5 yards
  12. Q4 Montana StateInterception, 2 plays, 41 yards
  13. Q4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −17 yards
  14. Q4 Montana StateField goal, 4 plays, 1 yard
  15. Q4 South Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −25 yards
  16. Q4 Montana StateField goal, 11 plays, 63 yards
  17. Q4 South Dakota StateTouchdown, 2 plays, −25 yards
  18. Q4 Montana StateEnd of game, 9 plays, 85 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Montana State 7, South Dakota State 0
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
14:55Hunter Dustman kickoff for 65 yds
14:551st & 10 at own 18Tommy Mellott run for 1 yd to the MTST 19
14:552nd & 9 at own 19Tommy Mellott pass complete to Julius Davis for 2 yds to the MTST 21
14:553rd & 7 at own 21Tommy Mellott pass complete to Derryk Snell for 6 yds to the MTST 27
12:454th & 1 at own 27Brendan Hall punt for 36 yds, fair catch by Tucker Large at the SDST 37
South Dakota State Fumble, 6 plays
12:451st & 10 at own 37Isaiah Davis run for 5 yds to the SDST 42
12:452nd & 5 at own 42Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
12:453rd & 5 at own 42Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 8 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
12:451st & 10 at the 50Angel Johnson run for 9 yds to the MTST 41
12:452nd & 1 at opp 41Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jadon Janke for 1 yd to the MTST 40 for a 1ST down
9:421st & 10 at opp 40Mark Gronowski sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the MTST 43
Montana State Touchdown, 10 plays
9:421st & 10 at own 43Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the SDST 49
9:422nd & 2 at opp 49Julius Davis run for 4 yds to the SDST 45 for a 1ST down
9:421st & 10 at opp 45Tommy Mellott pass complete to Julius Davis for 9 yds to the SDST 36
9:422nd & 1 at opp 36Julius Davis run for 6 yds to the SDST 30 for a 1ST down
9:421st & 10 at opp 30Tommy Mellott pass complete to Aidan Garrigan for 5 yds to the SDST 25
9:422nd & 5 at opp 25Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the SDST 17 for a 1ST down
9:421st & 10 at opp 17Sean Chambers run for 3 yds to the SDST 14
9:422nd & 7 at opp 14Sean Chambers run for 8 yds to the SDST 6 for a 1ST down
9:421st & goal at opp 6Sean Chambers run for 4 yds to the SDST 2
4:142nd & goal at opp 2Sean Chambers run for 2 yds for a TD (Brendan Hall KICK)Montana State 7, South Dakota State 0
South Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
4:141st & 10 at own 25South Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Zach Heins) to the SDST 20
4:14Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
4:141st & 15 at own 20Mark Gronowski run for 5 yds to the SDST 25
4:142nd & 10 at own 25Isaiah Davis run for 2 yds to the SDST 27
4:143rd & 8 at own 27Mark Gronowski sacked by Rylan Ortt for a loss of 10 yards to the SDST 17
2:014th & 18 at own 17Hunter Dustman punt for 43 yds
Montana State Field goal, 12 plays
2:011st & 10 at own 44Tommy Mellott run for 7 yds to the SDST 49
2:012nd & 3 at opp 49Tommy Mellott run for 1 yd to the SDST 48
2:013rd & 2 at opp 48Montana State Penalty, False Start (Derryk Snell) to the MTST 47
0:003rd & 7 at own 47Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 9 yds to the SDST 44 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 44Scottre Humphrey run for 2 yds to the SDST 42
Q2 15:002nd & 8 at opp 42Julius Davis run for 2 yds to the SDST 40
Q2 15:003rd & 6 at opp 40South Dakota State Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Cale Reeder) to the SDST 22 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 22Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the SDST 20
