JACKRABBITS RETURN TO FRISCO FOR TITLE GAME

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

1/4/2023 7:57:00 PM | Football

GAME 15: #3 North Dakota State (12-2) vs. #1 South Dakota State (13-1) – FCS Title Game

When	Sunday, Jan. 8 \| 1 p.m. Central Time
Where	Toyota Stadium \| Frisco, Texas
TV	ABC \| ESPN+
Radio	Westwood One \| Jackrabbit Sports Network
Live Stats	NCAA.com
Game Notes	SDSU \| North Dakota State \| Missouri Valley Football Conference \| FCS Insider
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #GoJacks

In a year full of records, firsts and historical achievements, the South Dakota State football team will attempt to end the 2022 season by being crowned national champions.

Standing in the way is archrival and defending national champion North Dakota State. The two Missouri Valley Football Conference squads will meet for the Football Championship Subdivision national title at 1 p.m. Sunday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game will be played in front of a capacity crowd and before a national television audience on ABC.

SDSU enters the matchup with a 13-1 overall record after earning the top seed in the 24-team FCS playoff field. The Jackrabbits earned their second trip to the title game in the last three seasons by posting three home playoff victories, the most recent a 39-18 triumph over Montana State on Dec. 17.

Among the highlights for the Jackrabbits during the 2022 season:

School-record 13 wins;
Program-best 13-game winning streak (active);
First No. 1 ranking in program history;
First outright MVFC championship.

North Dakota State, the winner of nine of the last 11 FCS titles, holds a 12-2 record and has won its last seven games since a 23-21 home loss to SDSU on Oct. 15. The third-seeded Bison also won three home playoff games, including a 35-32 victory over No. 7 Incarnate Word on Dec. 16.

SDSU's playoff march is presented by partners First PREMIER Bank, Hefty Seed, Brookings Health and Mustang Seeds.

THE SERIES: Sunday's game will mark the 114th meeting on the gridiron between SDSU and North Dakota State. NDSU leads the overall series by a 63-45-5 count, including a 14-9 advantage since the two programs moved to Division I in 2004. Four of the Bison victories have come in Football Championship Subdivision playoff matchups — all of which were played in Fargo, North Dakota.

The rivalry began in 1903 with an 85-0 NDSU victory, and the two schools were both charter members of the North Central Conference, meeting every year from 1919 through 1942 until play was interrupted by World War II. The series resumed in 1946 and the two squads have met every year since.

Sunday's edition of the rivalry will be the 16th consecutive game (playoffs included) in the series that both teams have been nationally ranked, and the 11th in that span in which both teams have been ranked in the top 10 of at least one of the two major FCS polls.

South Dakota State has won the last three matchups — the first two of which took place in the 2021 calendar year. The Jackrabbits posted a 27-17 victory at the Fargodome on April 17, 2021, during the pandemic-altered spring season, propelling them into the top seed for the FCS playoffs. SDSU followed with a 27-19 victory at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings on Nov. 6, 2021, handing the Bison what would be their only loss of the fall campaign.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: South Dakota State is making its 13th postseason appearance in its football history, with 12 of those berths coming as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision. SDSU's lone appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs came in 1979, when the Jacks dropped a 50-7 decision at Youngstown State.

The Jackrabbits have compiled a 17-12 record in the playoffs and are making their 11th consecutive appearance in the FCS playoffs, including advancing to the semifinal round for the third season in a row and fifth time in the last six seasons. SDSU made its first appearance in a national title game during the 2020-21 spring season, falling to Sam Houston, 23-21.

ELITE COMPANY: South Dakota State is one of only two Football Championship Subdivision programs to reach the playoffs each of the last 11 seasons, including advancing to the national semifinals or championship game in four of the last five seasons. The Jackrabbits secured the Missouri Valley Football Conference's automatic bid to the 2022 playoffs, assuring SDSU of its 11th consecutive postseason appearance and 12th overall at the FCS level.

Defending national champion North Dakota State holds the longest active streak with 13 consecutive trips to the playoffs.

JACKS WIN VALLEY: South Dakota State won its first outright Missouri Valley Football Conference title after being picked to finish second in the league race, according to a preseason poll conducted among the league's coaches, sports information directors and a select media panel that was announced in early August.

Defending league and national champion North Dakota State earned the top spot in the preseason poll with 446 points and 39 first-place votes, followed by the Jackrabbits with the other two first-place votes and 407 points.

SEASON 15 IN THE MVFC: The 2022 season marked South Dakota State's 15th as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since joining the league in 2008, SDSU is the only program in that span to not have a losing season in conference play.

The Jackrabbits hold an 84-34 record in MVFC games and have won six or more league games seven times. SDSU previously earned a share of league titles in 2016 and during the 2020-21 spring season.

RANKINGS STREAK: By being ranked first for the sixth week in a row in the final Stats Perform FCS poll of the regular season, SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 144 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012. The Jackrabbits also were selected as the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week by Stats Perform after beating top-ranked North Dakota State on Oct. 15 to move into the top spot in the poll for the first time in program history.

The Jackrabbits' second-place preseason showing in 2022 marked the highest in program history, surpassing a third-place preseason ranking three times (2018, 2019, 2021).

