by BROOKINGS, S.D. — Austyn Modrzewski threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, all in the fourth quarter, but South Dakota’s furious rally fell short as No. 5 South Dakota State beat the No. 6 Coyotes 31-21 on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in the 120th Interstate Series game.
Modrzewski finished 21-of-27 for 233 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, finding three different receivers for scores. South Dakota State sacked him four times in the first half and held the Coyotes without a first down until the Jackrabbits already led 21-0.
The Jackrabbits built that 21-0 halftime lead on touchdowns on their first two drives of the second quarter, then stretched it to 28-0 early in the second half. South Dakota went three-and-out on its first four drives and managed just 44 yards before halftime.
Modrzewski brought the Coyotes back in the fourth. A pass-interference penalty in the end zone on the first play of the final quarter set up his 4-yard touchdown pass to Brayden White, then he hit Bryce Cohoon over the middle for a career-long 59-yard score. With 2:08 left, a flea flicker found Chris Herrin open along the right sideline for a 22-yard touchdown that made it 28-21.
South Dakota State closed it out on the ground, with Chase Mason picking up a third-down first down on a quarterback keeper and Josiah Johnson breaking a 43-yard run to set up Tristan Alvano’s game-sealing 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds left. Mason finished 16-of-26 for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and Grahm Goering and Jack Smith each caught passes for 84 yards.
The loss drops South Dakota to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, while South Dakota State improves to 7-2 and 4-1 in the league. South Dakota has a bye next week before returning to action against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. CT in the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
