BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State turned a one-sided second quarter into a rout Saturday, cruising past New Haven 57-14 as the Jackrabbits spread the ball and moved the ground game effectively.
Quarter broke the game open
The decisive stretch came in the second quarter when SDSU erupted for 33 points, turning what began as a competitive opening into a comfortable lead. By halftime the Jackrabbits had a 36-0 cushion and never relented.
Quarterback Chase Mason paced the offense, completing 12 of 18 passes for 255 yards and throwing three touchdown passes. He also added a rushing touchdown, giving him four total touchdowns on the day. Mason connected on scoring strikes of 25 and 24 yards before the break and found wide receiver Greyton Gannon again for a 29-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
Balanced attack fuels dominance
SDSU didn’t rely on Mason alone. The ground game produced 256 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Running back James Basinger had a breakout day, gaining 88 yards on just six carries and scoring on runs of 27 and 55 yards.
Overall, the Jackrabbits piled up 512 total yards, showing balance and big-play ability that mattered in flipping field position and finishing drives.
- Final: South Dakota State 57, New Haven 14
- Chase Mason: 12-18, 255 yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
- James Basinger: 88 rushing yards, 2 TDs on 6 carries
- SDSU rushing: 256 yards, 4 TDs; team average 5.6 yards per carry
| Statistic | South Dakota State |
|---|---|
| Total yards | 512 |
| Rushing yards | 256 |
| Passing yards (Mason) | 255 |
| Score at halftime | 36-0 |
What this means for the Jackrabbits
The win improves SDSU to 2-1 and reinforces why the team sits at No. 2 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The performance highlighted a deep receiving group and a rushing attack capable of producing chunk plays. New Haven, now 1-2, managed to get on the board late with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jake Tripptree to LaSalle Rose Jr. and a long rushing score by Jason Champagne, but those came after the game was out of reach.
South Dakota State will return to Jackrabbit Stadium next Saturday to host Youngstown State. New Haven heads home to face Brown the same day.
The Jackrabbits’ balanced attack and ability to flip momentum in a short span should be a focus for opponents; for local fans, Saturday’s performance was a reminder that SDSU’s offense can overwhelm if both the passing and rushing games are clicking.
