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South Dakota State University Athletics
Jacks prepare for showdown at SIU
11/11/2008 1:00:00 AM | Football
Two of the three remaining one-loss teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference square off Saturday, as South Dakota State travels to nationally ranked Southern Illinois.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
SDSU enters the key matchup on a three-game winning streak, during which it has improved to 6-4 overall and 5-1 in league play. The Jackrabbits ensured a winning mark in their inaugural season in the MVFC with a 52-21 victory over Illinois State Nov. 8 at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
SIU has reeled off five consecutive victories since a 35-27 setback at North Dakota State on Oct. 4. The Salukis, ranked ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll and 10th in the Sports Network media poll, are 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the MVFC.
The league's other one-loss team, Northern Iowa, can clinch at least a share of the conference title Saturday, when it plays at Indiana State.
THE SERIES: Saturday's game marks the first-ever meeting between South Dakota State and Southern Illinois in football.
The Salukis are scheduled to make a return trip to Brookings on Nov. 7, 2009.
WINNING STREAK: SDSU has put together three consecutive dominant performances during its current winning streak.
In victories over Indiana State, Missouri State and Illinois State, the Jackrabbits:
? Outscored their opponents, 144-43;
? Averaged 504.7 yards of total offense, compared to 233.3 by the opposition;
? Averaged 7.2 yards per offensive play;
? Rushed for at least 199 yards in each game;
? Scored 19-of-20 times (15 TDs, 4 FG) in the red zone ? with the only non-scoring drive a kneel-down to end the game against Illinois State;
? Completed 69 percent of passes (60-of-87) with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions for a team efficiency rating of 201.43;
? Converted 64 percent of their third-down attempts and held the opposition to a 29 percent success rate on third down;
? Turned the ball over only once;
? Recorded 12 sacks and 23 tackles for loss;
? Punted seven times, compared to 18 by their opponents
ONLINE COVERAGE: Audio coverage of Saturday's game is scheduled to be available via subscription service at GoJacks.com, the official website of SDSU athletics. Monthly subscriptions for the Jackrabbit Extra, which includes live audio and video streaming are available for $9.95 per month or $99.95 for an entire year of coverage. An audio-only subscription also is available for $4.95 per month, with programming consisting only of live radio broadcasts.
In addition, action photos from a number of the Jackrabbits' games from the 2006-2008 seasons are available for purchase at GoJacks.com.
Local radio coverage Saturday begins on WNAX 570 AM at 12:30 p.m. Central Time, with an expanded pre-game show. Steve Imming returns to call the play-by-play and Jerry Oster will once again provide color commentary.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: The Salukis have been one of the top Football Championship Subdivision programs this decade, winning or sharing three league titles and making the FCS playoffs each of the last five years, including a run to the national semifinals a season ago.
Under first-year head coach Dale Lennon, previously the head coach at North Dakota, SIU has continued its winning ways. The Salukis are 7-2 overall and have won five consecutive games.
The Salukis are especially tough at home, winning seven consecutive league games and 15 of 16 overall at McAndrew Stadium. Dating back to the start of the 2003 season, SIU is 34-4 on its home field.
The SIU offense has been led this season by senior runing back Larry Warner, who ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 10th nationally with an average of 116.3 yards per game. Warner crossed the 1,000-yard barrier for the season last week against Western Illinois, and has scored a team-best 10 touchdowns ? two of which have been on kickoff returns.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Dieker has completed 56 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,502 yards. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is nearly two to one as he has thrown for 13 touchdowns and been picked off seven times.
The receiving corps features seven different players with 10 or more catches. Damian Sherman leads the team with 24 receptions for 339 yards and four touchdowns, while Marc has tallied 20 receptions for 283 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, linebacker Brandin Jordan leads the team with 71 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. Chauncey Mixon has added 53 stops, while James Cloud has posted team bests of 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks among his 44 tackles.
Korey Lindsey, who was named Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week after two late interceptions last week against Western Illinois, leads the team with four pickoffs.
Solid in all facets of the game, the special teams unit features the league's top punter in Scott Ravanesi, who is averaging 43.7 yards per attempt. Kicker Kyle Dougherty is 11-of-15 on field goals and has made 31-of-33 extra-point tries.
