Jacks close home slate Saturday with Redbirds

Saturday, November 11

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Illinois State

Tickets

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

11/7/2017 4:33:00 PM | Football

By: Jason Hove

GAME 10: #17/20 Illinois State (6-3, 4-2 MVFC) at #5/6 South Dakota State (7-2, 4-2 MVFC)

When	Saturday, Nov. 11 \| 2 p.m. Central Time	Military Appreciation Day
Where	Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium \| Brookings, South Dakota
TV	Midco Sports Network \| Video Streaming: Jackrabbits All-Access (subscription)
Radio	J ackrabbits All-Access (free audio) \| Jackrabbit Sports Network
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| Illinois State \| Missouri Valley Football Conference
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #LastPlay

The South Dakota State University football team will attempt to solidify its chances for a sixth consecutive berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs as it wraps up the home portion of its schedule Saturday afternoon by hosting Illinois State on Military Appreciation Day.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The official game sponsor is Wellmark.
Current military members or veterans can receive up to two complimentary tickets to Saturday's game by presenting a valid miltary or veterans organization ID at the stadium's southwest ticket entrance, starting when gates open at 12:30 p.m.
Winners of their last three games, the Jackrabbits enter Saturday's matchup with a 7-2 overall mark and 4-2 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. SDSU jumped to fifth in the FCS coaches' poll and sixth in the STATS FCS media poll after defeating previously unbeaten North Dakota State, 33-21, before a record crowd of 18,130 fans last week at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
Illinois State also is in contention for another playoff bid as the Redbirds have compiled a 6-3 overall record and also are 4-2 in league play as part of a four-way tie for second place in the MVFC standings. The Redbirds, ranked 17th by the media and 20th by the coaches, dropped a 31-14 home decision to Western Illinois on Nov. 4.

THE SERIES: Saturday's game will mark the eighth meeting on the gridiron between South Dakota State and Illinois State, a series that dates back to when the Jackrabbits joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference at the start of the 2008 season.
Illinois State holds a 4-3 series advantage after handing SDSU its lone loss in league play last season, a 38-21 Redbird victory on Oct. 29, 2016, at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois. Illinois State jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and intercepted three passes, the last of which resulted in a 92-yard return for touchdown by La'Darius Newbold.
SDSU's last victory in the series came in the final game ever played at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, on Nov. 7, 2015, when the Jackrabbits knocked off the second-ranked Redbirds, 25-20. Jake Wieneke caught two touchdown passes — a 14-yarder late in the first half and a 74-yarder early in the fourth quarter that gave SDSU?a two-score lead.

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 102-63 overall record (.618 winning percentage). SDSU has now turned in a winning record in 12 of 14 full seasons and has compiled a 53-25 mark (.679 winning percentage) in Missouri Valley Football Conference games.

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 21-6 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 29-39 overall record against ranked FCS opponents. SDSU is 2-1 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) and North Dakota State (33-21) the past two weeks.
Of the 68 previous matchups against a ranked opponent, 35 have been in a regular season Missouri Valley Football Conference game. The Jackrabbits have compiled a 19-16 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. 2 North Dakota State, the Jackrabbits continued their climb back up the polls to fifth in the coaches' poll and sixth in the STATS FCS media poll. SDSU had spent four weeks ranked fourth in both major polls prior to their 19-7 loss at Youngstown State on Sept. 30.
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 (fifth), South Dakota (10th), Western Illinois (11th), Illinois State (17th) and Northern Iowa (25th). Youngstown State is receiving votes.
SDSU's previous highest ranking was a fifth-place showing over three weeks during the 2015 season. The Jackrabbits' previous high ranking in a preseason poll was sixth in 2013.
SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 75 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012.

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)

