BROOKINGS — It's still a blue state. Barely.
No. 3 South Dakota State edged No. 4 South Dakota 20-17 in the first-ever overtime game between the teams on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
Amar Johnson's 3-yard run in overtime was the winner, and the Jackrabbits improved to 10-2 against USD in the Division I era. The Coyotes have still never won in Brookings as a Division I team.
The Coyotes took a 17-14 lead in overtime on a Will Leyland field goal, but SDSU picked up two first downs on their turn, then punched it in on Johnson's run.
SDSU improves to 6-2 with the win while USD falls to 6-2.
The Jacks will host Murray State next week, while USD will get a bye week.
Both teams scored on their opening drives, and SDSU would add another in the second quarter to go up 14-7. That's when both defenses locked in and the offenses found themselves doing nothing.
It could've stayed that way to the finish but USD's defense took matters into their own hands, with Dennis Shorter forcing an Angel Johnson fumble in the fourth quarter that bounced right to USD's Mi'Quise Grace, who rumbled 15 yards for a game-tying touchdown.
USD had a chance to win in regulation when they moved into field goal range, but Leyland's 46-yarder with 30 seconds to go was no good, sending the teams to overtime.
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