TOUGH AT HOME: Over the years, the Jackrabbits have enjoyed a home-field advantage at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. During John Stiegelmeier's tenure as head coach, SDSU is 52-17 (.754 winning percentage) in games played at CAS. After losing two consecutive home games for the first time since 2000, the Jackrabbits got back on the winning track with a 43-13 victory over Missouri State on Nov. 1.
SDSU's winning percentage is even higher in home night games. Since lights were installed prior to the 2001 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 17-5 record, good for a .772 winning percentage. The Jackrabbits' last home opponent, Cal Poly, has recorded two of the night-game victories by opponents (2005, 2008).
TRANSITION OVER: The NCAA Division I Management Council Administrative Committee, acting on behalf of the DI Management Council, announced in late June that South Dakota State University has met the requirements to become an active member of NCAA Division I, starting at the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year.
Previously a member of Division II, SDSU successfully completed the five-year process of moving its athletics programs to comply with Division I membership requirements. Requirements include compliance with Division I rules for the final four years, meeting minimum financial aid and contest scheduling limits, engaging in a rules compliance review and successfully completing the athletics certification process.
SDSU officials submitted an extensive self-study to the NCAA in the spring of 2007 and a peer-review team completed the study during a campus visit in October 2007.
VALLEY FOOTBALL IN 2008: South Dakota State was picked to finish sixth out of nine teams as it began play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season, according to a preseason poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors and which was released at the league's media day in July.
Fellow league newcomer North Dakota State was tabbed as the preseason favorite, garnering 13 first-place votes and 289 points. Defending league champion Northern Iowa received the most first-place votes, 15, but ranked second with 275 points. The next three teams were separated by eight points as Youngstown State (Ohio) was third with 209 points, Western Illinois was fourth with 202 points and Southern Illinois fifth at 201.
SDSU led the lower half of the league rankings with 149 points, followed by Missouri State with 105, Illinois State at 104 and Indiana State with 41.
Individually, senior offensive lineman Kevin Robling was the lone Jackrabbit named to the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Team. A native of Jordan, Minn., Robling started all 11 games at center for SDSU in 2007, earning second-team all-Great West Football Conference honors.
Four other Jackrabbit players received honorable mention recognition on the preseason team: senior quarterback Ryan Berry, senior defensive lineman Eric Schroeder, junior defensive end Danny Batten and junior linebacker Jimmy Rogers.
Among national publications, SDSU was picked to finish third in Valley Football by Lindy's Sports Annuals, while The Sporting News also tabbed the Jacks to finish sixth.
RABBITS DROP OUT OF RANKINGS: For the fourth consecutive week, SDSU does not appear in the top 25 of the Football Championship Subdivision national rankings.
The Jackrabbits' rankings of 12th in the Sports Network poll and 13th in the FCS Coaches' Poll on Sept. 15 were the program's highest since moving to the Division I FCS ranks in 2004.
SDSU, which is still receiving votes in both polls, began the season ranked 19th in the Sports Network poll and 20th in the poll conducted by the Football Championship Subdivision coaches. Last season, the rankings were reversed as SDSU was 19th in the preseason coaches' poll and 20th in the Sports Network poll.
DIFFICULT DOZEN: For the first time in the 111-year history of Jackrabbit football, SDSU will play a regular season slate consisting of 12 games.
As it has throughout its move to the Football Championship Subdivision, SDSU will again play a challenging schedule. Six of the Jackrabbits' opponents are currently ranked, including four other Missouri Valley Football Conference members in the either the FCS Coaches or Sports Network top 25. Northern Iowa is fourth in the coaches' poll, Southern Illinois stands ninth and North Dakota State is 25th. Western Illinois holds the No. 25 spot in the Sports Network poll, but dropped out of the coaches' poll this week.
Two non-conference opponents, third-ranked Cal Poly and 14th-ranked McNeese State (La.), also appear in this week's coaches' poll.
The Jackrabbits played four of their ranked opponents at home, starting with games against Youngstown State in the Cereal Bowl on Sept. 6 and Western Illinois in the Sept. 13 Beef Bowl. The matchup with McNeese State was the Hobo Day game on Oct. 4, with the game against Cal Poly played on Oct. 18.
