SDSU PLOWS PAST WILDCATS TO BEGIN PLAYOFF RUN

Saturday, November 29

Brookings, S.D.

noon

South Dakota State University

9-4 , 4-4

New Hampshire

8-5 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

New Hampshire

South Dakota St.

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

11/29/2025 5:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score SDSU Postgame Press Conference

Quarterback Chase Mason returned to the South Dakota State lineup after a long layoff and led the 14^th-seeded Jackrabbits to touchdowns on their first four possessions en route to a 41-3 victory over New Hampshire Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs at a snowy Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The Jackrabbits, who were hosting a postseason game for the 10^th season in a row, improved to 9-4 overall. New Hampshire had its season end with an 8-5 mark.

SDSU took the opening kickoff and effectively mixed the run and the pass to find the end zone for the first time with a nine-play, 75-yard march. Julius Loughridge tallied the longest play of the drive with a 27-yard run before scoring on a 1-yard plunge.

After a UNH punt, Mason continued his hot start by completing all five of his passes for 63 yards as part of a 13-play, 88-yard scoring drive. Three of his passes went to Grahm Goering for gains of 17, 11 and 11 yards, with the other two going to tight end Coleman Kutz for 6 and 18 yards. Josiah Johnson finished off the drive with a touchdown run from a yard out for a 14-0 Jackrabbit lead with a minute to go in the first quarter.

Mason, who last played when he was injured on the opening series Oct. 18 at Murray State, completed his final 11 passes of the first half, including a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. His first scoring toss came on a tipped ball to Alex Bullock from 7 yards out, with the other going to Jack Smith on a bubble screen in which the redshirt freshman from Sioux Falls turned the corner down the left sideline and out-raced the Wildcat defense for a 42-yard touchdown.

Those Jackrabbit touchdowns were sandwiched around UNH's lone scoring drive of the game. The Wildcats were able to get the run game going behind Denzell Gibson, who broke off a 26-yard run to move the ball into SDSU territory. Nick Reed connected on a 30-yard field goal to close out the 15-play, 63-yard drive.

After a scoreless third quarter, SDSU added to its lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mason to Kuntz.

The Jackrabbits provided the final tally with a 14-play, 56-yard scoring drive that chewed up nearly eight and a half minutes later in the fourth quarter. SDSU ran 13 consecutive running plays before backup quarterback Jack Henry found fullback/tight end Andrew Gustad in the right flat for a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal.

SDSU ended the day with a 425-192 advantage in total offense, including a 232-48 disparity in the passing department. Mason completed 16-of-20 passes for 230 yards and tied a career high with his three touchdown passes.

Loughridge paced the ground game with 100 yards on 16 carries, followed by 32 yards on nine carries by Corey Blair Jr. and 30 yards on 10 carries by Josiah Johnson.

Gibson picked up a game-high 101 rushing yards on 19 carries for UNH. Wildcat quarterback Matt Vezza completed only 10-of-22 passes in accounting for all 48 of his team's passing yards.

Bryce Johnson filled in for an injured Cullen McShane and registered 10 tackles for SDSU to tie a career high. Fellow linebacker Joe Ollman notched eight tackles.

Tim Bonagura led UNH with eight stops.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State advances to face third-seeded Montana in second-round action Dec. 6. Kickoff is slated for noon Mountain Time (1 p.m. Central) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana. It will mark the third consecutive season and fifth time overall the two programs have met in postseason play, with each winning twice.

NOTES

SDSU leads the all-time series against New Hampshire, 2-0, with both meetings taking place in the FCS playoffs
The Jackrabbits improved to 17-1 in postseason games at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, extending their winning streak in home playoff games to 12
SDSU was making its 15^th FCS playoff appearance — 14^th in a row — with New Hampshire a qualifier for the 19^th tie
The Jackrabbits entered the game ranked 16^th in the Stats Perform media poll; UNH was ranked 22nd
Loughridge topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season, ending the day with 1,016
Loughridge reached the century mark in rushing yards for the second consecutive game and fourth time this season
Bullock took over the team lead in touchdown receptions with his fifth of the year
Gustad has either picked up a first down or scored a touchdown on all eight of his offensive touches this season
The Jackrabbits did not punt in the contest
The game was played in snow throughout the contest and before a crowd of 3,843