Koch, Koenig lead SDSU past Central Arkansas

Saturday, November 3

Conway, Ark.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

5-4

Central Arkansas

5-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

Central Arkansas

11/3/2007 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

CONWAY, Ark. -- Cory Koenig topped the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game and the South Dakota State defense, highlighted by Tyler Koch's three interceptions, held Central Arkansas' high-powered offense in check as the Jackrabbits won for the third straight time, 38-10, Saturday night at Estes Stadium.

Both teams now stand at 5-4 on the season.

For the second time in three weeks, the Jackrabbits scored in the opening seconds of the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Ryan Berry connected with Saunders Montague for a 70-yard touchdown pass just 14 seconds into the game.

Central Arkansas, which came in averaging 38.1 points per game, got on the board with a 32-yard field goal by James Paul midway through the first quarter. The Bears grabbed their only lead of the night on the first play of the second quarter as Leonard Ceaser scored from a yard out.

From there, it was all Jackrabbits. On their next possesion, Koenig rambled 49 yards to the UCA 4, then found the end zone from a yard out on third-and-1.

The next Jackrabbit touchdown was set up by Koch's second interception of the game. Following a 31-yard return that put the ball at the UCA 38, Kyle Minett found paydirt on a 16-yard run midway through the second quarter to put the Jackrabbits up 21-10.

UCA appeared on the verge of getting right back in the game with a drive late in the first half. Rather than settling for a field goal, the Bears opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Jackrabbit 6. But Jimmy Rogers and Mitch Pontrelli stopped the play short to preserve SDSU's 11-point advantage heading into halftime.

With the Bears again driving deep into Jackrabbit territory on the first drive of the second half, Koch ended any hopes of a UCA comeback as he stepped in front of a Nathan Brown pass in the end zone for his third interception of the game.

After another turnover later in the third quarter, SDSU extended its lead to 28-10 as Berry hooked up with senior tight end Chris Wagner for a 2-yard touchdown.

The Jackrabbits closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard field goal by Parker Douglass and another 1-yard touchdown run by Koenig. A senior running back from Underwood, Iowa, Koenig had his second 49-yard run of the game earlier in the drive en route to 204 yards on 21 carries ? an average of 9.7 yards per carry. As a team, SDSU out-gained the Bears on the ground, 239-78, despite running six fewer rushing plays.

Berry was efficient in the passing game, completing 14-of-19 attempts for 132 yards and the two touchdowns. Montague caught three passes for 82 yards and Wagner hauled in three receptions for 18 yards.

Nathan Brown completed 29-of-38 passes for 256 yards for UCA, but threw the three interceptions, fumbled once and was sacked five times. Eric Ware and Cedric Logan each caught six passes, with Ware tallying 61 receiving yards.

Ross Brown led the Bear ground game with 30 yards on six carries.

Defensively, Chris Johnson led the Jackrabbits with 14 tackles, followed by 11 from Justin Kubes and 10 by Koch. Jason Bonwell added three sacks among his six tackles. As a team, the Jackrabbits registered eight tackles for loss.

SDSU returns to Great West Football Conference play Nov. 10 at home versus Southern Utah. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.