On a team filled with NFL-bound talent like tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receiver Jake Wieneke, it was kicker Chase Vinatieri — nephew of longtime NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri — who helped South Dakota State earn a hard-fought 31-27 victory against Montana State.
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The Jackrabbits got up 17-0 early on a pair of Taryn Christion rushing scores and a Vinatieri 47-yard field goal, and Montana State got on the board just before half when Chris Murray found Jabarri Johnson for a score.
SDSU scored to open the third quarter on a Brady Mengarelli 1-yard plunge before Murray tossed two straight touchdown passes to Johnson and Mitch Herbert, bringing Montana State within three at 24-21.
With under five minutes to play, SDSU lined up for a 48-yard field goal, but holder Brady Hale pitched the ball to VInatieri and the kicker scampered 31 yards to paydirt before converting the extra point to put the Jackrabbits up 31-21.
The touchdown proved to be the game-winner, as Montana State scored one more time on another Murray-Herbert connection.
Check out the highlights from the game in the video above.
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