Jackrabbits wrap up regular season at USD

Saturday, November 18

Vermillion, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

South Dakota

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

11/14/2017 6:38:00 PM | Football

By: Jason Hove

GAME 11: #5/6 South Dakota State (8-2, 5-2 MVFC) at #15/16 South Dakota (7-3, 4-3 MVFC)

When	Saturday, Nov. 18 \| 2 p.m. Central Time	South Dakota Showdown Series
Where	DakotaDome \| Vermillion, South Dakota
TV	Midco Sports Network \| Video Streaming: ESPN3.com
Radio	J ackrabbits All-Access (free audio) \| Jackrabbit Sports Network
Live Stats	Click Here
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| South Dakota \| Missouri Valley Football Conference
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #LastPlay

The South Dakota State University football team will face its fourth consecutive ranked opponent as it closes out the regular season by traveling Saturday to in-state rival University of South Dakota.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. before a sold-out crowd at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
Currently on a season-best four-game winning streak, the Jackrabbits enter Saturday's matchup with an 8-2 overall mark and 5-2 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. SDSU is tied for second in the MVFC standings with Northern Iowa and could earn a share of its second consecutive league title with a win Saturday and a North Dakota State loss at Illinois State.
The Jackrabbits remained fifth in the FCS coaches' poll and sixth in the STATS FCS media poll after closing the home slate with a 27-24 overtime victory over No. 17/20 Illinois State on Nov. 11. SDSU also has recorded wins over nationally ranked Western Illinois and North Dakota State during its current winning streak, putting the Jackrabbits in position for their sixth consecutive Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth.
South Dakota also is in contention for a postseason bid as the Coyotes enter Saturday's game with a 7-3 overall record and 4-3 mark in the MVFC. USD has lost its last two games, falling 34-29 at Northern Iowa on Nov. 4, followed by a 49-14 setback at North Dakota State last week.

THE SERIES: According to SDSU records, Saturday's game will mark the 110th meeting on the gridiron between SDSU and South Dakota, with the Jackrabbits holding a 52-50-7 series advantage on the strength of winning each of the last eight matchups. The series dates back to 1889, when the two squads played to a 6-6 tie.
The current SDSU winning streak began with a 20-3 Jackrabbit victory in Vermillion during the 2001 season. After SDSU made the jump to Division I following the 2003 season, the series was dormant until 2012, when the Coyotes landed in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as part of their own D-I pursuits.
Each of the last two meetings have been decided by one touchdown, including a 28-21 Jackrabbit victory on Nov. 12, 2016, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. SDSU
quarterback Taryn Christion rushed for two second-half touchdowns, including the game-winner with 4 minutes and 39 seconds to play. As a team, the Jackrabbits rushed for a season-high 415 yards, highlighted by Brady Mengarelli's 161 yards on 21 carries. Isaac Wallace added 102 yards on eight carries, including a 47-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

SHOWDOWN SERIES: Saturday's game also is part of the South Dakota Showdown Series, presented by South Dakota Corn, which is an all-sports competition between SDSU and USD.
The South Dakota Showdown Series tracks head-to-head match-ups and conference championship results in 17 sports, with each school accumulating points toward the overall series championship.
The Series also recognizes outstanding academic achievement by the schools'student-athletes and aims to raise awareness, funds and donations for Feeding South Dakota, a statewide not-for-profit with the goal of eliminating hunger in South Dakota. Fans can make cash donations toward the "Get Off The Bench" initiative at stadium entrances and concession stands on Saturday or can donate online at www.feedingsouthdakota.org.
The first competition of the South Dakota Showdown series was held during the 2012-13 academic year, with South Dakota State winning the first two Showdown Series. USD?claimed its first title during the 2014-15 academic year. SDSU regained the series title during the 2015-16 academic year, but USD won again in 2016-17.
The Coyotes are out to a 3-2 lead so far this season. Two points will be awarded to the winner of Saturday's football game.
The South Dakota Showdown series is managed by Jackrabbit Sports Properties and Coyote Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holders for SDSU Athletics and USD Athletics, respectively. Both are properties of Learfield Sports, which manages multimedia rights for nearly 120 collegiate properties.

NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER: South Dakota State has a history of finishing the league schedule strong since becoming a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since joining the MVFC in 2008, the Jackrabbits have compiled a 22-6 record against league foes in the month of November, including a 2-0 mark in 2011 and 3-0 records in 2013 and 2016.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision in 2004, the Jackrabbits have posted a 30-39 overall record against ranked FCS opponents. SDSU is 3-1 against ranked FCS opponents so far during the 2017 season, dropping a 19-7 decision at Youngstown State on Sept. 30 before posting wins over Western Illinois (52-24), North Dakota State (33-21) and Illinois State (27-24) the past three weeks.
Of the 69 previous matchups against a ranked opponent, 36 have been in a regular season Missouri Valley Football Conference game. The Jackrabbits have compiled a 20-16 record in those matchups.

RABBITS RANKED: For the fourth time in five years, the South Dakota State University football team entered a season with a top-10 national ranking. The Jackrabbits attained their highest-ever ranking in a Football Championship Subdivision poll, checking in at No. 4 in the 2017 STATS FCS Preseason Poll, which was released in early August. SDSU also was ranked sixth in the preseason FCS Coaches' Poll.
With their win last week over No. 17/20 Illinois State, the Jackrabbits maintained their rankings of fifth in the coaches' poll and sixth in the STATS FCS media poll.
Defending national champion James Madison holds the top spot in both national polls, followed by Jacksonville State and Central Arkansas.
Five other MVFC squads are included in this week's top 25 of the STATS media poll: North Dakota State (fourth), Western Illinois (ninth), South Dakota (15th), Illinois State (21st) and Northern Iowa (24th). Youngstown State is receiving votes.
SDSU had spent four weeks ranked fourth in both major polls prior to their 19-7 loss at Youngstown State on Sept. 30. The Jackrabbits' previous highest ranking was a fifth-place showing over three weeks during the 2015 season. SDSU's previous high ranking in a preseason poll was sixth in 2013.
SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 76 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012.

FCS WIN NO. 100: South Dakota State recorded its 100th win as a Football Championship Subdivision program with a 62-30 victory at Missouri State on Oct. 21. Since moving to the FCS ranks at the start of the 2004 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 103-63 overall record (.620 winning percentage).
SDSU has now turned in a winning record in 12 of 14 full seasons and has compiled a 54-25 mark (.683 winning percentage) in Missouri Valley Football Conference games.

ELITE COMPANY: South Dakota State is one of only four Football Championship Subdivision programs to reach the playoffs each of the last five seasons.
The three other programs to play in the postseason each year since 2012 include:
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota State
• Sam Houston State (Texas)

VINATIERI HONORED: After kicking the game-winning field goal in an overtime win over Illinois State, South Dakota State kicker Chase Vinatieri was honored Nov. 12 as Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
A sophomore from Sioux Falls, Vinatieri kicked two field goals, including the game-winning 43-yarder, as the Jackrabbits prevailed over Illinois State, 27-24. Vinatieri's first field goal of the day was a 34-yarder early in the second quarter. He also was successful on all three of his PAT attempts for a total of nine points in the game, while adding a pair of touchbacks on five kickoffs.
It marks the second time this season he has been named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He also earned the honor following SDSU's Sept. 9 win at Montana State.
Vinatieri also kicked a 40-yard game-winning field goal in the closing minutes of the Jackrabbits' 2016 playoff win against Villanova.

