Davis' 66-yard TD helps No. 1 South Dakota State beat the win, Villanova 23-12 in FCS quarterfinals

Updated Dec. 9, 2023 3:24 p.m. ET

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BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Isaiah Davis ran for 192 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown run, and top-seeded South Dakota State, the defending national champions, defeated eighth-seeded Villanova 23-12 on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.

That touchdown early in the fourth quarter was the only offensive score by either team going into the wind, which gusted up to 45 miles an hour.

The Jackrabbits (13-0), who won their 27th-straight game, are home against the winner of No. 4 Idaho and No. 5 Albany in the semifinals next weekend.

The only other touchdown going into the wind was Matthew Durrance's punt block, scoop and score covering 45 yards in the second quarter that gave South Dakota State a 10-6 lead.

The Wildcats (10-3) had taken the lead on a 25-yard run by Jalen Jackson, but missed the extra point. Matthew Mercurio kicked a field goal late in the second quarter to pull them within 10-9.

South Dakota State got a key touchdown midway through the third quarter on a Mark Gronwoski pass to Jaxon Jahnke that covered 20 yards.

Villanova got another field goal early in the fourth quarter, but on the next possession, Davis burst through the stacked line for the game-sealing touchdown.

Gronowski was 11 of 19 for 101 yards and the Jackrabbits ran for 242 yards.

Connor Watkins completing 6 of 18 for 74 yards with an interception. Villanova had 219 total yards.

The only three meetings between the schools have come in the playoffs with the Jackrabbits winning all three.

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