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team are seven captains:

Adam Bock, Jr., linebacker, Solon, Iowa;
Garret Greenfield, Sr., offensive lineman, Rock Valley, Iowa;
Mark Gronowski, So., quarterback, Naperville, Illinois;
Mason McCormick, Sr., offensive lineman, Sioux Falls;
Caleb Sanders., Sr., defensive tackle, Glenwood, Iowa;
Reece Winkelman, Grad., defensive end, Marshall, Minnesota;
Landon Wolf, Grad., wide receiver, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

McCormick is in his second season as a captain, while all other captains are in their first seasons in the role.

ALL-AMERICANS: Four South Dakota State players have been named to Football Championship Subdivision All-America teams in recent weeks.

Jackrabbits made up 40 percent of the top offensive line on The Associated Press All-America First Team as seniors Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick were honored. On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Caleb Sanders also earned first-team accolades.

With Greenfield at left tackle and McCormick manning the left guard spot, SDSU has averaged 33.4 points and 375.9 yards of total offense per game heading into the national championship contest. A native of Rock Valley, Iowa, Greenfield also was a first-team All-America selection by the AP during the 2020-21 spring season.

Greenfield also has been honored on All-America teams selected by Athlon Sports (first team) and Stats Perform (first team), while McCormick has earned additional accolades from the American Football Coaches Association (first team), HERO?Sports and Stats Perform (second team).

Sanders has helped anchor the top rushing defense in the FCS ranks this season. A senior from Glenwood, Iowa, Sanders ranks second on the team with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He has totaled 36 tackles on the season, 19 of which have been solo stops.

In addition, Jackrabbit tight end Tucker Kraft was a third-team selection to the AP All-America squad. A junior from Timber Lake, Kraft has caught 25 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns despite missing six games in the first half of the season due to injury. He was a second-team honoree by the AP during the 2021 campaign.

Kraft also received a third-team selection to Stats Perform's All-America squad this season.

ROBINSON AWARD WINNER: Jackrabbit head coach John Stiegelmeier was announced on Dec. 8 as the winner of the 2022 Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually by Stats Perform to the top coach in the Football Championship Subdivision. Stiegelmeier will be presented the award in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday (Jan. 7).

In addition, Stiegelmeier was selected by his peers as the FCS?Region 4 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. He earned a region coach of the year award for the third time (2007, 2016, 2022).

SANDERS A BUCHANAN FINALIST: South Dakota State defensive tackle Caleb Sanders recently finished eighth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by Stats Perform to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Junior linebacker Adam Bock previously was under consideration for the Buchanan Award this season, but was replaced by Sanders after Bock was sidelined the second half of the conference season due to injury.

The Buchanan Award, first presented in 1995 and in its 28th season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. A national media panel selected the Buchanan Award winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient will be announced at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.

ALL-MVFC: Fifteen South Dakota State football players, including eight first-team selections, were honored in late November as members of the 2022 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team.

In addition, Jackrabbit head coach John Stiegelmeier was selected as the league's Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year.

Of SDSU's 15 total honorees, 10 had previously earned all-MVFC accolades with Jaxon Janke, Mason McCormick and Caleb Sanders earning recognition for the third season in a row.

A senior wide receiver from Madison, Janke was a second-team honoree for the third time and carries a streak of 30 consecutive games with a reception into postseason play. He finished the regular season as the team leader in both catches (46) and receiving yards (603) while sharing the team lead with five touchdown receptions.

Meanwhile, Jaxon's twin brother, Jadon, earned second-team all-league honors as a return specialist and honorable mention recognition as a wide receiver. Jadon Janke took over return duties late in the season and averaged 17.8 yards on eight punt returns and 23 yards on a pair of kickoff returns. In the passing game, he hauled in 39 receptions for 598 yards and five touchdowns.

McCormick, a senior guard from Sioux Falls, moved up to the all-MVFC first team after consecutive second-team selections during the 2020-21 spring and 2021 fall seasons. He helped anchor an offensive line that helped pave the way for the Jackrabbits to average 31.4 points and 367.6 yards of total offense in 11 regular season games.

Joining McCormick on the first team from the Jackrabbit offensive line was fellow senior Garret Greenfield. The Rock Valley, Iowa, native moved to left tackle this season after being a first-team all-league honoree at right tackle during the 2020-21 spring campaign.

Sanders, a senior defensive tackle from Glenwood, Iowa, tallied a team-best five sacks and ranked second with six tackles for loss for a unit that ended the regular season as the top rushing defense in the FCS ranks by allowing only 71.2 yards per game on the ground. Sanders, who tallied 24 total tackles in 11 games, was an all-MVFC First Team honoree during the 2020-21 spring season and was a second-team selection last fall.

Also earning first-team recognition for a second time was linebacker Adam Bock, while defensive end Reece Winkelman moved up to the top squad after receiving second-team accolades a season ago. A junior from Solon, Iowa, Bock finished the regular season as the team's leading tackler with 58 stops despite missing the final three games due to injury. He tallied 13 tackles in the season opener at Iowa and again reached double figures in tackles with 10 a month later against Western Illinois.

