BROOKINGS – South Dakota State made sure Jackrabbit fans had a good Hobo Day on Saturday as the Jackrabbits demolished Youngstown State 63-13 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The tone was set on the opening kickoff when Angel Johnson went 99 yards to the house and put the Jacks up 7-0 13 seconds into the game.

“I think it’s really important for our guys to play at home,” said SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers. “Just with the atmosphere and the spirit of what homecoming is here, it’s really awesome. So, it’s really hard to come out and play flat. We talked about starting fast all week and I don’t know if there’s any faster way to start than with Angel Johnson’s kickoff return.”

The SDSU (5-1) defense forced a three-and-out on YSU’s first possession and it didn’t take long for the Jacks to find the end zone again. SDSU went 75 yards in four plays and Chase Mason ran in a 38-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 11:22 left in the first quarter.

YSU (2-5) would get on the board on its next possession but the Jackrabbit defense held them to a field goal. SDSU then went 79 yards in nine plays and Mark Gronowski capped off the drive with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown, making it 21-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The Jackrabbit defense then got in on the fun as Dalys Beanum picked off Beau Brungard and returned it to the Youngstown State 35. It was the first interception of the season for Beanum and the 12th of his career. The 12 interceptions put him in a tie for third on SDSU’s all-time interception list.

“It always feels good to get an interception and get a turnover for the defense and help the offense out,” Beanum said. “Whenever we can get a turnover, especially early in the game, it helps out the team tremendously.”

SDSU would cash in on the turnover as Amar Johnson went five yards into the end zone untouched and the Jacks led 28-3 with 11:27 left in the first half. The Jacks then got the ball back after another punt and this time went on a 93-yard touchdown drive. Mason took a quarterback keeper and went 48 yards to the house to make it 35-3 with just under three minutes to play in the second quarter.

The Penguins found the end zone on their next drive. A couple of big pass plays from Brungard put YSU inside the Jackrabbit five yard line and Brungard took it himself for a four-yard score to make it 35-10 at halftime.

The Jackrabbit passing attack then came to life in the third quarter. Gronowski found Graham Goering for a 45-yard score with 8:12 left in the quarter and then he connected with Griffin Wilde for a 19-yard touchdown on the next SDSU drive to put the Jacks up 49-10 with under a minute to play in the third. The second touchdown was set up by a 77-yard run from Kirby Vorhees.

Gronowski finished the day 8-of-13 for 127 yards. He also had 53 yards on the ground. Wilde had five catches for 62 yards and Goering had two catches for 55 yards.

Mason then came in for Gronowski on the Jacks next drive and broke another long run. This one didn’t go for a touchdown but it was a 69-yard gain that set up a four-yard touchdown pass from Mason to Marcus Preston. That put the Jacks up 56-10 with 10:16 to play in the game. 

Mason finished the day with 161 yards on five carries. The backup quarterback has worked his way into the offensive game plan this season due to his athleticism and he showed that on Saturday afternoon. Gronowski said having him on the field opens a lot of things for the offense.

“I told you guys at the beginning of the year that he’s going to get a lot of opportunities and he’s a top-five athlete on the field whenever he’s out there. … It’s awesome because now defenses, every single time he’s on the field guys are yelling out his name and are yelling ‘QB, QB, QB.’ Now there’s so many things they have to worry about. They have to worry about him running out for a pass, him running the ball, him throwing a pass, me throwing a pass. There’s just so many opportunities [now],” Gronowski said.

Mason, who joined SDSU in the spring semester of his freshman season after spending a semester with the Nebraska baseball team, said he wants to do whatever it takes to get out on the field and help the Jacks win.

“I just want to be out there and help the team. Whether that’s going out there and lining up as a tight end, going out on a pass, taking the ball as a running back, faking a pass play so Mark can throw. Whatever it is to help, we’re game planning every week for something,” Mason said.

The Penguins would tack on a field goal on their next drive but SDSU wasn’t done scoring as third-string quarterback Jon Bell found Davin Stoffel for a 14-yard score to make the final 63-13.

SDSU had more rush yards (404) than YSU had total yards (372). Vorhees had 84 yards on three carries, Amar Johnson had 64 yards on eight carries and Angel Johnson had three carries for 42 yards.

“We had a lot of plays that we had dialed up and thought were going to be successful,” Gronowski said. “The O line played an awesome game. Have to give kudos to them. That’s all of their rushing yards. They’re opening up holes for us and there were a lot of plays where we didn’t get touched until we were 10 yards downfield. That’s the holes that the O line is creating and they’re playing really well and hitting their stride right now.”

It was the 32nd-straight victory over an FCS opponent for the Jacks. Top-ranked SDSU will head to Fargo next weekend for the Dakota Marker showdown against No. 2 ranked North Dakota State. Kickoff for that game will either be at 6:30 or 7 p.m.

Gronowski said there’s a different feeling around the facility in the week leading up to the battle for the Dakota Marker.

“There’s 100 percent [a different energy before playing NDSU]. I mean, it’s the best rivalry in FCS football. I’m really excited and I know the boys are really excited to get going with [the preparation]. There’s definitely going to be a little more excitement in the air at practice this week and heading up to Fargo next week,” Gronowski said.