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South Dakota State University Athletics
Jacks close regular season at Western Illinois
11/19/2015 9:24:00 AM | Football
BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State University football team will close out the regular season and look to solidify a berth in the upcoming Football Championship Subdivision playoffs when it travels Saturday to Western Illinois.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Hanson Field on the WIU campus in Macomb. The game will be available for viewing on ESPN3.com.
The Jackrabbits, ranked fifth in both the STATS media poll and FCS coaches' poll for the second consecutive week, enter the matchup with an 8-2 overall record and 5-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference following a 30-23 come-from-behind victory at in-state rival South Dakota on Nov. 14. SDSU will be in search of its first nine-win regular season since 1979, when the Jackrabbits made their lone appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Western Illinois, meanwhile, is receiving votes in both national polls and brings a 5-5 overall record and 4-3 league mark into its season finale. The Fighting Leathernecks
rallied for a road win of their own last week, downing Indiana State, 37-30, in overtime.
Pairings for the FCS playoffs will be announced at 10 a.m. Sunday on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app.
THE SERIES: Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between South Dakota State and Western Illinois, a series that dates back to a 28-21 Fighting Leatherneck victory in 1976. On the strength of winning the last seven meetings, SDSU holds an 8-4 series advantage.
WIU's last victory against SDSU came in 2007, when the Fighting Leathernecks scored a 29-26, four-overtime victory on their home field. The four-overtime game stands as the longest in both SDSU and league history.
In last season's meeting, on Nov. 15, 2014, SDSU quarterback Austin Sumner threw for a career-high six touchdowns, setting the school record for career touchdown passes in the process, in leading the Jackrabbits to a 59-24 victory over Western Illinois at a snowy Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
Walter Payton Award candidate Zach Zenner opened the scoring with a 67-yard touchdown run five minutes into the game. Zenner later added an 18-yard scoring run and found paydirt for the third time by scoring on a swing pass that covered 40 yards. Zenner crossed the 6,000-yard mark for career rushing in the contest.
Sumner connected with wide receiver Jake Wieneke for three third-quarter touchdowns that covered 11, 11 and 22 yards. Wieneke finished the day with 10 receptions for 159 yards, while Sumner completed 21-of-37 passes for 366 yards and the six scores.
SDSU held a 547-402 advantage in total yards.
RABBITS RANKED: The South Dakota State University football team vaulted into the top 10 of both major Football Championships Subdivision polls following its season-opening Sept. 5 at Kansas. The Jackrabbits have climbed to as high as fifth in both the STATS media poll (three weeks) and the FCS coaches' rankings (two weeks) this season, marking the highest SDSU has been ranked since joining the FCS ranks in 2004.
SDSU has been ranked in both FCS polls every week since Oct. 29, 2012.
DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: The South Dakota State defense is in the midst of one of its most stingy stretch in terms of points allowed in more than 50 years. The Jackrabbits have allowed only 154 points so far this season — an average of 15.4 points per game — and rank sixth among FCS squads for scoring defense.
Since the opening of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in 1962, the fewest average points per game a South Dakota State defense allowed in a season was 7.0 during that 1962 campaign, followed by 13.7 points per game in 1977. The 1962 Jackrabbit squad shut out three opponents en route to a 7-2-1 record and a share of the North Central Conference title.
TURNOVERS TELL THE STORY: South Dakota State enters the week leading the Football Championship Subdivision for fewest turnovers lost with only six this season. The Jackrabbits have not turned the ball over in seven of their 10 games, with the six turnovers all on interceptions. SDSU is the only FCS team not to lose a fumble so far during the 2015 season.
The Jackrabbits rank 14th in turnover margin at plus-.80 per game and plus-8 for the season. SDSU has forced 14 turnovers (9 interceptions, 5 fumbles). The Jackrabbits have scored 58 points (8 touchdowns, 1 field goal) off its opponents' 14 turnovers and allowed only 13 points off its own turnovers.
FARINA HONORED: South Dakota State University free safety Nick Farina was named as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 15 for his efforts in the Jackrabbits' come-from-behind victory at the University of South Dakota.