Winkelman, a senior from Marshall, Minnesota, notched a team-high eight tackles for loss and added 4.5 sacks in regular season action. He registered 20 total tackles, while contributing a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

Rounding out the Jackrabbits' first-team honorees on defense was senior cornerback DyShawn Gales. A native of North Chicago, Illinois, Gales ended the regular season tied for the team lead with three interceptions, including one he returned for a 31-yard touchdown to help spark a comeback victory at North Dakota. Gales also broke up two passes and registered 22 tackles (19 solo) in 10 starts.

The Jackrabbit offense also was represented by two more of its top playmakers in tight end Tucker Kraft and running back Isaiah Davis. Kraft, a junior from Timber Lake was injured the season opener at Iowa, but came back for the second half of the league season to repeat on the all-MVFC First Team after catching 19 passes for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Davis tallied 932 yards in 10 regular season games, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring 10 touchdowns while topping the 100-yard mark in a game five times. The junior from Joplin, Missouri, who was an honorable mention all-MVFC selection during the 2020-21 spring season, also caught 18 passes for 145 yards.

Receiving second-team honors on offense were quarterback Mark Gronowski and tight end Zach Heins, both of whom were first-team honorees during the 2020-21 spring season. A sophomore from Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski made a successful return from an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2021 fall campaign, completing 185-of-285 passes (64.9 percent) for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions.

The 2020-21 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year, Gronowski rushed and passed for touchdowns in the same game six times during the 2022 regular season as he gained 179 yards on the ground with eight scores.

Heins formed the other half of the Jackrabbits' tandem at tight end and contributed 27 receptions for 310 yards and four touchdowns. He caught at least one pass in all 11 regular season games.

Honorable mention honors were awarded to three other Jackrabbit players, including Dalys Beanum and Jason Freeman from the defensive unit. A junior cornerback from Omaha, Beanum posted a team-high five pass breakups and recorded two interceptions and 23 tackles (15 solo) during the regular season.

Freeman, a junior linebacker from Zion, Illinois, stands second on the team with 56 tackles during his first year with the Jackrabbits. He also has been credited with five tackles for loss, three sacks and two pass breakups.

Completing the list of Jackrabbit award winners was punter Hunter Dustman. The junior from East Bethel, Minnesota, averaged 42.6 yards on 40 attempts during the regular season, while also handling the placekicking duties for the Jackrabbits. Seven of Dustman's punts traveled 50 or more yards.

Stiegelmeier was honored as Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year for the second time, after first receiving the award in 2016. The Jackrabbits ran the table in MVFC for the first time in program history, posting an 8-0 mark en route to the outright league championship and a 10-1 overall record through the regular season. SDSU ascended to the top of the Football Championship Subdivision rankings for the first time and has earned the top seed in the FCS playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Three South Dakota State players were among the 25 student-athletes named to the 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.

Representing the Jackrabbit offense was lineman John O'Brian. A junior transfer from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, O'Brian started all 11 regular season games for a squad averaging 31.4 points and 367.6 yards of total offense per game. He started the first three games at right guard before moving to right tackle at the beginning of league action.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jason Freeman and Tucker Large were honored from SDSU. A junior transfer from Zion, Illinois, Freeman ended the regular season second on the team in tackles with 56 from his linebacker position. He also registered five tackles for loss, three sacks and a pair of pass breakups.

Large, a redshirt freshman from Sioux Falls, filled in where needed for a Jackrabbit defense that ranks No. 1 among Football Championship Subdivision teams in rushing defense. He notched 20 total tackles and broke up two passes while seeing action at both safety and linebacker during the 2022 regular season.

COMEBACK KIDS: South Dakota State trailed 21-7 in the first half in consecutive games before rallying for wins at North Dakota State (23-21) on Oct. 15 and at North Dakota (49-35) a week later.

That marked the first time the Jackrabbits overcame double-digit deficits in back-to-back games since October 2006. In that season, SDSU came back from a 28-6 third-quarter deficit against Cal Poly for a 29-28 victory, followed by a 22-21 Hobo Day win over UC Davis in which the Jackrabbits trailed 21-7 in the second quarter.

Overall, SDSU has won 16 games at the FCS level in which it trailed by at least 10 points at some point in the game, including nine against MVFC opponents.

SECOND-HALF ADJUSTMENTS: For the fifth game in a row, South Dakota State scored on its opening drive of the second half when Amar Johnson capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive at Northern Iowa with a 16-yard touchdown run. The Jackrabbits scored four touchdowns and a field goal on their first offensive possessions of the second half in that five-game span, with the streak coming to an end Nov. 12 versus Illinois State.

However, the Jackrabbits scored a touchdown on their initial drive of the second half in their playoff opener Dec. 3 against Delaware.

UNI became the first opposing team in 10 games this season to put points on the board to open the second half as the Panthers answered with a touchdown of their own.

For the season, SDSU is outscoring the opposition, 117-33, in the third quarter, highlighted by 21-point third quarters in a 49-35 victory at North Dakota on Oct. 22 and again on Dec. 3 versus Delaware.

