Jacks end home season Saturday with Illinois State

The South Dakota State University football team closes out the home portion of its schedule Saturday afternoon, hosting Illinois State in Missouri Valley Football Conference action.
Kickoff is slated for 1:07 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
Saturday's game, which will be played before a national television audience, features two teams on pace to finish ahead of where they were picked in the league preseason poll. SDSU, which was picked to finish sixth, is 5-4 overall and 4-1 in the MVFC. Illinois State, selected as the eighth-place team in the nine-team league, currently is in a tie for sixth place with a 2-3 league record, 3-5 overall.
A win by the Jackrabbits on Saturday would not only ensure a winning record at home, but it would keep SDSU in the league title hunt with road games at Southern Illinois (Nov. 15) and North Dakota State (Nov. 22) on the horizon. By defeating Illinois State, the Jackrabbits would also assure themselves of a winning mark in league play during their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Saturday's game will also mark the final home game for 12 Jackrabbit seniors. SDSU has posted a winning record in each of their previous seasons in the Jackrabbit football program, including winning the Great West Football Conference championship in 2007.

THE SERIES: Saturday's game marks the first-ever meeting between South Dakota State and Illinois State in football.
The Jackrabbits are scheduled to make a return trip to Normal, Ill., on Sept. 26, 2009.

TELEVISED GAME: For the second time this season, the Jackrabbit football team will play a nationally televised game.
As part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference's television package, Saturday's game between SDSU and Illinois State will be broadcast live on Fox College Sports Atlantic.
FCS Atlantic is a digital cable network available in more 9 million homes nationwide. It is normally available as part of a premium sports package offered by several major cable companies, including Mediacom and Midcontinent Communications in South Dakota.
In addition, the game will be picked up by Comcast in the Illinois State market and shown on tape delay by Fox Sports Midwest and Mediacom. Check local listings for further information.
SDSU's season opener Aug. 28 at Iowa State was televised on Fox College Sports Central.
In addition, the Nov. 22 season finale at North Dakota State is scheduled to be broadcast locally on Sioux Falls-based KSFY-TV.

ONLINE COVERAGE: Audio and video 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.
Video coverage of Saturday's game will begin at 12:30 p.m. Central Time. A league-wide video package is available for purchase at www.valley-football.org.
Local radio coverage Saturday begins on WNAX 570 AM at 11:30 a.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.
Two of Jackrabbits' three remaining games this season are scheduled to be available via streaming video on the Jackrabbit Extra:
? Nov. 8 Illinois State
? Nov. 22 North Dakota State

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 51-17 (.750 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.

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 FCS Coaches top 25. Northern Iowa is fourth, Southern Illinois stands ninth, Western Illinois checks in at No. 19 and North Dakota State is 23rd. In addition, Youngstown State began the season in the national rankings.
Two non-conference opponents, third-ranked Cal Poly and 15th-ranked McNeese State (La.), also appear in this week's 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.

ROBLING HONORED AGAIN: For the second time this season, senior Kevin Robling has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week.
A 6-foot-3, 280-pound center from Jordan, Minn., Robling saw action in all 72 offensive plays as SDSU rolled up a season-best 580 yards of total offense in a 43-13 victory over Missouri State on Nov. 1.
Robling also was honored by the league after the season opener against Iowa State.

