Big fourth quarter propels Jacks past USD

Saturday, November 14

Vermillion, S.D.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

8-2 , 5-2

South Dakota

5-5 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

South Dakota

11/14/2015 6:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

VERMILLION – Fifth-ranked South Dakota State scored 20 fourth-quarter points to rally past the University of South Dakota, 30-23, in a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at the DakotaDome.

With their third consecutive win, the Jackrabbits improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in league play. USD dropped to 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the MVFC.

Trailing 20-10 entering the fourth quarter, SDSU rallied behind the play of reserve quarterback Zach Lujan. On the first play of the final stanza, Lujan connected with Jake Wieneke for a 34-yard gain, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Kyle Paris.

The Jackrabbits gained the lead on their next possession. Again, the Lujan-to-Wieneke connection clicked on a pair of pass plays for nine and 38 yards, the latter giving SDSU first and goal from the 2. Paris scored on the next play, giving the Jackrabbits a 24-20 advantage with 7 minutes, 30 seconds to play.

Wieneke finished the game with six catches for 180 yards.

SDSU tallied the decisive score 73 seconds later as Nick Farina picked off a Ryan Saeger pass and followed a Jackrabbit caravan to the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, putting the score at 30-20.

Miles Bergner made it a one-score game in the closing minutes with his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder. He also made field goals of 50 and 45 yards in the third quarter as USD built its 10-point lead after halftime.

The Coyotes grabbed a 7-0 lead six-plus minutes into the game on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Saeger to Brandt Van Roekel.

The Jackrabbits got on the board late in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Jay Carlson and took a 10-7 lead into halftime after a 10-yard touchdown run by starting quarterback Taryn Christion. Christion completed 9-of-19 passes for 153 yards, while Lujan finished the game 6-of-8 passing for 128 yards.

Saeger, who started the USD turnaround in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, completed 26-of-46 passes for 266 yards. The Coyotes held a 438-374 advantage in total offense, including a 31-carry, 143-yard performance by running back Michael Fredrick.

Paris led the Jackrabbits with 56 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Dallas Brown registered a game-high 12 tackles to lead the Jackrabbit defense, followed by Farina with 10 tackles. Tyson Graham led USD with 10 stops.

The Jackrabbits close out regular season play next Saturday (Nov. 21) with a 1 p.m. contest at Western Illinois.

NOTES: SDSU leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1889, by a 52-50-7 count … the Jackrabbits have won all four meetings in the Division I era and has won 18 of the last 21 meetings since 1990 … Wieneke posted the 13^th 100-yard receiving game in his career … Wieneke also moved into 10^th place in career receptions at SDSU with 130, passing Darren Baartman (128 receptions from 1988-91) … SDSU picked up two points in the South Dakota Showdown Series and now has a 6-3 lead in the season-long all-sports competition against USD … Farina and Jimmie Forsythe each recorded their team-best second interceptions of the season … SDSU improved to 4-0 in road games this season … attendance was 10,345