DEPTH ON DEFENSE: Whether based on philosophy or necessity, South Dakota State has built its standing as one of the top defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision by relying on its depth. Over the course of its 14-game schedule thus far, 22 different players have earned a starting assignment on defense for the Jackrabbits during the 2022 campaign.

Only nose tackle Ryan Van Marel and defensive end Cade Terveer have started every game this season on the defensive side of the ball.

CHAIN GANG BREAKS THROUGH: South Dakota State recorded a season-high seven sacks in its Oct. 8 victory over South Dakota. It was the most sacks in a game by a Jackrabbit squad since racking up seven against Delaware in an FCS national semifinal game on May 8, 2021.

In its eight Missouri Valley Football Conference games, SDSU racked up 27 sacks, including five Oct. 22 at North Dakota and five more Nov. 5 at Northern Iowa. Caleb Sanders notched three of the sacks at UNI, marking the most in a game by a Jackrabbit player since T.J. Lally registered four against UC?Davis in 2012.

Thirteen different players have recorded a sack so far this season for the Jacks, who have nine sacks through their first three playoff games.

STUFFING THE RUN: For the sixth consecutive game to start the season, South Dakota State held an opponent under 100 yards rushing when it limited South Dakota to 92 yards on 36 attempts in their Oct. 8 matchup.

That performance extended the longest such streak by the Jackrabbits in the Division I era (since 2004). SDSU had held opponents to below the century mark in three consecutive games five times (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2021). The 2012 team held the opponent under 100 yards rushing in six games overall.

SDSU's streak ended Oct. 15 at North Dakota State, when the Bison rushed for 127 net yards. However, NDSU mustered only 28 yards on the ground in the second half and was held below half of its season average of 265.8 rushing yards per game entering the Dakota Marker contest.

The Jackrabbits have gone on to hold 11 of their 14 opponents this season below 100 net yards rushing and currently lead the Football Championship Subdivision by allowing 83.0 rushing yards per game. SDSU also stands second in total defense by giving up only 263.6 yards of total offense per outing and ranks third in scoring defense at 15.4 points per game.

PICKING OFF THE COMPETITION: After leading the FCS ranks with 21 interceptions a season ago, the Jackrabbit defense has continued to take the ball away from the opposition during the 2022 campaign.

SDSU defenders recorded at least one interception in each of their 11 regular season games, continuing that streak when DyShawn Gales notched his third interception of the season Nov. 12 against Illinois State. Gales shares the team lead with safety Cale Reeder. SDSU currently ranks tied for fourth (with North Dakot State) among FCS?teams with 16 interceptions, including a pick-six by linebacker Jason Freeman Dec. 10 against Holy Cross. The Jackrabbits also rank sixth in turnover margin with an average of plus-0.93 turnovers per game after forcing 23 total turnovers compared to losing 10. SDSU also holds a 101-16 advantage in points off turnovers this season.

Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, the Jackrabbits have intercepted at least one pass in 53 of their last 65 games for a total of 84 pickoffs.

As a team, the Jackrabbits tied one of their longest-standing school records with six interceptions in the 2021 playoff game versus UC?Davis. SDSU also intercepted six passes in a 1950 game against Augustana and in a 1952 matchup with St. Cloud State.

In all, 11 different Jackrabbits recorded at least one interception a season ago and SDSU picked off at least one pass in 12 of 15 games.

BIG INTERCEPTION, BIG RETURN: Sophomore safety Colby Huerter's first career interception helped keep the momentum in South Dakota State's favor in the Jacks' conference-opening matchup at Missouri State on Sept. 24.

On the opening drive of the second half, Huerter stepped in front of a Jason Shelley pass deep in the red zone and his ensuing 70-yard return to the MSU 24 set up the Jackrabbits' second touchdown of the game for a 14-0 lead. Huerter's interception return — the first of his career — was the longest by an SDSU player since Winston Wright returned a pickoff 82 yards for a touchdown at South Dakota on Nov. 16, 2013.

Huerter's second interception of the season also swung the momentum in the Jackrabbits' favor as he made a leaping interception on a North Dakota State pass to the end zone late in the first half of the Dakota Marker game on Oct. 15. Huerter's interception kept the score at 21-7 in favor of NDSU and jump-started a Jackrabbit comeback as they scored all 16 second-half points to rally for a 23-21 victory in Fargo.

NEW LOWS: South Dakota State limited South Dakota to five completions and 44 passing yards in their Oct. 8 matchup at sold-out Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Those were the lowest totals against a Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent since the Jackrabbits joined the league in 2008 and were the lowest against any opponent since holding Robert Morris (Pa.) to four completions and 43 passing yards in 2015.

The Jackrabbits also held Illinois State to 100 yards of total offense in their Nov. 12 regular season finale, marking the lowest total allowed by an SDSU defense since giving up only 90 yards to Indiana State on Sept. 19, 2009.

WINKELMAN, SANDERS CRACK TOP FIVES: Senior defensive linemen Reece Winkelman and Caleb Sanders were not only the top two sack artists for the Jackrabbits last season, but the Jackrabbit duo have nearly identical career numbers for sacks and tackles for loss as they recently again traded spots in the SDSU career top five in those categories.

