Jackrabbits open playoffs at Montana

SDSU ranked 11th in final football polls

11/25/2009 2:00:00 PM | Football

By: SDSU Sports Info

The South Dakota State University football team will make its inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, traveling Saturday to top-seeded Montana.
Kickoff is slated for 12:05 p.m. Mountain Time (1:05 p.m. Central) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on the University of Montana campus in Missoula.
The game is scheduled to be televised on Sioux Falls-based KELO-TV with coverage starting at 1 p.m. Central Time (noon Mountain). Missoula-based KPAX-TV is producing the television coverage.
SDSU enters the matchup with an 8-3 overall record. The Jackrabbits finished as runners-up in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 7-1 mark in league play. SDSU is ranked 11th in both the FCS coaches' and media polls this week.
Montana completed a perfect regular season, compiling an 11-0 record en route to the Big Sky Conference championship. The Grizzlies are the top-ranked team in this week's coaches' poll, while ranking third in the Sports Network media poll.

POSTSEASON HISTORY: South Dakota State's previous postseason experience consists of one game - a 50-7 loss at Youngstown State (Ohio) in the opening round of the 1979 NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Current Jackrabbit head coach John Stiegelmeier was a student assistant coach on the 1979 squad that finished the regular season with a 9-2 record.
Montana, meanwhile, is making its 17th consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs and record 19th postseason appearance overall. The Grizzlies advanced to the national title game last season, falling 24-7 to Richmond (Va.). Montana won national championships in 1995 and 2001.
In its 24-year playoff history, a Missouri Valley Football Conference (previously the Gateway Football Conference) school has played a top-four seeded team 28 times, and recorded an 11-17 record. Ten of the 11 wins against a top-four seed were on the road.

THE SERIES: Saturday's matchup will mark the seventh meeting on the gridiron between SDSU and Montana.
The Grizzlies have won all six previous meetings, starting with a 58-0 shutout of the Jackrabbits in Missoula during the 1969 season. Five of the six meetings took place at Montana, including a 52-48 come-from-behind victory for the Grizzlies in 1993 that served as a springboard for their run of success.
Since moving to the Division I FCS level, the Jackrabbits and Montana have met twice - both times in Missoula - with the Grizzlies posting a 7-0 victory in 2005 and a 36-7 win in 2006.

ONLINE COVERAGE: Free audio streaming of Saturday's game is scheduled to be available at GoJacks.com, the official website of SDSU athletics.
Radio coverage Saturday begins on WNAX 570 AM at 11:30 a.m. Central Time, with an expanded pre-game show. Steve Imming will call the play-by-play, with Jerry Oster providing color commentary. Coverage on a new radio affiliate, Rapid City-based KRKI 99.5 FM will begin at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time.

JACKRABBIT INSIDER: Throughout the 2009 football season, head coach John Stiegelmeier will be a guest on the "Jackrabbit Insider," a weekly behind-the-scenes look at South Dakota State University athletics.
The half-hour television show which features interviews with Jackrabbit coaches and student-athletes, airs Sundays at 10:35 p.m., following KSFY ActionNews. The show also can be viewed online at GoJacks.com.

ATTENDANCE SURGE: With the home portion of its regular season schedule completed, the Jackrabbits drew an average of 13,265 fans to shatter the previous single-season average attendance record of 11,218 set in 2007, when SDSU won the Great West Football Conference championship.
Overall, SDSU ranks 17th in the Football Championship Subdivision this season for home attendance.
Twelve of the last 17 games played at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, including all five games this season, have drawn crowds of more than 10,000 fans. Over the last three seasons, all seven games played in September drew more than 10,000 fans..

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: The South Dakota State University football team has enjoyed a home-field advantage at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium since making the move to the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Since joining the FCS ranks at the start of the 2004 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 25-7 mark at CAS, including a 7-1 record in Missouri Valley Football Conference games.
Lights were installed at CAS prior to the 2001 season and SDSU has turned in a 20-5 record in home night games.

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team on the field and in the locker room are five senior captains:
• Danny Batten, defensive end, Gilbert, Ariz.;
• Glen Fox, wide receiver, Fairfax, Iowa;
• Chris Johnson, linebacker, Council Bluffs, Iowa;
• Nate Koskovich, offensive lineman, Kingsley, Iowa; and
• Jimmy Rogers, linebacker, Chandler, Ariz.

