South Dakota State came up just short of their first football national championship on Sunday as Sam Houston State scored in the final seconds of the FCS Championship game to win it 23-21.

The Jackrabbits opening drive stalled in Bearkat territory, while SDSU QB Mark Gronowski was injured on the drive and would not return. After Sam Houston fumbled on their opening possession at their own 41 yard line, SDSU backup QB Keaton Heide took over for Gronowski and led a 5-play scoring drive, capped off by an Isaiah Davis 1-yard TD run to give the Jackrabbits a 7-0 lead.

Sam Houston fumble a punt attempt on their second drive, giving SDSU the ball at the Bearkat 19 yard line. However, Sam Houston’s defense held up and four plays later, the Jackrabbits’ 34-yard field goal attempt was mishandled, so they weren’t able to add to their lead.

After 3 straight three-and-out possessions for the Jackrabbits, Sam Houston State got on the board in the second quarter on a 35-yard TD reception by Jequezz Ezzard to tie the game at 7-7. As SDSU was driving on their next possession into Sam Houston territory, the game was stopped due to lightning in the area with 8:25 left in the first half. When play resumed, the Jacks’ drive stalled at the 26 yard line and their 43-yard field goal attempt was short.

On the next Bearkats’ drive, a personal foul facemask penalty on the Jackrabbits’ defense led to a 15-yard TD pass to Ezzard to give Sam Houston the halftime lead at 14-7.

Sam Houston was forced to punt on their opening possession of the 3rd quarter, then a promising 12-play SDSU drive stalled at the Bearkat 35 yard line as a pass from Heide fell incomplete on a fourth and two play. The Bearkats added a 45-yard field goal on their ensuing drive to take at 17-14 lead after three quarters.

The Jackrabbits would respond quickly in the fourth quarter on a 28 yard touchdown run by Isaiah Davis to get SDSU back within a field goal at 17-14 with 13:12 left in the game.

After the teams exchanged punts, the Jackrabbits took over with 6:00 left. On first down, Heide misfired on a short pass in the flat to his left, then Isaiah Davis rumbled 85 yards on the next play for his third TD run on the day to give the Jackrabbits a 21-17 lead with 5:41 left to play.

Sam Houston answered back on the final drive with a 10-yard TD pass to Ife Adeyi for the game-winning score with just :16 left as the Bearkats won it 23-21.

Isaiah Davis led South Dakota State’s offense with 178 yards rushing and 3 TDs, while Sam Houston QB Eric Schmid had 239 yards passing and 3 TDs.