UNH back Denzell Gibson looks for an opening duirng UNH's first round playoff loss at snowy Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, S.D. (Courtesy photo by Katie Beaudrot/UNH Athletics)

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Chase Mason threw three touchdown passes, Julius Loughridge ran for 100 yards and a touchdown and 14th-seeded South Dakota State strolled to a 41-3 win over New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday at snowy Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The Jackrabbits (9-4) scored on every possession except for a third-quarter interception by Mason, who was 16-of-20 passing for 230 yards and had 13 straight completions on the cold, snowy day.

South Dakota State, which had lost 4 of 5 before the playoffs, goes to third-seeded Montana next Saturday. The Coyotes beat the Grizzlies in the playoffs the last two years, including the championship game two seasons ago.

Loughridge and Josiah Johnson scored on 1-yard plunges in the first quarter and Mason threw touchdown passes to Alex Bullock and Jack Smith. The Jackrabbits then picked off a New Hampshire pass in the closing seconds of the second quarter for a 27-3 lead at the break.

With drives of 75, 88, 68 and 63 yards, the Jackrabbits had a 288-127 advantage in offense. The Wildcats’ most successful drive, 15 plays for 63 yards, stalled out on the SDSU 12, leading to a Nick Reed 30-yard field goal.

New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2 CAA) finished with 192 yards. Denzell Gibson had 101 yards on 19 carries.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Vezza completed 10 of 22 passes for 48 yards and had nine carries for 34 yards. Junior tight end Peyton Strickland of Goffstown was the top target with three catches for 15 yards.

Senior defensive tackle Tim Bonagura of Freemont led the Wildcats with a career-high eight tackles. Grad student Justice Akinmoladun, another defensive tackle, also recorded a career high of seven tackles.

Sophomore cornerback Sean Webb finished with an interception and three tackles.

UNH sees its season end after an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney on the heels of a five-game winning streak.