VALLEY PREVIEW: The South Dakota State University football team was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference race, in a preseason poll announced in conjunction with the league's annual media day in July.
Defending co-champions Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois were voted as the top two teams. UNI garnered 26 of the 36 first-place votes to finish with 314 points, followed by SIU with nine first-place votes and 281 points. The Jackrabbits tallied 231 points, while North Dakota State picked up one first-place vote and 206 points to finish fourth in the poll.
Rounding out the poll were: Western Illinois, 174 points; Youngstown State, 171 points; Missouri State, 111 points; Illinois State, 90 points , and Indiana State, 42 points. The poll was based on votes by league coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS: Defensive end Danny Batten repeated on the first team and earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors to highlight South Dakota State's selections to the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team, which was announced Wednesday.
A senior from Gilbert, Ariz., Batten ranks second in the league with nine sacks, including a career-high three in the regular season finale Nov. 21 at Western Illinois. A Buck Buchanan Award candidate, Batten leads the Jackrabbits with 17 tackles for loss and ranks second with 80 total tackles.
Batten shared the defensive award with Northern Iowa defensive end James Ruffin.
Joining Batten on the first team were linebacker Derek Domino and center Ryan McKnight.
Domino has emerged as the team's leading tackler this season with 88 stops, including eight tackles for loss and two sacks. A junior linebacker from Spring Lake, Park, Minn., Domino also leads the team with five interceptions, two of which he has returned for touchdowns. Four times this season Domino has recorded double digits in tackles.
McKnight, a junior center from Sioux Falls, was the lone SDSU representative on the first team from the offensive side of the ball. He was honored as Missouri Valley Offensive Lineman of the Week following the Jackrabbits' Hobo Day victory over Northern Iowa and is a key part of an offensive unit that has averaged 25.9 points and 342.8 yards of total offense per game.
Five Jackrabbits received second-team honors, led by repeat honorees Glen Fox and Kyle Minett.
Fox finished the regular season tied for fourth in the league rankings for receptions per game with 5.5. His 60 receptions this season are the sixth most by a Jackrabbit receiver, while also contributing 718 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Fox set a single-game career high with 12 receptions for 101 yards against Southern Illinois on Nov. 7.
Minett ranks third in rushing with an average of 106.6 yards per game, tallying 1,173 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns so far in 2009. He has topped the 100-yard mark six times this season, including a season-best 164 yards on 34 carries against North Dakota State. Minett has added 18 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Other second-team selections included strong safety Conrad Kjerstad, offensive lineman Casey Knips and punter Dean Priddy.
Kjerstad, a Wall native, has been the leader in the secondary for a Jackrabbit defensive unit that leads the Football Championship Subdivision in pass efficiency defense. His four interceptions this season are tied for second on the squad, while his 76 tackles rank third.
Knips has held down the starting left tackle spot each of the past two seasons and has been an anchor on an offensive line that has surrendered only 18 sacks in nearly 350 pass attempts. A senior from Adrian, Minn., Knips was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy earlier this fall.
Priddy, a junior from Eden Prairie, Minn., has handled the punting duties each of the last three seasons. In 2009, he ranks second in the league with an average of 41.2 yards per punt, including a career-long 64-yarder. He has landed 17 of his 53 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line and booted eight punts at least 50 yards.
Three other SDSU players received honorable mention recognition: tight end Colin Cochart and linebackers Chris Johnson and Jimmy Rogers.
Cochart, a junior from Kewaunee, Wis., ranks fourth on the team with 22 receptions, tallying 212 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a key two-point conversion pass in the Jackrabbits' win over Northern Iowa on Oct. 24.
Both three-year starters at linebacker, Johnson and Rogers rank fourth and sixth, respectively, on the team for tackles. Johnson, a senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, has notched 71 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, while Rogers, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., has made 59 stops, with five tackles for loss.