NATIONAL AWARD WATCH LISTS: Four Jackrabbit football players have been included in preseason watch lists for top awards within the Football Championship Subdivision.
An unprecedented three SDSU football players who were finalists for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award last season are again included in thewatch list for the 2017 award. Representing the Jackrabbits on the list for the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision are junior quarterback Taryn Christion, senior wide receiver Jake Wieneke and senior tight end Dallas Goedert.
Christion was the highest finisher among the Jackrabbit trio in the 2016 balloting with a seventh-place finish. Wieneke finished 10th, with Goedert placing 14th.
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Christian Rozeboom was included in the preseason watch list for the STATS?FCS?Buck Buchanan Award for the top defensive player in the FCS.
The watch lists for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award and STATS?FCS?Buck Buchanan Award will be updated periodically throughout the 2017 season. The awards will be presented Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS national title game.
All four players were also named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team. Goedert, Wieneke and senior center Jacob Ohnesorge were honored on the first-team offense, with Rozeboom earning first-team distinction on the defensive side of the ball.
Christion and senior fullback Kane Louscher were both third-team picks on offense.

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team on the field and in the locker room are six captains:
• Taryn Christion, Jr., quarterback, Sioux Falls, S.D.;
• Dallas Goedert, Sr., tight end, Britton, S.D.;
• Brady Mengarelli, Sr., running back, Prescott, Ariz.;
• Jacob Ohnesorge, Sr., offensive lineman, Waunakee, Wis.;
• Christian Rozeboom, So., linebacker, Sioux Center, Iowa, and
• Jake Wieneke, Sr., wide receiver, Maple Grove, Minn.
Ohnesorge, who is a two-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season, is in his third season as a team captain, joining former quarterback Austin Sumner (2010-13) as the only three-time captain in program history. Mengarelli is in his second season as a captain, while the four other captains are all in their first years.

TURNOVER MARK TIED: The Jackrabbit defense came up with five turnovers — three interceptions and two fumbles — in its 33-21 victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 4, tying the program mark for most takeaways against a Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent. SDSU previously forced five turnovers in a league game against Missouri State on Sept. 29, 2012, recording four interceptions and a fumble recovery in a 17-7 home win.
SDSU has forced at least one turnover in every game in 2017 and is plus-3 (16-13) in turnover margin for the season.

RED-ZONE OFFENSE: During its current four-game winning streak, the South Dakota State offense has made the most of its opportunities deep in opposing territory. Over the last four games, the Jackrabbits have made 20 trips into the red zone and come away with points each time, scoring 17 touchdowns and three field goals.
Sophomore running back Mikey Daniel has been a big part of the red-zone offense, scoring six rushing touchdowns over the last four games. Daniel had his streak of a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games snapped in the Nov. 11 win over Illinois State. He leads the squad with nine rushing touchdowns.

THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY: After leading the Football Championship Subdivision for the two weeks entering November, South Dakota State currently ranks in a tie for second by converting on 51.7 percent (61-of-118) of its third-down attempts.
The Jackrabbits also have been efficient on third downs on the defensive side of the ball over the last six games, limiting the opposition to a success rate of 31.9 percent (22-of-69). SDSU limited Illinois State to 2-of-11 on third-down plays last week.
SDSU also is 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) on fourth-down attempts in 2017.

PENALTY-FREE ZONE: The Jackrabbits committed only one penalty for 15 yards in their Sept. 30 matchup at Youngstown State. It marked the fifth time in the Division I era (since 2004) that SDSU committed only one penalty in a game.
For the season, SDSU ranks 13th among FCS teams in fewest penalties committed with 49 and stands 16th in fewest penalty yards with 428 (42.8 yards per game).

CHRISTION MOVING ON UP: Junior quarterback Taryn Christion has moved into second place of three different career categories in recent weeks. Most recently, the Sioux Falls native took over second place for career touchdown passes with a five-touchdown performance Oct. 28 at Western Illinois. He has since upped his career touchdowns total to 62, surpassing Ryan Berry (56 touchdowns from 2005-08) and moving to within three of the school record of 65 set by Austin Sumner from 2011-14.
Earlier this season, Christion overtook Ted Wahl (1985-88) in career passing yards and career total offense. He enters this weekend's matchup versus South Dakota with career totals of 7,555 passing yards and 8,676 yards of total offense. Christion passed the 1,000-yard mark in career rushing in the Nov. 4 win over North Dakota State and posted his second career 100-yard rushing game with 110 yards on nine carries last week against Illinois State. His Nov. 11 performance was highlighted by a career-long 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, giving him a streak of four consecutive games with both a passing and rushing touchdown.
Sumner also holds all SDSU records with 9,458 passing yards and 9,284 yards of total offense.