A sophomore from Phoeniz, Farina tallied a career-high 10 tackles and returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in South Dakota State's 30-23 win on Nov. 14. His interception return capped a 20-point fourth quarter for the Jackrabbits and proved to be the decisive score in the South Dakota Showdown Series game. Farina, who shares the team lead with two interceptions, broke up another pass as the Jackrabbits remained undefeated on the road this season.
LALLY NEAR THE TOP IN TACKLES: Senior linebacker T.J. Lally currently ranks fourth among active Football Championship Subdivision players in career tackles.
A native of Chicago, Lally has tallied 384 career stops, putting him behind Drake (Iowa) linebacker John Hugunin with 406 tackles, followed by Donald Payne of Stetston (Fla.) with 400 and Donelle Williams of Presbyterian (S.C.) with 394 stops.
Lally, who has started all 51 games of his Jackrabbit career, has finished either first or second on the team in tackles each of his first three seasons and has posted a pair of 100-tackle campaigns.
Lally registered 107 tackles during his redshirt freshman season in 2012 to rank second on the team, and added a team-best 117 tackles during the 2014 season.
Lally's 384 tackles are the most by a Jackrabbit in the Division I era and third most in program history, trailing Greg Osmundson (1986-89) with 435 and J.D. Alexander (1971-74) with 393.
BOBBIT LEADING DEFENSE: Linebacker Jesse Bobbit leads the Jackrabbit defense with 83 tackles this season on the strength of four double-digit performances. A junior from Palatine, Illinois, Bobbit recorded 10 tackles in the Sept. 5 season-opening win at Kansas. He later tallied double figures in tackles in back-to-back weeks, notching 11 in a win over Robert Morris (Pa.) and tying a career high with 13 tackles Oct. 3 against North Dakota State. He also forced a fumble against the Bison.
Bobbit ranked third on the team with 90 tackles in 2014 and has started 23 games in a row.
LUJAN UNDER CENTER: Junior quarterback Zach Lujan became the fastest Jackrabbit to throw for 1,000 yards in a season, reaching the mark in the third game of the 2015 season.
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Lujan named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for a career-high 395 yards in a 34-10 home victory over Robert Morris (Pa.) on Sept. 26. Lujan's yardage total tied for the second most in a game in program history and upped his season yardage total to 1,002 yards in only three games. He sat out games against Indiana State (Oct. 10) and Youngstown State (Oct. 17) before returning to the starting lineup Oct. 24 against Northern Iowa, although he played only two offensive series.
In the Nov. 15 game at South Dakota, Lujan came off the bench to spark a Jackrabbit rally. He entered the game late in the third quarter and completed 6-of-8 passes for 128 yards, including strikes of 34 and 38 yards to Jake Wieneke to set up touchdowns as SDSU erupted for 20 fourth-quarter points in a 30-23 victory.
Lujan began the season by completing 17-of-33 passes for 293 yards and tied a career high with three touchdown passes in a Sept. 5 win at Kansas. Two of Lujan's completions came on fourth-down attempts, including a 23-yard strike to tight end Dallas Goedert on fourth-and-5 from the KU 29 that set up SDSU's final touchdown with 6:18 to play in the game. His other fourth-down completion came in the third quarter, extending a drive that led to a field goal.
Lujan threw two more touchdown passes — both to Jake Wieneke — in a 55-10 home win over Southern Utah the following week. He ended the night 19-of-27 passing for 314 yards, marking his third career 300-yard game.
The junior signal-caller played a key role in the Jackrabbits reaching the FCS playoffs a season ago. Lujan stepped in for an injured Austin Sumner and led the Jackrabbits to a 5-2 record as the starter. He took over early in the 2014 season opener at Missouri after career passing leader Austin Sumner was injured, leading SDSU on two scoring drives. He held lead a touchdown drive to open the second half and pull SDSU to within 21-18. A native of Anchorage, Alaska, who played the 2013 season at Chabot College (Calif.), Lujan completed 21-of-28 passes for 239 yards with one interception at Mizzou.
A member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, Lujan led the team with 1,943 passing yards and completed 61 percent (147-of-241) of his pass attempts. In his first career start, Sept. 6 against Cal Poly, Lujan finished the night 12-of-20 passing for 236 yards and three touchdowns.
Lujan went on to establish a new season-high in yards in three of four Missouri Valley Football Conference games, including a 329-yard performance on 28-of-42 passing with two touchdowns in his last 2014 start, Oct. 25 against Youngstown State.