FAST STARTS: In each of their four Missouri Valley Football Conference victories, South Dakota State has been dominant in the first half.
Overall, the Jackrabbits have outscored their conference opponents 89-20 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 score more than once in the first half against the Jackrabbits, taking a 14-3 halftime lead en route to a 34-20 victory over SDSU.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE: The Illinois State University football team will look to play the role of spoiler as it faces three of the top four teams in the Missouri Valley Conference to close out the season.
The Redbirds, who have meetings with in-state rivals Western Ilinois on Nov. 15 and Southern Illinois on Nov. 22 remaining on their schedule, enter today's game with a
3-5 overall record and 2-3 mark in league play.
ISU recorded its first home victory of the season last week, winning a 54-44 shootout over Youngstown State. In that game, the Redbirds rushed for 241 yards, including 225 yards by first-time starter Walter Mendenhall.
Mendenhall, whose younger brother, Rashard, starred at Illinois and currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is one of three Redbird running backs with more than 400 yards rushing this season. He currently ranks second on the squad with 461 yards, averaging a team-best 7.1 yards per carry with seven touchdowns.
Geno Blow, who started the first seven games of the season, leads the team with 549 yards, with Parrish Fisher adding 411 yards.
Quarterback Kevin Brockway has started all eight games, and is coming off perhaps his best performance of the season against Youngstown State, completing 17-of-24 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior guard Joe Niklasch anchors a starting offensive line that includes three seniors and a pair of sophomores.
Brockway's primary target last week and throughout the season has been Eyad Salem, who caught eight passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns versus Youngstown State to up his team-leading season totals to 38 catches for 577 yards and five touchdowns.
Kelvin Chandler has added 22 receptions for 345 yards.
Special teams also have been a strength for Illinois State this season as the Redbirds lead the MVFC in punt return average (21.5 yards per return) and rank second in kickoff returns (22.5 ypr).
Individually, Tom Nelson leads the league in kickoff returns with an average of 23.2 yards per return and also is averaging 22 yards on punt returns, including an 82-yarder for touchdown against Murray State (Ky.).
Nelson also is tied for second on the team with 44 tackles from his safety position, along with Tommie Westbrook and Paul Wright.
Punter Bobby Kelsey ranks second in the league with an average of 42.7 yards per punt, and Steven Fetzer is perfect in 28 extra-point attempts.
Defensively, strong safety Kelvyn Hemphill leads the team with 72 tackles. Adam Blankenship, a transfer from Nebraska, has added 16 tackles from his defensive end position, including 2.5 for loss.

COACH STIG: John Stiegelmeier has built the South Dakota State University football team into a program on the rise in the ranks of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
The 2007 season, Stiegelmeier's 11th as head coach of the Jackrabbits, was his most successful as SDSU claimed its first conference title since 1963 by winning the Great West Football Conference championship. After starting 0-3 for the second consecutive season, SDSU reeled off seven wins in its final eight games, including a 29-24 victory over previously undefeated North Dakota State the final week of the season, to claim the GWFC title with a 7-4 overall record and 4-0 mark in league play.
In leading SDSU to the GWFC title, Stiegelmeier was named conference coach of the year and was honored by the American Football Coaches Association as the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Region 5 Coach of the Year. In addition, he was one of five finalists in the FCS for the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
Overall, Coach Stig has led the Jackrabbits to a 73-55 record (.570 winning percentage). SDSU has posted six consecutive winning seasons, including the school's first four campaigns at the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Jackrabbits have had a winning record in nine of Stiegelmeier's 11 years as head coach, including four with seven or more victories.
After posting back-to-back 6-5 seasons in 2004 and 2005, the Jackrabbits rose another notch in 2006 as they compiled a 7-4 overall record, finishing the season ranked 21st in the final FCS poll conducted by The Sports Network and 22nd in the College Sporting News coaches' poll. After an 0-3 start, the Jackrabbits rebounded by winning seven consecutive games for the first time since 1963. Three of the victories came in the closing minutes against nationally ranked teams, setting up a showdown with North Dakota State on the final week of the season for both the Dakota Marker and Great West Football Conference title.
Although SDSU fell short in the championship game, the Jackrabbits finished with their most victories since 2003 and their best mark in the three-year history of the GWFC at 3-1.
In 2008, the Jackrabbits will enter another new era in their Division I pursuits as they join the nine-team Missouri Valley Football Conference. With the transition period over, SDSU will be able to qualify for the NCAA postseason either by earning the league's automatic berth as league champion or as an at-large selection.
Stiegelmeier, 51, is the 20th head coach for the Jackrabbits. His tenure of 11-plus years as head coach is the second-longest head coaching stint in school history.
The Selby, S.D., native first became acquainted with the Jackrabbit football program as a student assistant under John Gregory during SDSU's only NCAA playoff season in 1979. With the Jackrabbits' victory at McNeese State (La.) on Sept. 30, 2006, Stiegelmeier passed Gregory (55-50-3 from 1972-81) for sole possession of second place on the SDSU career wins list.
After graduating from SDSU with degrees in mathematics and physical education, Stiegelmeier enrolled in graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, where he served on the coaching staff of a Panther squad which posted a 7-4 mark in 1981.
Stiegelmeier coached at Eau Claire (Wis.) North High School from 1981-84, then returned to his home state as defensive coordinator, secondary coach and recruiting
coordinator at Northern State University from 1984-87. Northern was 8-3 in his last season with the Wolves and finished fourth in the nation in total defense.
After NSU, Stiegelmeier went back to school, enrolling at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a graduate assistant on the staff headed by Don Morton while working on his doctorate.
Stiegelemeier returned to his alma mater in July 1988, joining Wayne Haensel's Jackrabbit coaching staff as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. After Haensel stepped down following the 1990 season, Stiegelmeier was elevated to defensive coordinator by new head coach Mike Daly.
In six seasons as defensive coordinator, Stiegelmeier helped guide the Jackrabbits to a 41-23 record, turning in a winning record in all six seasons, including five seven-win seasons. That track record of success helped Stiegelmeier secure his first head coaching position in December 1996, when he was named Daly's successor.
The Stiegelmeier era opened in style Sept. 13, 1997, as the Jackrabbits recorded a 17-7 victory at UC Davis. Although SDSU finished Stiegelmeier's first season with a 4-6 record, the foundation was laid for future success. The Jackrabbits posted a 6-5 record during the 1998 season and broke through with an 8-3 overall mark and a 6-3, fourth-place showing in the North Central Conference.
Led by Harlon Hill candidate Josh Ranek, SDSU posted its most victories in 20 years in 1999 and was ranked 15th in the final NCAA Division II regular season poll, despite being picked sixth in the NCC race by both the coaches and media. That season, Stiegelmeier was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year.
SDSU went on to post upper-division finishes in the NCC three of its last four years before moving into the ranks of Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) in 2004.