Q2 15:002nd & 8 at opp 20Sean Chambers run for 9 yds to the SDST 11 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 11Montana State Penalty, False Start (Derryk Snell) to the SDST 16
Q2 15:001st & 15 at opp 16Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the SDST 14
Q2 15:002nd & 13 at opp 14Montana State Penalty, False Start (Conner Moore) to the SDST 19
Q2 15:002nd & 18 at opp 19Sean Chambers run for 5 yds to the SDST 14
Q2 15:003rd & 13 at opp 14Sean Chambers run for 5 yds to the SDST 9
Q2 8:494th & 8 at opp 9Brendan Hall 27 yd FG GOODMontana State 10, South Dakota State 0
2nd quarter3 drives, then Montana State 10, South Dakota State 0
South Dakota State Punt, 6 plays
8:49Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:491st & 10 at own 25Amar Johnson run for 2 yds to the SDST 27
8:492nd & 8 at own 27Mark Gronowski run for 9 yds to the SDST 36 for a 1ST down
8:491st & 10 at own 36Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 11 yds to the SDST 47 for a 1ST down
8:491st & 10 at own 47Amar Johnson run for 4 yds to the MTST 49
8:492nd & 6 at opp 49Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
8:493rd & 6 at opp 49Isaiah Davis run for 1 yd to the MTST 48
5:144th & 5 at opp 48Hunter Dustman punt for 41 yds, downed at the MTST 7
Montana State Punt, 8 plays
5:141st & 10 at own 7Julius Davis run for 9 yds to the MTST 16
5:142nd & 1 at own 16Julius Davis run for 9 yds to the MTST 25 for a 1ST down
5:141st & 10 at own 25Jared White run for 6 yds to the MTST 31
5:142nd & 4 at own 31Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the MTST 33
5:143rd & 2 at own 33Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the MTST 37 for a 1ST down
5:141st & 10 at own 37Tommy Mellott run for 5 yds to the MTST 42
5:142nd & 5 at own 42Tommy Mellott pass complete to Julius Davis for 3 yds to the MTST 45
5:143rd & 2 at own 45Jared White run for 1 yd to the MTST 46
1:084th & 1 at own 46Brendan Hall punt for 47 yds
South Dakota State End of half, 10 plays
1:081st & 10 at own 7Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
1:082nd & 10 at own 7Mark Gronowski pass complete to Isaiah Davis for 11 yds to the SDST 18 for a 1ST down
1:081st & 10 at own 18Mark Gronowski pass complete to Zach Heins for 9 yds to the SDST 27
1:082nd & 1 at own 27Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
1:083rd & 1 at own 27Mark Gronowski run for 2 yds to the SDST 29 for a 1ST down
1:081st & 10 at own 29Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
0:153rd & 1 at own 38Timeout South Dakota State, clock 00:15
0:152nd & 10 at own 29Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaxon Janke for 9 yds to the SDST 38
0:153rd & 1 at own 38Mark Gronowski run for 3 yds to the SDST 41 for a 1ST down
0:092nd & 8 at own 43Timeout South Dakota State, clock 00:09
0:091st & 10 at own 41Mark Gronowski pass complete to Amar Johnson for 2 yds to the SDST 43
0:092nd & 8 at own 43GRONOWSKI, Mark pass deep to the left incomplete intended for GOERING, Grahm broken up by POLIDORE, Dru at the MSU26. PENALTY SDS Holding on O’BRIAN, John enforced 10 yards from the SDS43 to the SDS33 [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
0:002nd & 18 at own 33Amar Johnson run for 11 yds to the SDST 44
3rd quarter3 drives, then Montana State 10, South Dakota State 7
South Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
15:00Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Amar Johnson run for 26 yds to the MTST 49 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 49Mark Gronowski pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 14 yds to the MTST 35 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 35Jaxon Janke run for 9 yds to the MTST 26
15:002nd & 1 at opp 26Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
