(NDSU Athletics) FRISCO, Texas – Quarterback Mark Gronowski passed for 223 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 1-ranked South Dakota State to a 45-21 victory over third-seeded North Dakota State in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 8 before a sellout crowd of 18,023 at Toyota Stadium.
Gronowski, voted the game’s Most Outstanding Player, completed 14 of 21 passes and added 57 yards on five carries for SDSU, which won its first national championship and completed a 14-1 season.
Isaiah Davis rushed 22 times for 103 yards and Amar Johnson had 126 yards on nine carries for the Jackrabbits, who converted 9 of 14 third-down attempts.
South Dakota State scored on five of six first-half possessions and opened a 31-14 halftime lead. It was the most first-half points scored against NDSU since 2002. SDSU’s 45 points were the most in Toyota Stadium’s FCS Championship history and the second most allowed by NDSU since beginning Division I play in 2004.
NDSU quarterback Cam Miller was 18 of 29 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns, a 27-yard play to tight end Joe Stoffel in the first quarter and a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Eli Green in the second quarter for Green’s first career score.
Miller rushed for 64 yards on 13 carries and Kobe Johnson added 63 yards on 11 carries for the Bison, including a 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Zach Mathis made seven receptions for 123 yards, both career highs.
Safety Michael Tutsie made a game-high 12 tackles for NDSU and linebacker James Kaczor added 10 tackles.
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