James Madison (Va.) again holds the top spot in both the FCS Coaches' and Sports Network polls this week.
In its four-plus seasons competing at the FCS level, SDSU has squared off against ranked opponents 23 times and holds a 7-16 record following the loss Oct. 18 to Cal Poly.
CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team on the field and in the locker room are four senior captains:
? Ryan Berry, quarterback, Watertown, S.D.;
? Brock Campbell, defensive back, Cherokee, Iowa;
? Kevin Robling, offensive lineman, Jordan, Minn.;
? Eric Schroeder, defensive tackle, Stewartville, Minn.
FAST STARTS: In each of their five Missouri Valley Football Conference victories, South Dakota State has been dominant in the first half.
Overall, the Jackrabbits have outscored their conference opponents 127-34 in the first half. Three times SDSU has posted first-half shutouts: SDSU led Youngstown State 27-0 at the half in their Sept. 6 matchup; the Jackrabbits took a 24-0 halftime lead against Western Illinois on Sept. 13; and SDSU led 16-0 going into intermission at Indiana State on Oct. 25.
A Missouri State touchdown in the final minute of the first half Nov. 1 prevented a fourth Jackrabbit first-half shutout.,
Northern Iowa is the lone conference team to hold a first-half advantage against the Jackrabbits, taking a 14-3 halftime lead en route to a 34-20 victory over SDSU.
BERRY AT THE HELM: Senior Ryan Berry is on a record-setting pace for the Jackrabbits during his senior season.
A Watertown native, Berry is in his second full season as the starting quarterback and is the most experienced returning signal-caller in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Berry turned in three consecutive games (UNI, SFA, McNeese) with 300-plus yards passing, marking the first time a Jackrabbit player has accomplished the feat since SDSU moved to the Division I Football Championship Subdivision ranks in 2004. Berry recorded single-game career highs of 32 completions, 53 attempts and 375 yards in a loss Sept. 20 at Northern Iowa, then completed 30-of-44 passes for 350 yards and two TDs a week later at Stephen F. Austin. His third 300-yard game was a 23-of-33, 317-yard performance versus McNeese State in which he threw for four touchdowns.
Berry has thrown for at least 200 yards in seven consecutive games, upping his career total to 5,657 yards. His 2,740 yards in 2008 have surpassed his total from all of last year (2,132). Berry took over the Jackrabbit career lead in completions (477) and touchdown passes (52) last week against Ilinois State, and currently ranks second on the Jackrabbit career charts in passing yards (5,657). His seven touchdown passes versus Illinois State set SDSU and Missouri Valley Football Conference single-game records and helped him earn National Player of the Week honors from the Sports Network.
Over the last seven games, Berry has completed 150-of-243 passes (61.7 percent) for 2,060 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions to move 10th place in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 274.0 passing yards per game. He has thrown a touchdown pass in nine consecutive games and 20 of 23 career starts, during which he has posted a 14-9 record.In 2007, Berry was efficient as he started all 11 games, completing 60.1 percent (197-of-328) of his passes with 19 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. His 2,132 yards were the ninth-best single-season total in school history heading into the season.
During his redshirt freshman season in 2005, he led the Jackrabbits to a victory in the season finale over Northern Colorado. In his first career start, against Georgia Southern, Berry tied a then-Jackrabbit single-game record with five touchdowns in a 55-42 loss.
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: Four South Dakota State University football players have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, which was announced Nov. 6.
Earning spots on the 24-player squad were seniors Ryan Berry and Kevin Robling, and sophomores Conrad Kjerstad and Kyle Minett. All four will advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. SDSU's four selections to the University Division squad were the most of any team in District VII.
Berry, a native of Watertown, S.D., was the lone quarterback selected on the academic all-district team, compiling a 3.89 grade-point average while majoring in biology/pre-medicine. A National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and finalist for the Draddy Trophy, Berry was a two-time selection to the Great West Football Conference All-Academic Team. On the field, he currently leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total offense and passing yards per game, while ranking 10th in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 274.0 passing yards per game.