15:003rd & 1 at opp 26Isaiah Davis run for 9 yds to the MTST 17 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 17South Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Mason McCormick) to the MTST 22
15:001st & 15 at opp 22Isaiah Davis run for 2 yds to the MTST 20
10:492nd & 13 at opp 20Mark Gronowski run for 20 yds for a TD (Hunter Dustman KICK)Montana State 10, South Dakota State 7
Montana State Punt, 7 plays
10:49Hunter Dustman kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:491st & 10 at own 25Tommy Mellott run for 6 yds to the MTST 31
10:492nd & 4 at own 31MELLOTT, Tommy pass deep to the right incomplete intended for SNELL, Derryk thrown to the SDS45. PENALTY SDS Roughing the Passer on SPALDING, Graham enforced 15 yards from the MSU31 to the MSU46 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
10:491st & 10 at own 46Julius Davis run for 7 yds to the SDST 47
10:492nd & 3 at opp 47Julius Davis run for no gain to the SDST 47
10:493rd & 3 at opp 47Sean Chambers run for 3 yds to the SDST 44 for a 1ST down
10:491st & 10 at opp 44Sean Chambers run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDST 45
10:492nd & 11 at opp 45Julius Davis run for 4 yds to the SDST 41
10:493rd & 7 at opp 41Sean Chambers run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDST 42
5:554th & 8 at opp 42Brendan Hall punt for 37 yds, downed at the SDST 5
South Dakota State Touchdown, 11 plays
5:551st & 10 at own 5Isaiah Davis run for 16 yds to the SDST 21 for a 1ST down
5:551st & 10 at own 21Isaiah Davis run for 8 yds to the SDST 29
5:552nd & 2 at own 29Mark Gronowski pass complete to Isaiah Davis for 11 yds to the SDST 40 for a 1ST down
5:551st & 10 at own 40Mark Gronowski pass complete to Amar Johnson for 17 yds to the MTST 43 for a 1ST down
5:551st & 10 at opp 43GRONOWSKI, Mark sacked for a loss of 5 yards at the MSU48 (VALDEZ, Sebastian). PENALTY SDS Holding on HEINS, Zach enforced 10 yards from the MSU43 to the SDS47 [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
5:551st & 20 at own 47Mark Gronowski run for 4 yds to the MTST 49
5:552nd & 16 at opp 49GRONOWSKI, Mark pass to the right incomplete intended for HEINS, Zach thrown to the MSU37. PENALTY MSU Holding on JOHNSON, Jon enforced 10 yards from the MSU49 to the MSU39 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
5:551st & 10 at opp 39Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
5:552nd & 10 at opp 39Isaiah Davis run for 6 yds to the MTST 33
5:553rd & 4 at opp 33Isaiah Davis run for 6 yds to the MTST 27 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 27Isaiah Davis run for 7 yds to the MTST 20
Q4 15:002nd & 3 at opp 20Amar Johnson run for 4 yds to the MTST 16 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:151st & 10 at opp 16Mark Gronowski pass complete to Zach Heins for 16 yds for a TD (Hunter Dustman PAT MISSED)South Dakota State 13, Montana State 10
4th quarter7 drives, then South Dakota State 20, Montana State 16
Montana State Interception, 2 plays
14:041st & 10 at opp 41Montana State Penalty, False Start (Marcus Wehr) to the SDST 46
14:04Hunter Dustman kickoff for 65 yds
13:172nd & 13 at opp 44Timeout Montana State, clock 13:17
13:171st & 15 at opp 46Julius Davis run for 2 yds to the SDST 44
13:112nd & 13 at opp 44Sean Chambers pass intercepted
South Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
13:111st & 10 at own 17Isaiah Davis run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDST 16
13:112nd & 11 at own 16Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
13:113rd & 11 at own 16Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
12:134th & 11 at own 16punt blocked by Julius Davis blocked by Julius Davis
Montana State Field goal, 4 plays
