Gronowski threw three TD passes as FCS No. 1 South Dakota States rolled past Northern Iowa 41-3

Associated Press

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw three touchdown passes, including a 68-yard strike to Angel Johnson, and Noah Thompson returned a punt 49 yards for a score that lifted No. 1-ranked South Dakota State 41-3 win over Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools on Saturday.

The Jackrabbits (4-1), ranked No. 1 in the FCS coaches poll, held the Panthers to 246 yards of offense and allowed only a 40-yard field goal from Caden Palmer in the second quarter.

Gronowski found Kentrell Prejean with a 16-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter and Hunter Dustman made two field goals in the second quarter around Thompson's punt return TD and Chase Mason's six-yard scoring run. At the start of the third quarter, Gronowski found Grahm Göring from seven meters away before scoring for Johnson less than three minutes later.

Gronowski was 16 of 22 passing for 223 yards and did not throw an interception. Johnson caught two passes for 78 yards and Goering hauled in three for 52 yards.

Aidan Dunne completed 8 of 15 passes for 113 yards and was sacked twice for Northern Iowa (2-3). Mathew Schecklman came off the bench and completed 9 of 16 attempts for 67 yards. Tye Edwards carried 12 balls for 62 yards.

___

Get AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates throughout the season. Sign up here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football