A center from Jordan, Minn., Robling was a repeat selection to the academic all-district team with a 3.82 GPA in wildlife and fisheries. A three-year starter, Robling was a member of the Great West Football Conference All-Academic Team in both 2006 and 2007, as well as a second-team all-GWFC selection in 2007. He has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week on two occasions this season, helping lead a Jackrabbit offense that ranks ninth in scoring offense among FCS teams and 13th in total offense.
Kjerstad, a safety from Wall, was selected to the academic all-district team with a 3.90 GPA in pre-economics. A member of the Great West Football Conference All-Academic Team in 2007, Kjerstad shares the team lead with two interceptions this season and is seventh on the team with 39 tackles despite missing some time due to injury.
Minett, a running back from Ruthton, Minn., has picked up where 2007 Academic
All-America running back Cory Koenig left off ? both in the classroom and on the field. An economics major with a 3.50 GPA, Minett leads the team with 1,114 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 41 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns. Minett also was honored on the GWFC All-Academic Team in 2007.
Selections to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Team are based on votes by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America from South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in athletic standing, maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 and be a starter or key reserve.
The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team is scheduled to be announced on Nov. 25.
HARRIS MOVING UP: Senior wide receiver JaRon Harris has moved into the Jackrabbit top-three for both career receptions and career receiving yards this season.
With 55 receptions for 846 receiving yards, including a single-game career-high 10 receptions against Missouri State on Nov. 1, Harris enters Saturday's matchup with 137 career receptions for 2,121 yards. His receptions total currently ranks in a tie for third place with Rusty Lenners (137 receptions from 1993-96) on the Jackrabbit career charts.
Harris led the team with 40 receptions for 664 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007.
SHARING THE WEALTH: South Dakota State's receiving tandem of JaRon Harris and Glen Fox each reached the 50-reception plateau Nov. 1 versus Missouri State. It marks the first time two players have tallied 50 receptions in the same season in the history of SDSU football.
Fox took over the team lead in receptions last week as he caught six passes ? three of which were touchdowns ? against Illinois State. He enters Saturday's game at Southern Illinois with 56 receptions for 690 yards and nine touchdowns.
Harris ranks second the team with 55 receptions, but leads the squad with 846 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The pair continue to rank first and second in the league for receptions per game.
Two other players have tallied more than 20 receptions this season: running back Kyle Minett has caught 41 passes for 364 yards, and Mike Steffen has added 25 catches for 206 yards.
COCHART CATCHING ON: Sophomore tight end Colin Cochart has been an additional threat in the passing game in recent games for the Jackrabbits.
Over the last three games, Cochart has tallied 11 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns, including scores of 11 and 40 yards in the first quarter last week against Illinois State.
For the season, Cochart has 17 receptions for 336 yards and four touchdowns. He is averaging a team-best 19.8 yards per reception.
MINETT LEADS RUNNING GAME: Sophomore Kyle Minett has handled the bulk of the duties at running back for South Dakota State this season.
The Ruthton, Minn., native led the team with an average of 6.2 yards per carry in 2007, and ranked second in yards gained with 476. He was named the Outstanding Player of the Beef Bowl as he racked up 134 yards on 11 carries and added a 40-yard touchdown reception in a 38-3 victory over Texas State.
Minett has posted six 100-yard rushing performances this season. He opened 2008 by gaining 111 yards on 22 carries against Iowa State, then tallied 123 yards on 14 carries the next week versus Youngstown State (Ohio).
His third 100-yard game came against Stephen F. Austin (Texas) on Sept. 27, rushing a career-high 33 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 1 yard out on the final play of the game, to cap a 50-48 come-from-behind Jackrabbit victory. He was honored as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at Stephen F. Austin, a game in which he added seven receptions for 92 yards.
Minett has topped 100 yards in each of the last three games, setting single-game career highs in the process. He rushed 21 times for 145 yards Oct. 25 at Indiana State, scoring a pair of first-half touchdowns to get back into the scoring column after having his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown snapped Oct. 18 against Cal Poly. He followed that with a 23-carry, 205-yard outing against Missouri State in which he scored on a 56-yard touchdown run ? the longest carry of his career. Last week, Minett posted 161 yards on 25 carries against Illinois State.