ATTENDANCE SURGE: The Jackrabbits have seen steady attendance increases since joining the Football Championship Subdivision ranks in 2004.
In its last season as a member of NCAA Division II, 2003, SDSU averaged 5,547 fans over six home dates. Average attendance grew to 9,652 in 2006 and a record 11,218 average attendance in 2007.
The Jackrabbits are still on pace to surpass the attendance record this season, averaging 11,233 fans per game through five home dates. The first three home games drew at least 11,000 fans each.

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 a season-high four touchdowns.
Berry has thrown for at least 250 yards in six consecutive games, upping his career total to 5,420 yards. His 2,503 yards in 2008 have surpassed his total from all of last year (2,132). Berry currently ranks
second on the Jackrabbit career charts in passing yards, completions (460) and touchdowns (45). He trails fellow Watertown native Dan Fjeldheim (461 completeions from 1999-2002) by one completion for the school record and needs two touchdown passes to tie Brad Nelson (47 TD passes from 2001-04) for that school record.
Over the last six games, Berry has completed 143-of-214 passes (66.8 percent) for 1,823 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions to move up to eighth place in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 278.1 passing yards per game. He has thrown a touchdown pass in eight consecutive games and 19 of 22 career starts, during which he has posted a 13-9 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 Jackrabbit single-game record with five touchdowns in a 55-42 loss.
BERRY RECORD WATCH
Category Berry Current Record Diff.

Attempts, Season 309 373-Dan Fjeldheim, 2002 64
Attempts, Career 748 806-Ted Wahl, 1985-88 58
Completions, Season 202 237-Dan Fjeldheim, 2002 35
Completions, Career 460 461-Dan Fjeldheim, 1999-2002 1
Yards Passing, Season 2,503 3,141-Brad Nelson, 2003 638
Yards Passing, Career 5,420 6,016-Ted Wahl, 1985-88 596
Touchdowns, Season 19 27-Brad Nelson, 2003 8
Touchdowns, Career 45 47-Brad Nelson, 2001-04 2

DRADDY FINALIST: South Dakota State University quarterback Ryan Berry has been selected as a 2008 National Scholar-Athlete and is one of 15 finalists for the Draddy Trophy, officials from the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame announced Oct. 29.
“We set extremely high standards just to be considered as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete class,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “These individuals far exceed even those high standards, defining well-rounded excellence throughout their college careers. They are true ambassadors of our mission and a testament to the positive influence of football's ability to build our nation's future leaders.”
A senior from Watertown, S.D., Berry was named the recipient of the Robert A. Simms National Scholar-Athlete Award and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. He will be honored during the 2008 NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on Dec. 9, when the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, will be awarded.
The first-ever NFF Scholar-Athlete in the history of SDSU football, Berry was selected as a finalist out of 164 semifinalists from all levels of college football based on his academic and athletic achievements, as well as his community service and leadership. A team captain, Berry has compiled a 3.89 grade-point average while majoring in biology/pre-medicine. He and his teammates have played an active role in the community by
participating in reading programs at local elementary schools and visting area children's hospitals and retirement homes. In addition, he is a member of the SDSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has served as a volunteer for youth football clinics and the committee's annual Penny Carnival.
The Draddy Trophy was established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a former Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands.

