NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — South Dakota State used two touchdown passes from Josh Holst, a pivotal pick-six and a long fourth-quarter run to defeat Illinois State 31-14 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Hancock Stadium. The Jackrabbits improved to 5-1 with the road victory, while the Redbirds fell to 4-2.

Holst, a 6-foot-4, 192-pound quarterback from Marengo, Illinois, completed 18 of 23 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns and added four carries for 18 yards. He was the top star for South Dakota State, which scored in each quarter and pulled away after a close first half. Holst had thrown for 176 yards and a touchdown in his previous game against Eastern Illinois. Illinois State’s Beckham Pellant completed 3 of 6 passes for 46 yards. Pellant, a 6-foot, 195-pound quarterback, was limited throughout the afternoon as the Redbirds struggled to sustain drives.

South Dakota State struck through the air when Holst connected with Lofton O’Groske on a 33-yard touchdown pass. Holst later found Greyton Gannon for a 7-yard score. Gannon finished with one catch for 7 yards and a touchdown, while Coleman Kuntz had two receptions for 13 yards. The Jackrabbits also got a defensive touchdown when Myles Green intercepted a Redbirds pass and returned it 31 yards for a score. Green finished with three tackles, one interception and one touchdown.

The Jackrabbits added a big play on the ground when J. Basinger broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. South Dakota State’s defense held Illinois State to 14 points and made enough stops after the Redbirds threatened. Dontay Johnson led the Jackrabbits with 13 tackles, and Cullen McShane added 12 stops. Bryce Johnson and Chase Van Tol each recorded six tackles, Jes Krcil had five, and Paul Kim finished with four. Noah Thompson, Michael Farr III and Ife Current each made three tackles. Dawson Ripperda had three tackles and two quarterback hurries.

Illinois State’s offense was led by Victor Dawson, who rushed 22 times for 67 yards and caught one pass for 2 yards. Ian Willis caught five passes for 61 yards, Max Ziebarth had five receptions for 47 yards, and Alex Herrera added three catches for 33 yards. Dylan Lord caught two passes for 21 yards. Tyler Lofton ran six times for 9 yards and caught one pass for 6 yards. Andrew Rockford had one reception for 8 yards, and Luke Mailander had one catch for 9 yards. Hayden Futch punted three times for 147 yards and ran once for 1 yard. Chris Taylor returned a kickoff 34 yards, and Mar’Quan Gary returned one 9 yards.

The Redbirds’ defense was busy throughout. Ben Harman and Tye Niekamp each made eight tackles. Key Crowell recorded six stops, while Jordan Coleman and Dexter Niekamp each had five. Dexter Niekamp also recorded one sack. Travis Jones and La’Shavion Brown each finished with three tackles. Doreon Dubose and Solomon Oduma also had three tackles apiece. Wyatt Boals added three stops. Valentino Garcia, Jamaricus Thomas and Kaden Lehew each made two tackles. Nio Espinoza, Josh Crandall, Wyatt Mueller, Rico Clay, Logan Jellison, Anthony Corona, Rylan Crawford, Ben Cooper and Mason Kaplan each recorded one tackle. Andrew Rockford and Victor Dawson also were credited with one tackle each.

Illinois State scored on a pair of 1-yard runs by C. Kwiatkowski, and Michael Cosentino kicked the extra points. Drew Drzonek missed a 45-yard field goal attempt for the Redbirds. The Redbirds’ passing game was limited, with Pellant completing three passes for 46 yards. Illinois State moved the ball at times but could not keep pace after South Dakota State’s defense created a score and the Jackrabbits’ running game produced a long touchdown.

South Dakota State’s offense finished with balance. Holst spread the ball to multiple receivers and avoided turnovers. Gannon’s touchdown catch came on a short throw, while O’Groske’s 33-yard score gave the Jackrabbits an early jolt. Kuntz contributed two catches for 13 yards. The Jackrabbits’ defense, led by Johnson and McShane, consistently slowed Illinois State’s ground game. Green’s interception return was one of the game’s defining plays, turning a Redbirds possession into points for the visitors.

The Jackrabbits never trailed after Holst’s early touchdown pass. Illinois State answered with Kwiatkowski’s first 1-yard run, but South Dakota State regained control when Holst found Gannon. Green’s interception return in the fourth quarter stretched the lead, and Basinger’s 66-yard run put the game out of reach. Kwiatkowski added a late 1-yard score for the Redbirds, but Illinois State could not recover or mount another serious threat.

The victory moved South Dakota State to 5-1 overall. The Jackrabbits had won four of five entering the game and continued their strong start with a road win in Normal. Illinois State dropped to 4-2 after entering with momentum from a 49-13 win over Eastern Illinois. The Redbirds had also beaten Northern Illinois and Western Illinois earlier in the season, but they could not solve South Dakota State’s defense. South Dakota State had beaten Eastern Illinois 42-7, Youngstown State 27-20, New Haven 57-14 and Stetson 70-7, with its only loss coming at Northwestern. Illinois State had beaten St. Francis (IL) 76-0, Western Illinois 41-10, Northern Illinois 28-24 and Eastern Illinois 49-13, with its only previous loss at Northern Iowa.

South Dakota State next plays at North Dakota. Illinois State will visit Southern Illinois. The Jackrabbits will look to build on a defensive effort that produced an interception return for a touchdown and limited the Redbirds to two scoring drives. Illinois State will try to regroup after a home loss in which its offense managed 14 points. The Redbirds will return to conference play hoping to correct the issues that slowed them against the Jackrabbits.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Illinois State to win 42-33. Interstat’s ELO system gave Illinois State a 59.4 percent pregame probability to win. Illinois State was installed as a 2.5-point favorite. The total score of 45 went over the over/under line of 51.5.