A defensive end from Marshall, Minnesota, Winkelman currently stands fourth on the Jackrabbit career sacks chart with 22 after registering a team-best seven sacks so far this season. He tallied two of SDSU's three sacks in the second-round playoff win over Delaware.

Winkelman also overtook Sanders for fourth place in career tackles for loss during the playoffs, upping his career total to 45.5. He again leads the team in TFLs with 14.5 this season after registering a team-best 13.5 in 2021.

Sanders, a defensive tackle from Glenwood, Iowa, stands fifth in career sacks with 21.5 after notching one against Delaware to open the playoffs and a half-sack versus Montana State. He also is fifth in all-time tackles for loss with 42.5.

Sanders vaulted into the top five for sacks with a three-sack performance Nov. 5 at Northern Iowa.

GRONOWSKI BACK UNDER CENTER: The Jackrabbits welcomed quarterback Mark Gronowski back to the starting lineup in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa.

A sophomore from Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski helped lead SDSU to the FCS title game during the 2020-21 spring season, but sat out last fall due to an injury he suffered on the first offensive series of the championship game against Sam Houston.

Gronowski started all 10 games as a true freshman during the modified 2020-21 season and was honored as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the league's Freshman of the Year.
During his freshman season, Gronowski completed 57.4 percent (108-of-188) of his passes for 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding another 577 yards (7.0 ypc) and seven touchdowns on the ground.

In addition, Gronowski finished as runner-up for the 2021 Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Gronowski was honored as Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week two times this season. Both accolades came after road wins over ranked opponents at Missouri State (Sept. 24) and North Dakota (Oct. 22).

JAXON FOR 2K: South Dakota State wide receiver Jaxon Janke reached a career milestone in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa, becoming the eighth Jackrabbit to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

A senior from Madison, Janke caught two passes for 24 yards in that contest and has gone on to catch 57 passes this season for 797 yards to up his career receiving yardage total to 2,788 yards.

In addition, Janke has upped his career receptions to 190, putting him in fourth place on the SDSU career charts. He broke a tie with Jason Schneider (175 receptions from 2011-14) in the Nov. 12 win over Illinois State.

DAVIS, TOO: Jackrabbit running back Isaiah Davis crossed the 2,000-yard mark in career rushing during his 199-yard performance against Western Illinois on Oct. 1. He enters the week with 2,867 yards on 418 carries — an average of 6.9 yards per attempt.

Davis, who is ninth among FCS?running backs with 1,348 rushing yards so far this season, moved into the SDSU career top 10 for rushing yards in the Jackrabbits' quarterfinal game against Holy Cross. He has rushed for a touchdown in each of his last nine games.

A WINNING COMBINATION: Jackrabbit running back Isaiah Davis recorded his eighth 100-yard game this season and 15th of his career when he gained 158 yards on 16 carries in SDSU's semifinal playoff victory over Montana State on Dec. 17.

SDSU improved to 14-1 in games in which Davis has topped the century mark, with the lone loss coming in the 2020-21 national championship game against Sam Houston.

TWIN TOUCHDOWNS: Twin brothers Jadon and Jaxon Janke each caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Jackrabbits' playoff victory over Holy Cross on Dec. 10. It marked the third time this season and seventh time in their careers the dynamic duo from Madison accomplished the feat. However, that was the first time they tallied their scores in the same quarter.

Coincidentally, the first the Jankes recorded touchdown catches in the same game was in another playoff win against Holy Cross — in the opening round of the 2020-21 postseason played in the spring.

Following are the games in which both Jankes have caught touchdown passes:

April 24, 2021, vs. Holy Cross — Jadon (13, 45 yards in second/third quarters), Jaxon (11 yards in first quarter);
Sept. 25, 2021, at Indiana State — Jadon (33 yards in first quarter), Jaxon (42 yards in second quarter);
Oct. 16, 2021, at Western Illinois — Jadon (8 yards in first quarter), Jaxon (21 yards in third quarter);
Nov. 20, 2021, vs. North Dakota — Jadon (17 yards in second quarter), Jaxon (21 yards in third quarter);
Sept. 17, 2022, vs. Butler — Jadon (17 yards in second quarter), Jaxon (7 yards in first quarter);
Sept. 24, 2022, at Missouri State — Jadon (3/40 yards in first/fourth quarters), Jaxon (13 yards in third quarter);
Dec. 10, 2022, vs. Holy Cross — Jadon (21 yards in fourth quarter), Jaxon (18 yards in fourth quarter).

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ... In South Dakota State's Oct. 22 game against North Dakota, Jadon Janke returned a punt 58 yards to set up a Jackrabbit touchdown as part of a 21-point third quarter. A week later, his twin brother, Jaxon, returned an Indiana State punt 49 yards to set up the Jackrabbits' second touchdown of the opening quarter.

The Jankes enter the weekend with nearly identical receiving totals for the season: Jaxon leads the team with 57 receptions, 797 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air, while Jadon his right behind in all three categories (46-713-6).

SEEING DOUBLE: The 2022 edition of the South Dakota State football team features three sets of twin brothers.