RABBITS RANKED: For the third year in a row, South Dakota State appeared in the preseason national rankings for the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Jackrabbits began the season ranked 22nd in the Sports Network poll and 23rd in the preseason poll conducted by the Football Championship Subdivision coaches. SDSU has since achieved its highest ranking in a national poll, climbing to ninth in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches' polls after downing Northern Iowa on Oct. 24. The Jackrabbits dropped to 12th in both polls after a Nov. 7 loss to Southern Illinois, but did not lose any ground following a narrow 16-13 loss at Minnesota last week.
Last season, SDSU was 19th in the Sports Network preseason poll and 20th in the coaches' poll. The Jackrabbits climbed to their highest FCS ranking — 12th — before falling to Northern Iowa in late September.
Following is a week-by-week look at the Jackrabbits in the 2009 polls:

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Playing a ranked opponent is nothing new for the Jackrabbit football team, which has taken on some of the nation's elite FCS programs since moving up from Division I at the start of the 2004 season.
In its five-plus seasons at the FCS level, SDSU has played 28 games against ranked opponents and compiled a 9-19 overall record.
The Oct. 24 game versus Northern Iowa marked the Jackrabbits' first win over a ranked opponent this season.

SCOUTING MONTANA: The 2009 season has been another successful one for the Montana football program.
The Grizzlies feature a balanced offensive attack headlined by Walter Payton Award candidate Chase Reynolds. The junio running back has gained 1,159 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Reynolds also ranks third on the team with 27 receptions for 248 yards and two scores.
At quarterback, junior Andrew Selle has completed 63.3 percent (140-of-221) of his passes for 1,941 yards and 18 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Backup Justin Roper also has been efficient, throwing for 899 yards and eight touchdowns, completing 59.3 percent (70-of-118) of his passes with three interceptions.
Marc Mariani has been the primary receiving target, recording team highs with 50 receptions, 980 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Tyler Palmer has added 28 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns. In all, seven different Grizzlies have caught at least 20 passes this season.
Mariani also has been a key player on special teams, averaging 18.8 yards on 23 punt returns, including a touchdown. The Grizzlies also are averaging 23.1 yards per kickoff return, led by Jabin Sambrano (25.7 yards per return) and Peter Nguyen (24.7 yards per return).
The Grizzly defense has allowed 341.2 yards per game, but is limiting the opposition to 17.9 points per contest.
An aggressive secondary has intercepted 16 passes and broken up an additional 59 passes. Sophomore cornerback Trumaine Johnson has tallied four interceptions and broken up 10 passes to go along with 35 tackles.
Senior linebacker Shawn Lebsock leads the team with 73 tackles, followed by junior safety Erik Stoll with 63 stops.

LAST MEETING: Montana kicker Dan Carpenter kicked a school-record five field goals as the sixth-ranked Grizzlies scored 29 straight points en route to a 36-7 victory over South Dakota State.
Montana scored on the opening possession of the game, marching 79 yards on 12 plays. Reggie Bradshaw capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
SDSU answered with nearly an identical drive moments later, with Cory Koenig scoring the game-tying touchdown from two yards out to finish off a 13-play, 78-yard drive. Jackrabbit quarterback Andy Kardoes was 4-for-4 passing on the drive for 32 yards.
Montana built a 20-7 halftime lead as Dan Carpenter book-ended 36- and 34-yard field goals around a Ryan Bagley 3-yard touchdown reception from Cole Bergquist with 6:07 remaining in the first half. Bagley's touchdown completed a 13-play, 69-yard drive as he ended the game with nine receptions for 88 yards.
The Grizzlies added to their advantage in the third quarter with two more Carpenter field goals from 26 and 32 yards following a Bradshaw 15-yard touchdown run with 10:53 remaining in the period. Carpenter concluded the scoring with a 29-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Bergquist, starting in place of an injured Josh Swogger at quarterback for the Grizzlies, completed 22-of-35 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown. Montana ran 41 more offensive plays than the Jacks, 92-51, and out-gained SDSU 535-226. Montana held a 38:59 to 21:01 advantage in possession time.
Koenig was the top performer for the Jackrabbit offense, gaining 93 yards on 14 carries. Kardoes ended the game 10-of-30 passing for 101 yards, with four of the receptions hauled in by Micah Johnson for 38 yards.

