Jackrabbits hold off Western Illinois in Beef Bowl

Saturday, September 13

Brookings, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-1 , 2-0

Western Illinois

1-2 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Western Illinois	0	0	9	13	22
South Dakota State	7	17	0	0	24

9/13/2008 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

South Dakota State built a 24-0 halftime lead, then held off a Western Illinois rally in the second half for a 24-22 victory in the 42nd Annual Beef Bowl Saturday night at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.

The Jackrabbits, playing before a home crowd of 14,382, improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. WIU, ranked 15th, dropped to 1-2 overall in losing its league opener.

SDSU opened the scoring midway through the first quarter as Ryan Berry hooked up with Colin Cochart on a 19-yard touchdown, capping a four-play, 54-yard drive.

The 13th-ranked Jackrabbits then scored on each of their last three possessions of the second quarter to build the 24-point margin. Peter Reifenrath made a 37-yard field goal at the 7:51 mark, followed by a Kyle Minett 1-yard run, finishing a five-play, 46-yard drive in which SDSU took possession after Isaiah Jackson forced a fumble.

SDSU's final touchdown came with 21 seconds remaining in the half as Berry scored on a bootleg from 2 yards out.

Western Illinois quickly grabbed the momentum in the second half. Travis Cherry picked off a Berry pass on the second play of the half and returned it 21 yards to the SDSU 2. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Herb Donaldson scored from 2 yards out. However, the Jackrabbits' special teams unit came up big as Eric Schroeder broke through the line to block the extra-point attempt, ending Taylor Rowan's Football Championship Subdivision record PAT streak of 129 in the process.

The Leathernecks cut the margin to 24-9 on a 33-yard field goal by Rowan with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

SDSU struggled to move the ball offensively in the second half, gaining only two first downs and 61 yards of total offense.

Meanwhile, WIU continued to move the ball effectively. The Leathernecks scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter, marching 70 yards on 12 plays almost entirely all through the air. Quarterback Matt Barr, who was 8-of-11 passing on the drive, found Paul Anderson in the back of the end zone from 10 yards out to make the score 24-16 following a Rowan PAT.

Barr scored on an 18-yard run on the Leathernecks' next possession, finishing off an eight-play, 78-yard to pull to within 24-22 with 2:04 remaining. After a WIU timeout and a Jackrabbit penalty that moved the ball to the 1-yard line, Derek Domino preserved the Jackrabbit victory as he broke through the line and sacked Barr on the two-point conversion attempt.

Domino recovered the ensuing onside kick, but the Jackrabbit offense could not run out the clock. With the ball at the WIU 44, Dean Priddy delivered a 42-yard punt that was downed at the WIU 2 with 50 seconds to play. The Leathernecks did pick up a first down on their drive before Nash Simet batted down a fourth-down pass in the final seconds to close out the game.

For the Jackrabbits, Berry finished the night 17-of-28 passing for 191 yards, connecting with eight different receivers. Redshirt freshman Brandon Gant led the receiving corps with five catches for 45 yards.

Kyle Minett led the running game with 71 yards on 21 carries.

Defensively, linebackers Isaiah Jackson and Chris Johnson each made 11 tackles. Jimmy Rogers added 10 stops, while Danny Batten, who was named Outstanding Player of the Beef Bowl, registered eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks.

The Jackrabbit defense was stout against the run, holding WIU All-America running back candidate Herb Donaldson to 43 yards on 18 carries. Donaldson also caught seven passes for 40 yards, with Carl Sims adding seven receptions for 80 yards.

Barr finished the night 27-of-48 passing for 284 yards.

Kyle Glazier led the Leatherneck defense with 11 tackles.

The Jackrabbits continue Missouri Valley Football Conference action Sept. 20 at Northern Iowa. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Western Illinois is scheduled to host Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 20.

NOTES: SDSU extended its home winning streak to seven games ... the Jackrabbits improved to 23-19 in Beef Bowl games ... WIU now leads the all-time series, 4-2 ... SDSU defeated a ranked opponent for the second consecutive week and improved to 7-13 against ranked FCS teams since 2004 ... the Jackrabbits improved to 17-4 in night games at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium ... SDSU held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier in the day for the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center which will be located in the north end zone of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.