Returning for their senior seasons are wide receivers and Madison natives Jadon and Jaxon Janke. Jaxon Janke has been the team's leading receiver each of the past two seasons, while Jadon Janke hauled in 14 touchdown receptions during the 2021 calendar year split between the spring and traditional fall seasons.

Another pair of twins with South Dakota roots are sophomore linebackers Aaron and Adam Kusler. Aaron played in three games last season, while Adam contributed mostly on special teams and saw action in 14 of the team's 15 games.

New to the squad this season are freshmen Jason and Justin Harris from New Lenox, Illinois. Jason is listed as a wide receiver, while Justin plays running back.

A KRAFT-Y RETURN: All-America tight end Tucker Kraft marked his return to the South Dakota State lineup Oct. 22 at North Dakota by catching three passes for 53 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown late in the first half. Kraft missed six games after being injured in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa.

In addition to his contributions in the passing game, Kraft fielded an onside kick in stride in the fourth quarter, returning the ball 30 yards to the UND 10 to set up the Jackrabbits' final touchdown of the game.

Kraft added five catches for 59 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown, in SDSU's 49-7 Hobo Day win over Indiana State on Oct. 29. He has totaled 24 receptions for 311 yards and three touchdowns in the seven games since his return, including four catches for 69 yards with a 36-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the Dec. 17 semifinal victory over Montana State.

HEINS HAS CAREER DAY: Picking up some more of the slack in the absence of All-American Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State tight end Zach Heins turned in a career day against Missouri State on Sept. 24. A senior from Sioux Falls, Heins hauled in seven passes for 127 yards, setting career highs in both categories. His final reception was a 21-yarder for a touchdown that gave SDSU a 21-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Heins ranks third on the squad with 29 receptions for 347 yards with four touchdowns. He had his streak of catching at least one pass in 22 consecutive games come to an end Dec. 17 against Montana State.

SNAP. SPOT. KICK. REPEAT: Four South Dakota State kickers have combined to make 126 consecutive extra-point tries over the last two-plus seasons.

The streak dates back to the second quarter of SDSU's Football Championship Subdivision semifinal playoff game against Delaware during the 2020-21 spring season, when Cole Frahm connected on a PAT after missing one earlier in the stanza. Frahm would close the spring with three more PATs in the national championship game, then was successful on all 65 of his attempts last fall to set the school record with 69 consecutive made PATs.

Hunter Dustman has made all 53 of his attempts so far this season after making his lone attempt in 2021. Corben Mahaffy added an extra point in 2021 to complete a perfect 67-for-67 performance for the team, and Jack Green is 2-for-2 on PATs this season as SDSU has made all 55 tries in 2022.

DOUBLE-DUTY DUSTMAN: Junior Hunter Dustman has figured prominently in the Jackrabbits' special teams efforts throughout the 2022 season.

Dustman handled all of the kicking duties in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa, punting 11 times for an average of 41.5 yards (long of 52) and scoring the Jackrabbits' only points on a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. Dustman's 11 punts mark the most by an SDSU player in the Division I era (since 2004).

For the season, Dustman is averaging 41.7 yards per punt and is 17-for-24 on field goals. He has made 12 of his last 13 field goal attempts en route to 104 points.

STAFF SHAKEUP: South Dakota State football underwent some restructuring following a successful 2021 season, with four coaches earning internal promotions and four new coaches joining the staff. The staff shakeup was the result of 2021 coordinators Jason Eck (offense) and Brian Bergstrom (co-defense) accepting head coaching positions at Idaho and Winona State, respectively.

Zach Lujan has taken over as the Jackrabbits' offensive coordinator, while continuing to coach the team's quarterbacks. A former SDSU quarterback himself from 2014-16, Lujan began his coaching career in 2018 as running backs coach before moving over to mentor the quarterbacks a year later.

Also on offense, Ryan Olson has moved from coaching the Jackrabbit tight ends to offensive line coach, and has added the title of run game coordinator. Olson joined the SDSU coaching staff prior to the start of the 2020-21 spring season and previously coached the offensive line at Bemidji State from 2017-19.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jimmy Rogers has been named the team's sole defensive coordinator after splitting duties with Bergstrom the past three seasons. Rogers will continue to coach the squad's linebackers and also holds the title of assistant head coach. Another former Jackrabbit player, Rogers is the longest-tenured assistant coach on staff as he enters his 10th season this fall.

In addition, defensive line coach Christian Smith has added defensive run game coordinator to his duties. Smith has coached at SDSU since 2017.

Two of the new coaches are former Jackrabbit football players — Josh Davis as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach and Jesse Bobbit as safeties coach and recruiting coordinator. Also joining the coaching staff were Chris Meyers as tight ends coach and Mark Kubacki as assistant defensive line coach.

Davis previously served as wide receivers coach at SDSU from 2009-15, when he mentored five players currently in the Jackrabbits' top 10 for career receptions. He spent the past six years at Northwestern College (Iowa), where he was offensive
coordinator and quarterbacks coach for a perennial top-10 NAIA program that reached the national championship game in spring 2021.