12:131st & goal at opp 1Sean Chambers run for no gain to the SDST 1
10:533rd & goal at opp 1Timeout Montana State, clock 10:53
10:532nd & goal at opp 1Sean Chambers run for no gain to the SDST 1
10:533rd & goal at opp 1Montana State Penalty, False Start (Marcus Wehr) to the SDST 6
10:533rd & goal at opp 6Julius Davis run for 4 yds to the SDST 2
10:154th & goal at opp 2Brendan Hall 19 yd FG GOODTied at 13
South Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
10:15Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:151st & 10 at own 25Isaiah Davis run for 5 yds to the SDST 30
10:152nd & 5 at own 30Mark Gronowski run for a loss of 2 yards to the SDST 28
10:153rd & 7 at own 28Mark Gronowski sacked by Kenneth Eiden IV for a loss of 2 yards to the SDST 26
8:004th & 9 at own 26Hunter Dustman punt for 40 yds
Montana State Field goal, 11 plays
8:001st & 10 at own 37Jared White run for 4 yds to the MTST 41
8:002nd & 6 at own 41Sean Chambers run for 2 yds to the MTST 43
8:003rd & 4 at own 43Sean Chambers run for 3 yds to the MTST 46
8:004th & 1 at own 46Sean Chambers run for 6 yds to the SDST 48 for a 1ST down
8:001st & 10 at opp 48South Dakota State Penalty, Personal Foul (Isaiah Stalbird) to the SDST 26 for a 1ST down
8:001st & 10 at opp 26Jared White run for 5 yds to the SDST 21
8:002nd & 5 at opp 21Sean Chambers run for 10 yds to the SDST 11 for a 1ST down
8:001st & 10 at opp 11Montana State Penalty, False Start (Derryk Snell) to the SDST 16
8:001st & 15 at opp 16Sean Chambers run for 2 yds to the SDST 14
8:002nd & 13 at opp 14Montana State Penalty, False Start (Conner Moore) to the SDST 19
2:303rd & 9 at opp 10Timeout South Dakota State, clock 02:30
2:302nd & 18 at opp 19Sean Chambers run for 9 yds to the SDST 10
2:303rd & 9 at opp 10Sean Chambers run for 8 yds to the SDST 2
2:304th & 1 at opp 2Montana State Penalty, False Start (Treyton Pickering) to the SDST 7
2:044th & 6 at opp 7Brendan Hall 24 yd FG GOODMontana State 16, South Dakota State 13
South Dakota State Touchdown, 2 plays
2:04Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
2:041st & 10 at own 25Mark Gronowski pass complete to Grahm Goering for 40 yds to the MTST 35 for a 1ST down
1:301st & 10 at opp 35Mark Gronowski pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 35 yds for a TD (Hunter Dustman KICK)South Dakota State 20, Montana State 16
1:23Hunter Dustman kickoff for 52 yds
1:231st & 10 at own 25CHAMBERS, Sean sacked for a loss of 1 yard at the MSU24 (LARGE, Tucker). PENALTY MSU Holding on MOORE, Conner enforced 10 yards from the MSU25 to the MSU15 [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Montana State End of game, 9 plays
1:231st & 20 at own 15Sean Chambers pass complete to Derryk Snell for 19 yds to the MTST 34
1:232nd & 1 at own 34Sean Chambers pass complete to Derryk Snell for 13 yds to the MTST 47 for a 1ST down
1:231st & 10 at own 47Sean Chambers pass incomplete
1:232nd & 10 at own 47Sean Chambers pass incomplete
1:233rd & 10 at own 47Sean Chambers run for 13 yds to the SDST 40 for a 1ST down
1:231st & 10 at opp 40Sean Chambers pass incomplete
1:232nd & 10 at opp 40Sean Chambers pass complete to Treyton Pickering for 21 yds to the SDST 19 for a 1ST down
1:231st & 10 at opp 19Montana State Penalty, False Start (Conner Moore) to the SDST 24
0:011st & 15 at opp 24Sean Chambers pass incomplete
0:012nd & 15 at opp 24Montana State Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Marqui Johnson) to the SDST 39
0:012nd & 30 at opp 39Timeout South Dakota State, clock 00:01
0:002nd & 30 at opp 39Sean Chambers pass incomplete

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 one 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

Montana State

South Dakota State

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 2