LAST WEEK: The 12th-ranked South Dakota State University football team made a final statement toward locking up a Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, downing Western Illinois, 27-7, Nov. 21 at Hanson Field.
The Jackrabbits, who snapped a two-game losing skid, ended the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and second-place mark of 7-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play. WIU dropped its 10th consecutive game, falling to 1-10 overall and 0-8 in league play.
SDSU wasted little time setting the tone by scoring in the opening minute of the game. After Aaron Rollin returned a kickoff 45 yards into Western Illinois territory, Kyle Minett broke through the right side of the line for a 39-yard touchdown run on the Jackrabbits' second play.
The Fighting Leathernecks took advantage of a Jackrabbit interception to score its first touchdown of the day. After a 20-yard return by Ed Rogers gave WIU the ball at the Jackrabbit 25, Dre Gibbs rambled into the end zone on the first play of the drive.
The Jackrabbits answered with a 39-yard field goal by Kyle Harris with 5 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the first quarter and extended the lead to 17-7 early in the second quarter after Chris Johnson forced a fumble that was recovered by Conrad Kjerstad at the WIU 45. Minett capped the nine-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
SDSU came up with another big play to set up its third touchdown of the half. Chris Tracy blocked a punt with 1:37 and Erich Feller fell on the ball at WIU 16. Two plays later, Thomas O'Brien connected with Glen Fox from 10 yards out to put the Jackrabbits up 24-7 at the half, following the extra point by Harris.
In the third quarter, the Jackrabbits ended a Western Illinois scoring drive with their second blocked kick of the game on a 34-yard field goal attempt. SDSU then marched 68 yards on 12 plays, chewing up nearly six minutes before Peter Reifenrath kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter for the final scoring of the day.
Minett ended the game with 147 yards on 23 carries as he posted his 13th career 100-yard rushing game and sixth of the season.
O'Brien completed 12-of-24 passes for 142 yards. Saunders Montague led the receivers with five catches for 68 yards.
Buck Buchanan Award nominee Danny Batten led the defensive effort by recording a career-high three sacks for a loss of 19 yards. As a team, the Jackrabbits recorded four sacks.
Chris Johnson and Derek Domino each notched eight tackles for the Jackrabbits, with Batten and Corey Jeske each tallying seven stops.
For Western Illinois, Gibbs topped the 100-yard mark with 103 yards on 20 carries. Wil Lunt completed 25-of-38 passes for 206 yards, with Lito Senatus recording a game-high seven receptions for 63 yards.
Kyle Glazier led the Fighting Leathernecks with 12 tackles.

TOP-RANKED DEFENSE: South Dakota State enters the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs with a pair of top-five national defensive rankings.
The Jackrabbits currently lead the FCS ranks in pass efficiency defense at 95.81 after allowing only six passing touchdowns while recording 16 interceptions.
SDSU dropped out of the top spot in the Football Championship Subdivision for scoring defense after giving up a season-high 34 points Nov. 7 to Southern Illinois. SDSU currently ranks fifth in the division - and second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference - by allowing only 13.45 points per game. The Jackrabbits have not allowed a touchdown in three games this season: versus Georgia Southern, versus Indiana State and at Youngstown State.
The Jackrabbits also lead the Missouri Valley Football Conference in pass defense, allowing 170.09 yards per game. SDSU ranks second in the league for total defense (267.18 ypg), rushing defense (95.55 ypg), sacks (2.82 per game) and tackles for loss (6.55 per game).

LIMITING MISTAKES: The Jackrabbits enter Saturday's game as the least-penalized team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
SDSU has committed only 44 penalties this season - an average of 4.0 per game - to rank fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision for fewest penalties. In addition, the Jackrabbits rank fifth for fewest penalty yards with an average of 37.27 yards per game.
The Jackrabbits also have won the turnover battle so far this season, recording five more takeaways than their opponents, 20-15. In its eight wins, SDSU is plus-11 in the turnover category; the Jackrabbits are minus-6 (9 lost, 3 gained) in their three losses.