MENGARELLI MAKES TOP-10 RUN: Senior running back Brady Mengarelli moved into the Jackrabbit career top 10 for rushing in the Oct. 14 game against Northern Iowa. A native of Prescott, Arizona, Mengarelli has since moved into ninth place with 2,481 rushing yards in his career, overtaking Rick Wegher (2,293 yards from 1981-84) in the Oct. 21 matchup at Missouri State.He stands 118 yards from passing the late Darwin Gonnerman (2,598 rushing yards from 1996-68) for eighth place in program history.
Mengarelli moved into position for his top-10 ranking with a career-high 220 yards in a win over Southern Illinois on Oct. 7. He led the Jackrabbits in rushing during both the 2015 and 2016 seasons and again leads the team this year with 653 yards, while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

CENTURY CITY: For the first time in more than a year, South Dakota State had a rusher and receiver each with more than 100 yards in the same game in the Jackrabbits' 62-30 win at Missouri State on Oct. 21. Brady Mengarelli gained 115 yards on only 11 carries, including a career-long 57-yard touchdown, while Dallas Goedert hauled in eight catches for 170 yards, highlighted by a 42-yard score.
The last time the Jackrabbits had a rushing-receiving tandem with 100 yards each was in SDSU's victory at top-ranked North Dakota State on Oct. 15, 2016. In that game, quarterback Taryn Christion rushed 20 times for 141 yards and Goedert caught 11 balls for 150 yards. Jake Wieneke added six receptions for 108 yards.

GOEDERT SETS TIGHT END MARK: All-America tight end Dallas Goedert became the top receiving tight end in Missouri Valley Football Conference history during SDSU's victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 4.
A senior from Britton, Goedert upped his career receiving total to 2,726 yards with a 33-yard touchdown against Illinois State last week. Goedert surpassed the previous mark of 2,601 yards compiled by Southern Illinois' MyCole Pruitt from 2011-14.
Goedert currently leads all Division I — FCS and FBS — tight ends with 849 receiving yards this season. He has topped the 100-yard mark five times in 2017.

GOEDERT SELECTED FOR SENIOR BOWL: South Dakota State University tight end Dallas Goedert has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl following the conclusion of the 2017 season.
A Britton native, Goedert is a two-time all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection and was a unanimous Football Championship Subdivision All-America honoree in 2016. He caught a school record 92 passes for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns last season en route to being named a finalist for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award. He again leads the team in receptions this season with 49 for 849 yards and five touchdowns.
Goedert's 2,726 career receiving yards rank fourth in school history. He also is tied for third in program history with 175 receptions.
The Senior Bowl is scheduled to be played Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The game is scheduled to be televised on NFL Network, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.

IRONMAN STREAK: All-America center Jacob Ohnesorge is expected to make his 50th consecutive start in Saturday's game, a mark that would be the most by a Jackrabbit offensive lineman in a career. Two-time All-America tackle Bryan Witzmann, who is currently a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, first set the SDSU record from 2010-13.
The Jackrabbit record for career starts by any player is 53 by linebacker T.J. Lally from 2012-15.