A standout receiver himself for the Jackrabbits from 2002-05, Davis ended his career as the Jackrabbits' all-time leader in receptions (225) and ranked second in both career receiving yards (3,192) and touchdowns (26). While those marks no longer stand as records, Davis continues to hold the SDSU single-game receptions mark with 16.

Bobbit, who played linebacker at SDSU from 2013-16, began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at SDSU in 2019. He moved on to Washington State, where he was a defensive graduate assistant and quality control coach for two years. He worked with the linebackers for a Cougar team that earned a Sun Bowl berth in 2021.

Meyers most recently served as an offensive line graduate assistant at Oklahoma State, where he worked with a unit that cleared the way for 2019 NCAA rushing champion Chuba Hubbard. The 2021 Oklahoma State team played in the Big 12 Football Championship and closed a 12-2 season with a win in the Fiesta Bowl.

Kubacki, who joined the staff in July, brings a decade of collegiate coaching experience to SDSU. He spent the last five seasons at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, following a five-year stint at St. Thomas, where he coached on both sides of the ball for a program that compiled a 56-8 record at the NCAA?Division III level.

JACKS IN THE PROS: In preparation for the 2022 season, 10 former South Dakota State standouts were members of National Football League teams, continuing the Jackrabbits' long tradition of developing players into pro prospects.
Headlining the list is tight end Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles. After being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Goedert has gone on to record 242 receptions for 2,951 yards and 19 touchdowns in five seasons (49-656-3 in 2022).

Goedert set a career high with 830 receiving yards on 56 catches during the 2021 season. He established career bests of 58 receptions and five touchdowns in 2019.

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom earned a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. A member of the Rams' practice squad in 2020, Rozeboom made his NFL debut with the Kansas City Chiefs early in 2021 before returning to Los Angeles and seeing action mostly on special teams for the Rams for remainder of the regular season and postseason.

Rozeboom was credited with three tackles in 2021 and has registered eight tackles thus far in 2022.

Making their NFL debuts in late October were cornerback Don Gardner (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and wide receiver Cade Johnson (Seattle Seahawks). Both were activated from their respective teams' practice squads. Johnson also was a member of Seattle's practice squad in 2021.

For the first time since 1976, the Jackrabbits saw two players selected in the same NFL?Draft. Running back Pierre Strong was a fourth-round selection by the New England Patriots, while quarterback Chris Oladokun was taken by Pittsburgh.

Strong has played in 14 games and saw his most extensive action of his rookie season in a Dec. 12 win at Arizona, a game in which he rushed five times for 70 yards, including a 44-yarder, and scored his first career touchdown. He also has returned five kickoffs for 115 yards and has recorded six tackles while playing on special teams.

Oladokun was released during training camp by the Steelers, but was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs and assigned to their practice squad.

Additionally, Wes Genant (New Orleans), Michael Griffin II (Tennessee) and Aron Johnson (Baltimore) all received post-draft free agent offers.

Also on an NFL roster in 2022 as a practice squad member is cornerback Jordan Brown (New Orleans Saints). Brown, who was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, also has spent time with Washington, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In addition, wide receiver Jake Wieneke has caught on with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Through his first three seasons (2019, 2021-22), Wieneke recorded 140 total receptions for 2,056 yards with 21 touchdowns. He was named the CFL's East Division Most Outstanding Rookie in 2019.

Another former Jackrabbit standout, quarterback Taryn Christion, recently retired after a brief stint playing with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.

Headlining the list of Jackrabbit pro football alumni are Hall of Famer Jim Langer and the NFL's career scoring leader, Adam Vinatieri.

Langer who played football at SDSU from 1967-69 and also was an All-American in baseball, played center on every offensive down during the Miami Dolphins' perfect season in 1972. He was a first-team All-Pro four times and was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games.

Langer played with the Dolphins from 1970-79 before returning to his home state to finish his career with the Minnesota Vikings from 1980-81. He passed away in September 2019.

Vinatieri wrapped up his playing career after becoming the NFL's all-time scoring leader in 2018 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Over Vinatieri's 24 seasons, his totals include NFL bests of 599-of-715 on field goal attempts, 83.8 percent, and 2,673 career points. He also ranks second in career extra points with 874.

In all, Vinatieri set 15 NFL records, including 21 100-point seasons.

Several other former Jackrabbit players and coaches have had ties to the professional game, including:

Bryan Witzmann (player from 2010-13), played for several NFL teams as an offensive lineman from 2014-20;
Steve Heiden (player from 1995-98), former tight end for the Chargers and Browns who is currently the tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals;
Reed Burckhardt (player from 2004-07), former director of pro scouting for the Minnesota Vikings and now director of player personnel for the Denver Broncos;
Glen Fox (player from 2006-09), director of pro personnel for the Arizona Cardinals after previously serving as a pro scout for 10 years;
Shawn Mennenga (assistant coach from 2009-10), former special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers;
Trent Baalke (assistant coach from 1991-95), general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars and formerly the GM for the San Francisco 49ers;
Brad Seely, longtime special teams coordinator with numerous NFL?teams.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES: South Dakota State defensive end Reece Winkelman repeated as a member of the Academic All-America Division I Football First Team, officials from the College Sports Communicators announced in December.