BATTEN ON BUCHANAN LIST: South Dakota State University defensive end Danny Batten is one of 20 finalists for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player.
A senior from Gilbert, Ariz., Batten was one of 20 players to be considered on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by the Sports Network, and remained on the list throughout the 2009 regular season.
Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts is under way. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that evening.
Batten, who was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Silver Anniversary Team earlier this fall, stepped into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2006 and has started 44 of the 45 games he has played. He earned honorable mention All-America recognition each of the past two seasons while earning first-team all-Great West Football Conference honors in 2007 and first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades in 2008. Batten ranked fourth on the team with 75 total tackles in 2008 and led the team with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
After recording career highs with 12 tackles at Minnesota and three sacks the next week at Western Illinois, Batten currently ranks second on the team with 82 tackles, while leading the squad with 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He has recorded a tackle for loss in nine of the team's 11 games so far this season.
Besides being named to the preseason Buchanan watch list, Batten was chosen as a
second-team preseason All-American by both the Sports Network and College Sporting News.

FOX TOPS CENTURY MARK: Senior wide receiver Glen Fox has moved into the Jackrabbit career top 10 in both receptions and receiving yards during the 2009 season.
By recording a team-best 60 receptions through the end of the regular season Fox has moved into fourth place on the Jackrabbit career receptions chart with 150, following a career-high 12 catches Nov. 7 against Southern Illinois. Former teammate JaRon Harris (152 receptions from 2005-08) ranks third.
In addition, Fox cracked the top 10 for receiving yards in the Southern Illinois game, recording a season-best 101 yards. He has since moved into eighth place on the Jackrabbit receiving yards list with 1,763, passing both Darren Baartman (1,658 yards from 1988-91) and Lionel Macklin (1,700 yards from 1977-79) in the Minnesota game.
Fox played in the Jackrabbit secondary and on special teams during his freshman season in 2006.

STEFFENS STEP UP: The Jackrabbits have received solid contributions this season from brothers and Mount Vernon natives Mike and Jake Steffen.
Mike Steffen posted career highs with 98 receiving yards - on four receptions - and two touchdowns from his wide receiver position in the season opener against Georgia Southern. Both of his touchdowns came in the third quarter, covering four and 62 yards. The 62-yard scoring play was the longest reception of his career. He added five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown Sept. 19 versus Indiana State, then posted seven catches for 90 yards at Illinois State last week. He currently shares the team lead with four touchdown receptions, while ranking in a tie for second in receptions (37) and standing second on the squad with 655 receiving yards, averaging a team-best 17.7 yards per catch.
Jake Steffen made his first career start against Georgia Southern and contributed four tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. He also was credited with two quarterback hurries. He currently ranks third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and is second on the team with three sacks, despite missing two games due to a knee injury. He returned to the starting lineup in the Oct. 24 Hobo Day victory over Northern Iowa and recorded his second interception of the season.

MINETT LEADS RUNNING GAME: Junior Kyle Minett is again handling the bulk of the duties at running back for South Dakota State this season.
Last season, Minett earned second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after ranking second in the league with 1,289 yards rushing - an average of 107.4 yards per game. His rushing total was the sixth highest in school history and the most by a Jackrabbit at the FCS level.
By tallying 1,173 yards this season, Minett enters this weekend with 2,938 career rushing yards. He cracked the Jackrabbit top 10 for career rushing Sept. 26 at Illinois State, and has since moved into sixth place after passing Darwin Gonnerman (2,598 yards from 1966-68) Oct. 31 at Youngstown State. In topping the 1,000-yard mark Nov. 14 at Minnesota, Minett became the first Jackrabbit running back since career rushing leader Josh Ranek in 1998 and 1999 to gain 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
Minett has posted 13 career 100-yard games, including six times this season. He currently ranks fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 106.64 yards per game.
In addition, Minett posted the third-highest point total in school history with 112, scoring 18 touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in 2008. Four of his touchdowns came through the air, ranking third on the team with 44 receptions for 415 yards.
Minett has scored 15 touchdowns - 14 rushing and one receiving - this season and is tied for 19th place in the FCS ranks with an average of 8.18 points per game.
For his career, Minett has scored 40 touchdowns - 33 rushing and seven receiving. The Jackrabbit record for career touchdows is 69, set by Josh Ranek from 1997-2001.