WIENEKE REACHES MORE MILESTONES: Jackrabbit wide receiver Jake Wieneke has taken over third place in a pair of Football Championship Subdivision career categories in recent weeks.
In notching his 15th career multi-touchdown game with a three-touchdown performance Oct. 28 at Western Illinois, Wieneke upped his career total to 54, passing former Elon standout Terrell Hudgins (2006-09). Wieneke's 54 career touchdown receptions are both SDSU and MVFC career marks.
A three-time All-American, Wieneke has caught a touchdown pass in 32 of 49 career games, including six of nine this season. His 11 receiving touchdowns this season are the second most in the FCS.
Most recently, Wieneke moved past Jerry Rice (4,693 yards for Mississippi Valley State from 1981-84) for third in FCS history and enters the week with with 4,782 yards after a five-catch, 52-yard outing in a Nov. 11 win over Illinois State. His receiving yardage total also are SDSU and league records.
The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native established a new Jackrabbit career mark for receptions in the 2017 season opener and enters Saturday's game with 267 — a mark that now ranks second in MVFC history after passing both Northern Iowa's Eddie Berlin (249 receptions from 1997-2000) and former Illinois State standout Tyrone Walker (250 receptions from 2009-12) in the Jackrabbits' Oct. 21 victory at Missouri State.
Lance Lenoir, who played at Western Illinois from 2013-16 is the MVFC career leader with 273 receptions.
Wieneke also is third among active FCS?players in career receptions, trailing Lehigh's Troy Pelletier with 309 and Justin Watson of Penn with 273.

BALL-HAWKING BACKHAUS: Linebacker Logan Backhaus had his hand in his team-leading third takeaway of the season when he forced a fumble in the Jackrabbits' Oct. 15 game against Northern Iowa. A redshirt freshman, Backhaus shares the team lead with two interceptions and ranks seventh on the squad with 36 tackles. He tied a career high with seven tackles and recorded his first career sack in the game against UNI.
Backhaus missed two games due to injury, but returned to the starting lineup in the Nov. 4 contest versus North Dakota State.

LOWERING THE BOOM: South Dakota State linebacker Christian Rozeboom turned in the 13th double-digit tackling performance of his career — and sixth this season — with a 10-tackle outing Nov. 11 against Illinois State.
A sophomore, Rozeboom currently leads the Jackrabbits in tackles this season with 93, after posting a team-high 132 tackles in 2016.

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS: During its current four-game winning streak, South Dakota State has dominated the third quarter by outscoring its opponents by a 45-7 margin. In 14 defensive possessions, the Jackrabbits have forced four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception) in the third quarter of those games, while forcing one turnover on downs and eight punts.

BLOCK THAT KICK: The Jackrabbits have been strong on special teams throughout the 2017 season and currently rank 14th in the Football Championship Subdivision with four blocked kicks. SDSU recorded a blocked kick — two extra points and a punt — in each of its first three games, than ran its total to four with a blocked punt by Alex Romenesko on the opening possession of the Oct. 7 game against Southern Illinois.
SDSU blocked a total of three kicks in 2016.

MOVE THOSE CHAINS: The Jackrabbits established a Division I-era record with 35 first downs in their Oct. 7 game against Southern Illinois. SDSU ran for 17 first downs, while 13 of Taryn Christion's 16 completions went for first downs in the passing game. SDSU also picked up five first downs on SIU penalties.
Previously, the most Jackrabbit first downs in a game since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision was 31 in a losing effort last season at Illinois State.
The single-game school record for first downs is 37, a mark first set in 1984 in a game at Wyoming, and matched a year later versus North Dakota.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Eight different true freshmen saw action for the Jackrabbits in the Aug. 31 season opener against Duquesne. Most of the newcomers to make their collegiate debuts were linemen as Jack Domandle, Eagan Lickiss and Edward Miller played on the offensive line and Xavier Ward and Daniel Callender played on the defensive line. Linebackers Noah Urbanek and Seven Wilson also made their collegiate debuts, as did tight end Skyler Cavanaugh.
In addition, redshirt freshmen Austin Barrett (defensive tackle) and Logan Backhaus (linebacker) drew starting assignments in their first action as Jackrabbits.