Minett topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season against Illinois State and enters Saturday's game with 1,114 yards ? the eighth-highest single-season total in school history. His average of 111.4 yards per game ranks 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision.
TOP TACKLERS: The SDSU defense returns five of its top six tacklers from last year.
Leading the way are junior linebackers Jimmy Rogers (110 tackles) and Chris Johnson (106 tackles), who were also the top two tacklers in the Great West Football Conference in 2007. Rogers turned in the ninth double-digit tackling performance of his career with 12 stops against McNeese State (La.) on Oct. 4. He currently leads the team with 77 tackles through 10 games in 2008.
Senior defensive back Brock Campbell and senior defensive lineman Eric Schroeder tied for fourth on the squad in 2007 with 68 tackles each, while junior defensive end Danny Batten, an honorable mention All-America selection by the Sports Network, added 67 tackles. Schroeder and Batten combined for 15.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last year.
STARTING SAFETIES: Each of South Dakota State's starting safeties collected interceptions in the Jackrabbits' 40-7 victory over Youngstown State.
Senior Brock Campbell recorded the first interception of the season, picking off a Penguin pass on their opening possession. Sophomore Conrad Kjerstad later added a pair of INTs, giving him three for his career. Kjerstad also forced a fumble in the season opener at Iowa State.
Campbell added his second interception of the season in the first half of the Sept. 13 game versus Western Illinois, before being injured and missing the next three games. Kjerstad also was injured against WIU, but played against Northern Iowa and McNeese State.
Both starting safeties were held out of the Sept. 27 game at Stephen F. Austin, but returned to the starting lineup Oct. 18 against Cal Poly.
PICK SIX(TEEN): The Jackrabbits have employed an opportunistic defense over the past few years and again rank among the leaders in the Football Championship Subdivision for interceptions.
Heading into Saturday's game with Southern Illinois, SDSU has tallied 16 interceptions to rank in a tie for sixth place among FCS squads. Eleven different players have recorded an interception, with five players ? Conrad Kjerstad, Brock Campbell, Derek Domino, Chris Johnson and General Parnell ? sharing the team lead with two apiece.
During the 2007 season, the Jackrabbits notched 19 interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns. All-America cornerback Tyler Koch led the Jackrabbits with seven interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
SACK ATTACK: SDSU has gotten after the quarterback in recent games, recording a season-high five sacks at Indiana State, three versus Missouri State and four versus Illinois State. Eight different defensive linemen have recorded at least a half-sack over the past three games, led by Danny Batten's 3.5 sacks and Jake Steffen's three sacks. Antonio Thompson has added two sacks, one of which went for a safety at Indiana State.
KOOL FILLS IN: With regular punter Dean Priddy sidelined by illness, backup linebacker Dirk Kool proved to be more than a capable replacement in the Jackrabbits' Oct. 25 game at Indiana State.
Kool, a redshirt freshman from Fairfield, Iowa, punted three times for an average of 44 yards per punt. His first collegiate punt traveled 41 yards and forced a Sycamore fair catch at their own 8-yard line, while his second punt traveled 44 yards as he punted out of his own end zone. His third ? and final punt of the day ? covered 47 yards and resulted in a touchback.
Kool added his first career interception Nov. 8 against Illinois State, returning the interception 65 yards deep into Redbird territory in the closing minutes of the game.
REIFENRATH SOLID: Sophomore kicker Peter Reifenrath won the battle for placekicking duties at the end of fall camp and has been a solid contributor on special teams despite sitting out the Oct. 25 game at Indiana State. A native of Decorah, Iowa, Reifenrath has made 13-of-19 field goal attempts, including making career-long 42-yarders at Northern Iowa on Sept. 20 and at Stephen F. Austin (Texas) on Sept. 27.
Reifenrath, who made a field goal in SDSU's first six games, ranks in a tie for seventh place in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 1.44 field goals made per game. He also is 31-of-33 on extra-point tries this season.
Kyle Harris handled the place-kicking duties at Indiana State, making 5-of-6 extra-point tries. He did not attempt a field goal.
A LOOK AHEAD: The Dakota Marker will be up for grabs when SDSU plays Nov. 22 at North Dakota State. The game, which will be televised locally on KSFY-TV, starts at 6 p.m. at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.
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