O'BRIEN AT THE HELM: Redshirt freshman Thomas O'Brien has helped lead the Jackrabbits to a 4-1 record as the Jackrabbits' starting quarterback. After not playing Oct. 31 at Youngstown State when Ryan Crawford returned to the starting lineup, O'Brien was awarded the starting nod for the Minnesota game after a solid second-half outing versus Southern Illinois.
In October wins over Missouri State, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa, O'Brien completed a combined 53-of-79 passes - 67.1 percent - for 615 yards and four touchdowns. His best outing came Oct. 24 against UNI as he set a career high with 26 completions on 37 attempts for 285 yards and two touchdowns.
O'Brien did not throw an interception in any of his first three starts at quarterback and compiled an efficiency rating of 149.19.

CRAWFORD BACKS UP: Senior Ryan Crawford made a successful first career start in the Sept. 12 season opener against Georgia Southern, completing 15-of-21 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Crawford's totals for completions and attempts matched his career totals entering the season.
The Outstanding Player of the 43rd Annual Beef Bowl, Crawford completed 21-of-27 passes for a career-high 239 yards and two touchdowns in the Sept. 19 game versus Indiana State. He went 70 pass attempts before throwing his first collegiate interception, which came on his first attempt of the fourth quarter against the Sycamores.
Crawford currently has a passing efficiency rating of 136.19 this season, and has completed 64.3 percent of his passes this season and 65.2 percent for his career.
Crawford, who suffered a knee injury at Cal Poly and missed three games, returned to the starting lineup Oct. 31 at Youngstown State, completing 19-of-28 passes for 178 yards. Redshirt freshman Thomas O'Brien started the three games in place of Crawford and again assumed the the starting role last week at Minnesota.
A senior from Oro Valley, Ariz., Crawford entered fall camp as the quarterback with the most experience in a Jackrabbit uniform. During the 2008 season, Crawford played in six games and completed 14-of-20 passes - 70 percent - for 106 yards and one touchdown. His most extensive playing time came in the season finale at North Dakota State as he stepped in for an injured Ryan Berry and completed 10-of-13 passes for 50 yards and a score.
Junior transfer Lee Mondol and freshman Mike Whittier also were in competition for the starting nod in fall camp.

COCHART CATCHING ON: South Dakota State University tight end Colin Cochart has become more of a target in the Jackrabbit passing game in recent weeks.
A junior from Kewaunee, Wis., Cochart caught three passes, including his first touchdown of the season and a two-point convervsion, in the Oct. 24 Hobo Day victory over Northern Iowa. In the Oct. 31 at Youngstown State, Cochart caught a career-high six passes for a season-high 51 yards, then added two catches for 39 yards last week versus Southern Illinois.
Cochart enters this weekend's game against Montana fourth on the team with 22 receptions for 212 yards.

KJERSTAD LEADS SECONDARY: Junior strong safety Conrad Kjerstad recorded the ninth interception of his career Oct. 31 at Youngstown State, picking off a pass on the Penguins' final offensive play of the game. The Wall native also registered five tackles in the game.
Kjerstad, who was credited with a career-high 15 stops Nov. 7 against Southern Illinois, stands third on the Jackrabbit tackles list this season with 76.
His nine career interceptions are the most by any active Jackrabbit player. He led the team with four during the 2008 campaign and is tied for second on the team this season.

OH, DOMINO: Junior linebacker Derek Domino has emerged as the team's leading tackler this season.
A junior from Spring Lake Park, Minn., Domino has tallied 88 tackles so far this season and has recorded four games with double figures for tackles. Domino notched a career-high 12 tackles in consecutive weeks, helping the Jackrabbits to league victories over Missouri State and North Dakota State.
In addition, Domino leads the team with five interceptions. His fifth interception of the season came at Minnesota last week, one he returned for a 22-yard touchdown. He also picked off two passes Oct. 17 against North Dakota State, returning his first interception of the game 16 yards for a touchdown.
Last season, Domino returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown in the Hobo Day game against McNeese State (La.).

