Jacks drop league opener

Saturday, September 24

Normal, Ill.

6:00 PM

South Dakota State University

1-3 , 0-1

Illinois State

2-2 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

Illinois State

9/24/2011 10:43:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

NORMAL, Ill. - A second-half rally by South Dakota State came up a few yards short as the Jackrabbit football team dropped its Missouri Valley Football Conference opener, 20-13, to Illinois State Saturday night at Hancock Stadium.

The host Redbirds improved to 2-2 overall and also evened their league mark at 1-1. SDSU dropped to 1-3 overall.

Illinois State dominated the first quarter, scoring on its opening drive. Ashton Leggett punctuated a six-play, 58-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the game. The extra point was blocked by Dirk Kool, leaving the score at 6-0.

The Redbirds took advantage of a short field to go up by two touchdowns early in the second quarter. After a personal foul penalty against SDSU on a punt put the ball at the Jackrabbit 25, Illinois State ran 10 plays before Leggett scored on fourth-and-goal from a yard out.

The Jackrabbit defense factored into SDSU's first score of the night as Leggett dropped a lateral from Matt Brown and Mike Lien scooped up the ball and ran 40 yards for a touchdown. However, Kyle Harris' extra-point attempt for the Jackrabbits was blocked.

Penalties and mistakes continued to pile up for SDSU throughout the first half, including penalties on two third-down, short-yardage plays on the first two possessions and a lost fumble at midfield after taking over at the Redbird 43 late in the second quarter.

Illinois State again scored on its opening drive of the second half, moving 80 yards on 11 plays with the drive ending on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Tyrone Walker. Walker led all receivers with 10 receptions for 143 yards.

The Jackrabbits put together their longest scoring drive of the season - both in terms and plays and yards - early in the fourth quarter to pull back to within seven at 20-13. Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Sumner capped a 14-play, 86-yard march with a 1-yard run on third down after SDSU had been stopped on the doorstep on the previous two plays. Sumner completed all four of his pass attempts passes on the drive, including three to fellow Brandon Valley product Dale Moss.

SDSU forced a three-and-out n the next Redbird possession, taking over at the ISU 29. The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of tying the game midway through the final quarter. After a pair of pass interference penalties moved the ball deep into Redbird territory, Sumner completed a fourth-down pass to Brandon Hubert inside the 5-yard line. Redbird defensive back Ben Ericksen forced a fumble on the play and Mike Banks fell on the loose football to thwart the comeback attempt.

The Jackrabbits got the ball back with under two minutes to play, but failed to pick up a first down as Illinois State broke up a pair of passes.

Sumner finished the game 18-of-32 passing for 194 yards in his first career start. Moss led the receiving corps with nine catches for 98 yards. Tyrel Kool led the ground game with 47 yards on 10 carries, while Zach Zenner added 12 carries for 46 yards.

For Illinois State, Leggett racked up 98 yards on 29 carries, with Brown tallying 214 yards through the air, going 22-of-34. The Redbirds held a 342-265 advantage in total offense.

Lien and Andy Mink paced the Jackrabbit defense with 10 tackles each. Otis Merrill led Illinois State with eight stops.

SDSU returns home to face Indiana State (3-1, 1-0) in MVFC action on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff for the 45th Annual Beef Bowl is slated for 6:05 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.

NOTES: The all-time series between SDSU and Illinois State is tied at 2-all ... Jackrabbits are 17-8 in league games since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008 ... Illinois State held a 113-20 advantage in total yards during the first quarter ... SDSU's last fumble return for a touchdown was a 36-yard return by Dale Heiden against Northern Colorado in 2000 ... the Jackrabbits committed 10 penalties for 85 yards; Illinois State was flagged six times for 42 yards ... the Redbirds were 10-of-18 on third down ... Illinois State held an 11-minute advantage in time of possession ... attendance was 7,536