Jacks strike big on Hobo Day

Saturday, October 23

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

3-4 , 3-2

Youngstown State

3-5 , 1-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Youngstown State	9	0	3	8	20
South Dakota State	7	10	3	10	30

10/23/2010 7:41:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

Walter Payton Award candidate Kyle Minett ran for a season-high 185 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Thomas O'Brien threw for two scores to lift South Dakota State to a 30-20 victory over Youngstown State (Ohio) in the 97^th Hobo Day game Saturday afternoon at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.

The Jackrabbits, who extended their winning streak to three games, improved to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. YSU dropped its fourth consecutive game, falling to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the MVFC.

Each team scored on its opening drive. The Jackrabbits took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards on seven plays, including a 33-yard screen pass from O'Brien to Minett, before Minett scored from a yard out. The touchdown marked the first time SDSU had scored in the first quarter all season.

Youngstown State answered with a 34-yard field goal by Stephen Blose with 10 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The Penguins took their only lead of the game near the end of the first quarter as Kurt Hess connected with Dominique Barnes on a 33-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt, however, was blocked by Andy Mink, keeping the score at 9-7.

SDSU took advantage of the lone turnover of the game to regain the lead with just under five minutes to play in the first half on a career-best 43-yard field goal by Peter Reifenrath. O'Brien hooked up with Aaron Rollin for 39 yards on third-and-14 to keep the drive alive.

The Jackrabbits continued to make big plays offensively as they extended their lead to 17-9 in the closing minutes of the half. O'Brien hit Brandon Hubert across the middle for 53 yards, then found Colin Cochart for a 9-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

YSU kept within striking distance as Blose kicked a 19-yard field on the Penguins' opening possession of the second half, but Reifenrath booted a 42-yarder of his own as the Jackrabbits maintained an eight-point lead at 20-12.

Late in the third quarter, Minett broke off a season-long 62-yard run that set up Reifenrath's third field goal of the day, a 25-yarder, on the second play of the fourth quarter.

SDSU put the game out of reach on its next possession, putting together an eight-play, 87-yard drive. After dropping what would have been a touchdown on the previous possession, Aaron Rollin caught a pass from O'Brien on a slant and scored from 41 yards out for his second touchdown in as many games.

The Penguins countered with a nine-play, 84-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hess to Ely Ducatel. Hess later ran in the two-point conversion, but SDSU recovered the ensuing onside kick to end YSU's hopes of a comeback.

The Jackrabbits racked up a season-high 492 yards of total offense, registering seven plays of 20 or more yards in the contest. Minett's 185 yards came on 26 carries and added three receptions for 51 yards.

O'Brien finished the game 14-of-25 passing for 283 yards. Rollin set career highs with five catches for 127 yards, while Tyrel Kool added four receptions for 43 yards.

Hess completed 26-of-46 passes for 263 yards for YSU. Barnes tallied 10 catches for 110 yards, with Jamaine Cook tallying 78 yards on 18 carries and another 31 yards on six receptions.

Corey Jeske led a swarming Jackrabbit defense with 11 tackles. Mike Lien added nine stops and recovered the second-quarter fumble.

John Sasson and Donald D'Alesio each were credited with 10 tackles to lead Youngstown State.

The Jackrabbits continue MVFC play Oct. 30 at Indiana State. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. Eastern Time (2:05 p.m. Central) at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind.

NOTES: SDSU improved to 7-5 all-time against Youngstown State and has won the last three meetings ... the Jackrabbits upped their all-time Hobo Day mark to 57-35-5, winning for the second consecutive year and 12 of the last 15 ... SDSU improved to 16-5 against MVFC opponents since joining the league in 2008, including 9-2 at home ... Minett topped the 100-yard mark for the sixth straight game and 20^th time in his career ... Minett's 185 rushing yards was the second-highest output of his career (205 vs. Missouri State in 2008) ... O'Brien's 283 passing yards were two shy of his career high set in the 2009 Hobo Day game against Northern Iowa ... SDSU is a perfect 6-0 in O'Brien's starts when he has not thrown an interception ... Reifenrath moved into third place in career field goals at SDSU with 29, passing Adam Vinatieri (27 field goals from 1991-94) ... attendance was listed at 14,697 - the 10^th-largest crowd in Coughlin-Alumni Stadium history