Turnovers plague Jacks in loss at Iowa State

Thursday, August 28

Ames, Iowa

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

0-1

Iowa State

1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
South Dakota State	0	0	3	14	17
Iowa State	10	10	14	10	44

8/29/2008 12:45:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

AMES, Iowa ? South Dakota State turned the ball over six times, including five times in the first half, sending the Jackrabbit football team a 44-17 defeat at the hands of Iowa State Thursday night at Jack Trice Stadium.

The nationally televised season opener was played before a crowd of 46,617. The game marked SDSU's first game against a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since moving to the D-I Football Championship Subdivision in 2004.

The host Cyclones took the opening kickoff and marched 69 yards on eight plays for the first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Austen Arnaud capped the drive with a 1-yard run.

Iowa State also had a tough time holding onto the football in the first half, coughing up three fumbles. The first Cyclone fumble came at the goal line on their second possession of the game. Conrad Kjerstad forced the fumble, and after several players from each team tried to corral the loose football, the ball went through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

After SDSU was forced to punt, the Cyclones fumbled on the return, setting up the Jackrabbits at the ISU 24. Two plays later, Kurtis Taylor picked off a Ryan Berry screen pass and returned it 48 yards to set up a 35-yard field goal by Grant Mahoney with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter.

The Jackrabbits were intercepted in Cyclone territory on all three of their possessions in the second quarter, including two in the red zone. The first came on third and goal with SDSU at the ISU 5-yard line, and after a 53-yard return by Michael Bibbs, Mahoney kicked a 36-yard field goal to make the score 13-0.

Following another interception and long return, the Cyclones pushed the lead to 20-0 on the first play from scrimmage as Arnaud hooked up with Sedrick Johnson on a 14-yard pass play with 4:16 remaining in the first half.

SDSU broke into the scoring column on its first drive of the second half, putting together a methodical 12-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a 35-yard field goal by sophomore Peter Reifenrath.

ISU answered with its third touchdown of the game, an 18-yard pass from Arnaud to Darius Danks.

The Cyclones ended any hopes of a Jackrabbit comeback as linebacker Derec Schmidgall stepped in front of a Berry pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to make the score 34-3 with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter.

The Jackrabbits reached paydirt for the first time in the game midway through the fourth quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Kyle Minett to finish off a 10-play, 65-yard drive.

After Jason Harris scored on a 68-yard run for the final Iowa State score, the Jackrabbits took advantage of a lucky bounce to score close out the scoring. Minett was hit and fumbled the ball at SDSU 20, but JaRon Harris scooped up the loose ball and ran the final 76 yards for a touchdown. Berry connected with Brandon Gant for the two-point conversion.

Iowa State out-gained the Jackrabbits, 388-350 in total offense. The Cyclones held a 229-180 advantage in rushing yards, led by Jason Harris' 78 yards on eight carries. Robinson added 74 yards on 15 attempts.

Minett paced the Jackrabbit ground game with 22 carries for 111 yards as he topped the 100-yard mark for the second time in his career.

Austen completed 8-of-11 passes for 98 yards, with R.J. Sumrall catching four passes for 35 yards for the Cyclones.

Berry ended the night 23-of-37 passing for 170 yards and five interceptions. JaRon Harris tied a single-game career with seven catches for 64 yards.

Defensively, SDSU was led by sophomore linebacker Derek Domino with eight tackles. Danny Batten, Brock Campbell and Conrad Kjerstad each made seven stops.

Michael Bibbs recorded a game-high nine tackles to go along with an interception for Iowa State.

SDSU returns to action Sept. 6, hosting Youngstown State (Ohio) in the Jackrabbits' inaugural Missouri Valley Football Conference game. Kickoff for the 13^th Annual Cereal Bowl is set for 6 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.

Notes: Iowa State leads the all-time series, 3-0 ... the two schools last met in 1954 ... SDSU lost a season opener for the third consecutive year and fourth time in five seasons ... Mike Steffen notched a career-best five receptions for 52 yards ... Berry's five interceptions tied a school record previously set by three other players ... SDSU was shut out in the first half for the first time since a 7-0 loss at Montana in 2005 ... the Jackrabbits' seven first-half possessions resulted in five turnovers and two punts ... Iowa State racked up a school-record 202 interception return yards, including 165 in the first half alone ... the Cyclones did not punt in the game