JACKRABBIT BLOODLINES: Several South Dakota State football players have extensive Jackrabbit bloodlines.
Brothers Mason and Tristan Leiseth are both second-generation defensive ends from nearby Hayti. Their father, David, lettered in football for SDSU from 1989-91 and also was a three-time All-American in the shot put.
Three other members of the Jackrabbit freshman class also have strong family ties to South Dakota State Athletics. Quarterback Taryn Christion's mother, Heather, played volleyball at SDSU and fullback Turner Blasius' father, Justin, was an NCAA Division II national wrestling champion.
Sophomore kicker Chase Vinatieri is the nephew of former Jackrabbit and current Indianapolis Colts standout kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Two other sets of brothers are on the 2017 Jackrabbit roster: Jake and Clark Wieneke, along with Jacob and Jordan Brown.
In addition, Jacob and Pete Menage are first cousins. Jacob's late father, Jeff, served as offensive coordinator for the Jackrabbits during Coach Stiegelmeier's first two seasons as head coach (1997-98).

ACADEMIC HONORS: For the ninth season in a row, South Dakota State has claimed the Missouri Valley Football Conference Team Academic Award. The Jackrabbits have received the award every year they have been members of the MVFC. Commissioner Patty Viverito presented the Jackrabbits with their latest academic award during the Oct. 7 game versus Southern Illinois.

WIENEKE NAMED TO GOOD WORKS TEAM: South Dakota State University wide receiver Jake Wieneke is one of 22 college football players named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The award, which was announced in late September, shines a spotlight on the selflessness and community service displayed by these student-athletes and honors their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others.
A senior from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Wieneke has continually worked with several community service initiatives since arriving at SDSU in the fall of 2013. He is in his fifth year as serving as a mentor to a student through the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program and has worked with ESL students at a local elementary school He also has served as a youth group leader at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings and has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes by serving as a flag football coach and sports/youth camp counselor.
In addition, Wieneke has taken his devotion to service both regionally and abroad. He has participated in two mission trips to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and also has been a part of a mission trip to Kenya in which he taught in schools, as well as four mission trips to Jamaica — three times to build houses and one to serve people with disabilities who have been abandoned.
The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2018 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®, where the entire team will also be recognized on the field at halftime.
Fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain now through Nov. 23. The Team Captain will be honored at this season's The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. Throughout the season, fans can also follow along and join in on the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels.
The 22-member squad, along with an honorary coach, was pared from a list of 146 nominees across all four-year divisions of college football. The team is divided into 11 members from Football Bowl Subdivision schools, with the other half from the Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA programs. Wieneke was the lone FCS student-athlete honored on this year's team.
Wieneke is the third Jackrabbit football player to be selected to the Good Works Team in the last five years, joining Winston Wright (2013) and Zach Zenner (2014).

WIENEKE A CAMPBELL FINALIST: South Dakota State University wide receiver Jake Wieneke was named Nov. 1 as one of 13 finalists for 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy®, presented by Fidelity Investments®. The trophy recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation.
By being named a Campbell Trophy finalist, Wieneke will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the National Football Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists, who were selected from a pool of 181 nominees across all divisions of college football, will be honored at the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 5 in New York City. One member of the National Scholar-Athlete Class will be declared the winner of the 28th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
A senior from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Wieneke has excelled both on the field and in the classroom during his Jackrabbit career. He received All-America honors each of his first three seasons in what has been a record-setting career.
His 1,472 receiving yards in 2015 set an MVFC single-season record, while his 11 touchdown catches so far this season rank fifth in the FCS. He tied an SDSU single-game record with four touchdown receptions in the 2017 season opener against Duquesne.
A physical education/teacher education major, Wieneke has been honored on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team each of the past two seasons, earning second-team honors in 2015 and first-team recognition in 2016. He also was a member of the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team as a junior.
Wieneke is the third SDSU student-athlete to be honored as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, joining Ryan Berry (2008) and Zach Zenner (2014).

STIG SHOW: The John Stiegelmeier Radio Show airs each Monday throughout the 2017 football season.
The show is scheduled to air at 6 p.m. on the Jackrabbit Sports Network, originating with flagship station 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: The announcement of the 2017 Football Championship Subdivision playoff field is slated for 10 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 19) on ESPNU and through ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.
The FCS playoffs will kick off Nov. 25 at campus sites. Seeded teams will receive a first-round bye and will host playoff games on Dec. 2.

-GoJacks.com-