VALLEY PREVIEW: Last year's Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champions were picked to be on a collision course again in 2017. A single vote separated top pick North Dakota State from second-place South Dakota State in the MVFC pre-season poll, which was released July 25. It marked the tightest vote for a pre-season favorite in league history.
NDSU picked up 21 of 40 first-place votes and a total of 380 points, while the Jackrabbits earned the other 19 first-place votes and 379 points. Youngstown State was tabbed third with 290 points.
In nine previous seasons as a league member, SDSU has finished at or higher than its preseason selection seven times. In 2016, the Jackrabbits were picked to finish third before winning a share of their first-ever MVFC title.
Northern Iowa (255 points) and Illinois State (246) completed the upper half of the poll, which was conducted among league coaches and sports information directors, as well as select media.
Rounding out the poll were Western Illinois (188), South Dakota (182), Southern Illinois (132), Missouri State (81) and Indiana State (67).
The league is coming off a season in which four teams — NDSU, SDSU, YSU and Illinois State — represented the conference in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The MVFC has had four or more playoff teams in three straight years.
Additionally, 10 South Dakota State University players, including a league-best nine first-team selections, were named to the 2017 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Team.
Seven of the Jackrabbits' selections came on the offensive side of the ball, highlighted by returning MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Taryn Christion. A junior quarterback from Sioux Falls, Christion set a school record with 3,714 passing yards and tied a program mark with 30 touchdown passes in 2016. He also ran for 335 yards and six scores.
Two of Christion's primary targets from a year ago and fellow first-team all-MVFC honors, senior tight end Dallas Goedert and senior wide receiver Jake Wieneke, also return. A Britton native, Goedert established a new Jackrabbit single-season record with 92 receptions, while tallying 1,293 receiving yards and 11 scores in 2016 en route to being named a unanimous All-America selection.
Wieneke earned All-America honors for the third season in a row after catching 78 passes for 1,316 yards and matching his own school record with 16 touchdowns in 2016.
Another leader from the Jackrabbits' potent offensive attack, senior running back Brady Mengarelli, also was named to the MVFC Preseason Team. Mengarelli has led the team in rushing each of the past two seasons, including 754 yards in 2016. He also contributed 34 receptions for 333 yards last season.
Completing the Jackrabbits selections on offense were fullback Kane Louscher, center Jacob Ohnesorge and tackle Charlie Harmon. Ohnesorge was a first-team all-conference selection in 2016 and later received All-America recognition from HERO Sports.
The defensive contingent for the Jackrabbits is comprised of senior defensive tackle Kellen Soulek and sophomore linebacker Christian Rozeboom. A Yankton native, Soulek led the team in 2016 with 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks en route to second-team all-MVFC honors.
Rozeboom, a native of Sioux Center, Iowa, was named MVFC Freshman of the Year in 2016 and finished second in the voting for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision after racking up a team-best 132 tackles and adding three sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Rounding out the Jackrabbits' preseason all-MVFC selections was junior punter Brady Hale, who earned honorable mention recognition. Hale averaged 42.6 yards per attempt on 47 punts a season ago.

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 selections 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-4 (15-11) in turnover margin for the season.

RED-ZONE OFFENSE: During its current three-game winning streak, the South Dakota State offense has made the most of its opportunities deep in opposing territory. Over the last three games, the Jackrabbits have made 18 trips into the red zone and come away with points each time, scoring 16 touchdowns and two field goals.
Sophomore running back Mikey Daniel has been a big part of the red-zone offense, scoring six rushing touchdowns over the last three games. Daniel has a streak of a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games, dating back to the Oct. 7 home win over Southern Illinois, and leads the squad with nine rushing touchdowns.

THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY: After leading the Football Championship Subdivision each of the previous two weeks, South Dakota State currently ranks second by converting on 52.4 percent (54-of-103) of its third-down attempts.
The Jackrabbits also have been efficient on third downs on the defensive side of the ball over the last five games, limiting the opposition to a success rate of 34.4 percent (20-of-58).
SDSU also is 7-for-10 (70 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 43 and stands 14th in fewest penalty yards with 383 (42.56 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 60, surpassing Ryan Berry (56 touchdowns from 2005-08).
Earlier this season Christion overtook Ted Wahl (1985-88) in career passing yards and career total offense. He enters this weekend's matchup versus Illinois State with career totals of 7,383 passing yards and 8,394 yards of total offense. Christion passed the 1,000-yard mark in career rushing in last week's win over North Dakota State.
Austin Sumner (2011-14) holds all three SDSU records with 9,458 passing yards, 9,284 yards of total offense and 65 touchdown passes.

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 2,445 rushing yards in his career, overtaking Rick Wegher (2,293 yards from 1981-84) in the Oct. 21 matchup at Missouri State.
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 617 yards, while averaging 6.9 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 2,693 yards with a seven-catch, 116-yard performance against the second-ranked Bison, passing 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 816 receiving yards this season. He has topped the 100-yard mark in four consecutive games and five times in 2017.

IRONMAN STREAK: All-America center Jacob Ohnesorge is expected to make his 49th consecutive start in Saturday's game, a mark that would be tied for 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 48 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 with 4,730 yards after a two-catch, 59-yard outing in a Nov. 4 win over North Dakota State. His receiving yardage total also is an SDSU and league record.
The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native established a new Jackrabbit career mark for receptions in the 2017 season opener and enters Saturday's game with 262 — 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 298 and Justin Watson of Penn with 265.

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 sixth on the squad with 31 tackles. He tied a career high with seven tackles and recorded his first career sack in the game against UNI.
Backhaus missedtwo games due to injury, but returned to the starting lineup in last week's contest versus North Dakota State.

LOWERING THE BOOM: South Dakota State linebacker Christian Rozeboom turned in the 12th double-digit tackling performance of his career — and fifth this season — Oct. 28 at Missouri State.
A sophomore, Rozeboom currently leads the Jackrabbits in tackles this season with 83, after posting a team-high 132 tackles in 2016.

BLOCK THAT KICK: The Jackrabbits have been strong on special teams throughout the 2017 season and currently rank third 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 lead the FCS ranks. 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.
In addition, Wieneke was honored earlier this fall as a member of the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for his commitment to community service.
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 Jackrabbits close out the regular season by traveling to meet in-state rival University of South Dakota on Nov. 18. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, with the game being televised by Midco Sports Network and also available on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.
The announcement of the 2017 Football Championship Subdivision playoff field is slated for 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 on ESPNU.

-GoJacks.com-