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Redshirt freshman Tyrel Kool was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance against Minnesota on Nov. 14.
A native of Yankton, Kool returned two kickoffs 118 yards (56-yard average), including a season- and career-long 84-yarder. The Jackrabbit return teams excelled against the Football Bowl Subdivision Golden Gophers, racking up 146 yards on four kickoff returns (36.5 avg.) and 68 yards on five punt returns (13.6 avg.).
Four other times this season, the South Dakota State University football team has had two players honored as MVFC players of the week following a Jackrabbit victory.
Honored following SDSU's 24-14 Hobo Day victory over Northern Iowa on Oct. 24 were special teams player of the week Kyle Harris and offensive lineman of the week Ryan McKnight.
A sophomore kicker from Florissant, Mo., Harris booted a go-ahead 49-yard field goal in the third quarter. He also kept UNI's kickoff return unit in check, recording two touchbacks and notching a tackle on the opening kickoff. Harris also was honored by the league after the Jackrabbits' season-opening win over Georgia Southern on Sept. 12.
McKnight, a junior center from Sioux Falls, led an offensive line that paved the way for 429 yards of total offense against UNI. SDSU did not allow a sack in 37 passing attempts and averaged 6.1 yards per play.
Other MVFC players of the week this season include:
• Sept. 12 vs. Georgia Southern: Kyle Harris (special teams), Derek Domino (defense);
• Sept. 26 at Illinois State: Kyle Minett (offense), Jake Steffen (defense);
• Oct. 10 at Missouri State: General Parnell (defense), Dean Priddy (special teams)

COACH STIG: John Stiegelmeier has built the South Dakota State University football team into a consistent winner and a program on the rise in the ranks of the Football Championship Subdivision.
Overall, Coach Stig has led the Jackrabbits to an 83-59 record (.585 winning percentage). SDSU has secured its eighth consecutive winning season, a streak that includes all six seasons at the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Jackrabbits have had a winning record in 11 of his 13 full years as head coach, including six with seven or more victories. He is one of 20 FCS coaches under consideration for the Eddie Robinson Award this season.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: South Dakota State University running back Kyle Minett is a repeat selection to the first team and defensive back Conrad Kjerstad is a second-team honoree on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Team, which was announced Tuesday afternoon.
A junior running back from Ruthton, Minn., Minett has compiled a 3.60 grade-point average while majoring in economics. He finished the 2009 regular season ranked fifth in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision for rushing with an average of 106.6 yards per game and also ranks tied for 19th in scoring with an average of 8.18 points per game with 15 touchdowns - 14 rushing, one receiving. With 1,173 yards rushing this season, Minett became the first SDSU running back to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons since career rushing leader Josh Ranek in 1998 and 1999. Minett currently ranks sixth in career rushing at SDSU with 2,938 yards.
Minett is one of five repeat selections to the University Division First Team, along with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, senior defensive lineman Brandon Wingeier of Dayton (Ohio), senior linebacker Josh Hull of Penn State and senior defensive back Beau Hadley of Weber State (Utah).
A two-time Academic All-District VII honoree, Kjerstad makes his first appearance on the Academic All-America squad with a 3.93 GPA in agricultural business. The Wall native has started all 11 games this season and leads the team with four pass breakups, ranks in a tie for second with four interceptions and stands third with 76 tackles for a Jackrabbit defense that leads the FCS ranks in pass efficiency defense. His nine career interceptions are the most by an active Jackrabbit player.
Earlier this fall, Minett and Kjerstad were among four Jackrabbit players to be named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team. Also honored were senior offensive lineman Casey Knips and junior punter Dean Priddy. SDSU's four first-team selections were the most of any District VII squad in the University Division for the second year in a row.
Knips, a native of Adrian, Minn., was honored on the all-district team with a 3.69 GPA in construction management. A two-year starter at left tackle, Knips was named a semifinalist earlier this fall for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top football senior scholar-athlete. He was a recipient of the Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner's Academic Award in 2008.
Priddy, from Eden Prairie, Minn., has handled the punting duties for the Jackrabbits each of the last three seasons. He currently ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with an average of 41.2 yards per punt. Priddy is pursuing a master's degree in mathematics after compiling a 3.71 GPA as an undergraduate.
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.

HOMETOWN CONNECTION: SDSU has used the services of home-grown talent the past few seasons.
In 2009, five Jackrabbit players hail from Brookings: senior running back Jordan Paula, junior running back Tyler Duffy, redshirt freshman wide receiver Dan Schmidt, freshman offensive lineman Alex Parker and freshman running back Mason Winterboer.

A LOOK AHEAD: Should SDSU win Saturday's game, the Jackrabbits will move on to the FCS quarterfinals against the winner between Eastern Washington and Stephen F. Austin (Texas). Game time and location for the Dec. 5 matchup will be announced following Saturday's games.