BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Amar Johnson burst into the end zone on a 3-yard run in overtime to lift South Dakota State over South Dakota 20-17 on Saturday night.
Will Leyland kicked a 40-yard field goal in the first possession of overtime for South Dakota.
South Dakota State, ranked third in the FCS coaches poll, has won three straight against fourth-ranked South Dakota.
Trailing 14-7, Travis Theis led the Coyotes on an eight-play, 50-yard drive to the Jackrabbits’ 10-yard line. But on first-and-goal, Graham Spalding picked off a Theis pass to end the drive with 4:23 to play.
On the next play from scrimmage, South Dakota’s Mi’Quise Grace scooped up a fumbled ball and returned it 15 yards into the end zone to tie it 14-all.
The Coyotes forced a three-and-out and their final possession of regulation ended when Leyland missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt with 26 seconds left.
Theis ran it in from the 1 to put the Coyotes up 7-0 in the first quarter. The Jackrabbits answered with an 80-yard drive, capped by Mark Gronowski’s 1-yard touchdown burst. Amar Johnson added a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:53 remaining in the first half to give the Jackrabbits a 14-7 lead.
Gronowski completed 20 of 27 passes for 163 yards for South Dakota State (6-2, 3-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference). Angel Johnson ran for 81 yards on 14 carries. Gronowski finished with 54 yards on the ground and Amar Johnson had 17 yards on 10 carries.
Aidan Bouman was 20-of-32 passing for 163 yards for South Dakota (6-2, 4-1). Theis ran 15 times for 78 yards.
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The Associated Press