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.
Harris leads the team with 55 receptions for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Fox has contributed 50 receptions for 598 yards and 6 TDs. The pair continue to rank first and second in the league for receptions per game, while Harris is tied for 20th in the FCS ranks with an average of 6.11 catches per game.
Two other players have tallied more than 20 receptions this season: running back Kyle Minett has caught 38 passes for 364 yards, and Mike Steffen has added 23 catches for 190 yars.

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 five 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 two 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.
Minett currently ranks 12th in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 8.9 points per game ? 13 touchdowns and one two-point conversion. He also stands 17th in the FCS with an average of 105.9 rushing yards per game, entering Saturday's game with 953 rushing yards.
In 182 rushing attempts so far in 2008, Minett has been dropped for a loss only 11 times, but none in the last four games as he has totaled 78 rushing attempts.
In addition, Minett would become the 11th different Jackrabbit player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining among others, Cory Koenig, who rushed for 1,266 yards last season. SDSU has not had two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons by a running back since Josh Ranek ran for 1,881 and a school-record 2,055 yards in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Minett has rushed for 100-plus yards five times this season and six times during his career.

PICK SIX: 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 Illinois State, SDSU has tallied 13 interceptions to rank in a tie for 12th place among FCS squads. Ten different players have recorded an interception, with Conrad Kjerstad, Brock Campbell and General Parnell sharing the team lead with two apiece.
In the Oct. 4 game versus McNeese State (La.), the Jackrabbits picked off a pair of passes, including an 82-yard interception return for touchdown by sophomore linebacker Derek Domino ? the first return for a score by an SDSU player this season.
Linebacker Jimmy Rogers got into the act Oct. 18 versus Cal Poly, intercepting Mustang quarterback Jonathan Dally for the first time all season.
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.

Attempts, Season 309 373-Dan Fjeldheim, 2002 64
Attempts, Career 748 806-Ted Wahl, 1985-88 58
Completions, Season 202 237-Dan Fjeldheim, 2002 35
Completions, Career 460 461-Dan Fjeldheim, 1999-2002 1
Yards Passing, Season 2,503 3,141-Brad Nelson, 2003 638
Yards Passing, Career 5,420 6,016-Ted Wahl, 1985-88 596
Touchdowns, Season 19 27-Brad Nelson, 2003 8
Touchdowns, Career 45 47-Brad Nelson, 2001-04 2

SACK ATTACK: SDSU has gotten after the quarterback in recent games, recording a season-high five sacks at Indiana State and three versus Missouri State. Seven different players have recorded at least a half-sack over the past two games, led by Danny Batten and Antonio Thompson with two each. One of Thompson's went for a safety at Indiana State.

PRIDDY PUNTING: Sophomore punter Dean Priddy provided a solid performance in the season opener, booting three balls for an average of 51 yards per punt. All three of his punts covered at least 50 yards, measuring 52, 50 and 51 yards, respectively.
For the season, Priddy is averaging 40.9 yards on 28 punts. He has landed five punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line, including a 42-yarder on his final punt of the night against Western Illinois that pinned the Leathernecks at their own 2-yard line with under a minute to play.
Priddy booted a season-best 55-yard punt against Cal Poly in his last outing.
SDSU did not punt in the Nov. 1 game against Missouri 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.

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 12-of-18 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 1.50 field goals made per game. He also is 24-of-26 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: SDSU goes on the road for its final two regular season games ? both against ranked opponents.
The Jackrabbits are slated to play Nov. 15 at Southern Illinois, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
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.

To read this week's entire release, download the document below.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Derek Domino

Kyle Harris

Conrad Kjerstad

Dirk Kool

Kyle Minett

General Parnell

Dean Priddy

Peter Reifenrath

Antonio Thompson

Upcoming Event: Football versus New Hampshire on November 29, 2025 at noon

Completed Event: Football at North Dakota on November 22, 2025 , Win , 34, to, 31 , OT

Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on November 15, 2025 , Loss , 21, to, 35

Completed Event: Football at South Dakota on November 8, 2025 , Loss , 17, to, 24

Completed Event: Football versus Indiana State on November 1, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 24

Completed Event: Football versus North Dakota State on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 38

Completed Event: Football at Murray State on October 18, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 14

South Dakota State University Athletics