WIENEKE ADDED TO WATCH LIST: South Dakota State University wide receiver Jake Wieneke has been added to the official watch list for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year award.
A sophomore from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Wieneke ranks among the FCS leaders with 57 receptions for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns through 10 games. He caught two touchdown passes in each of the Jackrabbits' first three games, which included an 11-reception, 205-yard performance against Southern Utah on Sept. 12. Wieneke became the first SDSU player in 19 seasons to top 200 receiving yards in a game.
Wieneke was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS' top freshman in 2014, ending the year with 73 receptions for 1,404 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns. He earned All-America honors from The Associated Press and Sports Network.
Currently, 25 players appear on the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List. The list will be revised periodically throughout the remainder of the 2015 season, with voting for the award taking place at the end of the regular season.
Only 24 games into his collegiate career, Wieneke is rapidly moving up the Jackrabbit career receiving charts. He enters Saturday's game with 130 career receptions for 2,630 yards — a total that stands fifth among active FCS players. His career average of 109.6 receiving yards per game ranks second among active FCS players.
Wieneke has caught 26 touchdown passes for his career, including two in four games this season, to move into a tie with Josh Davis (2002-05) for second place on the SDSU charts. Wieneke has caught a touchdown pass in 17 of 24 career games, including 11 of 15 games against Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents.
TIGHT ENDS CATCHING ON: After combining for 16 catches all of last season, South Dakota State tight ends have tallied 42 receptions so far this season for an average of 15.8 yards per catch.
Sophomore Dallas Goedert and senior Cam Jones are each tied for second on the team with 21 catches. Goedert ranks second on the squad with 388 receiving yards, averaging 18.5 yards per catch with two touchdowns, including the team's longest scoring play of the season at 77 yards in the Sept. 12 win over Southern Utah. Jones has tallied 277 receiving yards for an average of 13.2 yards per catch.
CHRISTION ON NATIONAL RADAR: South Dakota State quarterback Taryn Christion is one of 20 players under consideration for College Football Performance Awards Freshman Performer of the Year.
A true freshman from Sioux Falls, Christion has started two games and played in a total of five games for the Jackrabbits since having his redshirt pulled in the Oct. 10 game against Indiana State. Christion helped lead the nationally ranked Jackrabbits to back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, earning Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week honors both weeks.
Christion also was named STATS National Freshman of the Week for his performance in his collegiate debut. He accounted for 320 yards of total offense in SDSU's 24-7 home victory over Indiana State, then improved to 2-0 as the Jackrabbits's starting quarterback by throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown, and gaining 75 yards on the ground — with a 70-yard touchdown run — the next week at Youngstown State.
Christion came off the bench to spark the Jackrabbits' 25-20 victory over second-ranked Illinois State on Nov. 7, accounting for 372 yards of total offense. He completed 15-of-30 passes for a career-high 307 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran nine times for 65 yards and a score.
For the season, Christion has completed 60.2 percent (71-of-18) of his passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. He also is third on the team with 288 rushing yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
JACKRABBIT INSIDER: Throughout the 2015 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 p.m. on Sioux Falls-based MyUTV. The show is also broadcast on KELO-TV at 11 p.m. Central Sunday and at 10 p.m. Mountain Time Sunday on KDLO-TV. Online, the show can be viewed on demand at GoJacks.com.
STIG SHOW: The John Stiegelmeier Radio Show airs weekly throughout the 2015 football season.
The show is scheduled to return to its normal air time of 6 p.m. Monday on Nov. 23, along the Jackrabbit Sports Network, originating with WNAX 570 AM in Yankton. In addition, the weekly show also will be streamed online free of charge at GoJacks.com.
Hosted by Tyler Merriam, the John Stiegelmeier Radio Show will also feature interviews with Jackrabbit student-athletes and assistant coaches. Jackrabbit fans are encouraged to attend the show in person at Cubby's Sports Bar and Grill, 307 Main Ave., in downtown Brookings.
A LOOK AHEAD: Pairings for the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision playoffs will be announced at 10 a.m. Central Time Sunday on ESPNU. Eight first-round games will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28, with the top-eight seeds receiving first-round byes.
Should SDSU be selected to host, games will be held at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls due to ongoing construction of the new Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
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