A native of Marshall, Minnesota, Winkelman was selected with a 3.92 grade-point average as a graduate student in business economics. On the field, he earned first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in 2022 and has racked up seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss to lead a Jackrabbit squad that has advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision national title game for the second time in three seasons.

Jackrabbit football student-athletes have been honored on CoSIDA Academic All-America teams 45 times since 1974. SDSU has placed at least one player on the squad in 16 of the last 18 seasons, including multiple selections 13 times.

The Academic All-America program, sponsored by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Candidates, who are first nominated and honored at the district level, must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, a starter or key reserve on his team and carry at least a 3.5 GPA.

Winkelman was one of eight Jackrabbits honored in mid-November on the 2022 Academic All-District Football Team, selected by College Sports Communicators.

The seven other Jackrabbits honored on the Academic All-District Team were:

Adam Bock, Jr., linebacker, Solon, Iowa;
DyShawn Gales, Sr., cornerback, North Chicago, Illinois;
Mark Gronowski, So., quarterback, Naperville, Illinois
Jaxon Janke, Sr., wide receiver, Madison;
Mason McCormick, Sr., offensive lineman, Sioux Falls;
Cale Reeder, Jr., safety, Yorkville, Illinois;
Ryan Van Marel, Grad., defensive tackle, Sheldon, Iowa.

Bock carries a 3.82 grade-point average as a mechanical engineering major and has led the team in tackles twice during his career. He ranks second this year with 70.

Gales received his second selection to the Academic All-District Team, after previously being honored during the 2020-21 spring season. He holds a 3.62 GPA while majoring in physical education/teacher education as well as sport and recreation management. A two-year starter, he shares the team lead in interceptions this season with three and has tallied 28 tackles (22 solo) in 13 games.

A sophomore quarterback, Gronowski made the squad with a 3.71 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski has helped lead the Jackrabbits to a combined 21-3 record and a pair of No. 1 seeds in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in his two seasons as a starter.

Janke has posted a 3.55 GPA in physical education/teacher education. A senior from Madison, Janke has been the team's leading receiver each of the past three seasons.

McCormick, who holds a 3.55 GPA as a construction management major, has helped pave the way for a Jackrabbit offense averaging 33.4 points and 375.9 yards of total offense per game. He carries a streak of 41 consecutive starts at left guard into this weekend's national championship game.

Reeder has compiled a 3.55 GPA as a human biology/pre-medicine major, and has been a regular starter in the secondary the past two seasons. In 2022, he shares the team lead with three interceptions and has totaled 26 tackles (18 solo) for the highly ranked Jackrabbit defense.

Van Marel is another mechanical engineering major whose academic résumé includes a 3.60 GPA as an undergraduate and a 3.50 mark as a graduate student. He has earned the starting nod at nose tackle in 10 games, compiling 15 total tackles with a tackle for loss and sack.

Winkelman was recognized on the Academic All-District Team for the third consecutive season.

DANA J. DYKHOUSE STADIUM: Jackrabbit football moved into a new home in September of 2016 with the completion of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the site of SDSU's previous home field, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, seats 19,340 spectators and cost $65 million to build.

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is being funded through private gifts and long-term revenue streams, including concessions and suite, loge box and ticket sales. Bonds are financing nearly two-thirds of the project's construction, with the remaining dollars coming from private support. Lead gifts totaling $12.5 million from former Jackrabbit football player and Sioux Falls banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford were announced in October 2013.

The stadium officially opened Sept. 8, 2016, featuring a concert by country music superstars Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Lee Brice as part of the Jacks Bash opening weekend.

The first football game was two days later, on Sept. 10, when the Jackrabbits defeated Drake, 56-28.

SDSU has gone on to post a 44-7 record at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium during its seven seasons of operation, including an 11-1 mark in FCS playoff games. The Jackrabbits' current home winning streak is 12 games, with their last home loss a 26-17 setback to Northern Iowa on Oct. 23, 2021.

The Jackrabbits have gone undefeated at home three times while playing at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium: 2018 (7-0), 2020-21 spring season (5-0) and 2022 (9-0).

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was designed by Kansas City-based Crawford Architects, with the construction firm JE Dunn serving as the project manager at risk and Henry Carlson Company of Sioux Falls serving as general contractor.

The stadium won the 2017 Alliant Build America Award from the Associated General Contractors of America South Dakota Building Chapter.

ATTENDANCE BOOM: South Dakota State drew crowds of more than 15,000 for each of its first five home games, including greeting a sold-out crowd of 19,332 for the Oct. 8 game against South Dakota. It marked the second sellout in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium history and also the second-largest crowd, trailing the 19,371 fans who attended the 2019 Dakota Marker game against North Dakota State — a day SDSU also hosted ESPN's College GameDay.

The Jackrabbits drew 93,366 fans for its six regular season home games for an average of 15,561 per game. Overall, SDSU averaged 12,581 fans through nine home games this season, including the playoffs.

The school record for average attendance in a season is 13,753 over seven home dates (including postseason games) in 2016, which was the first season of operation for Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

ROGERS TABBED BY AFCA: South Dakota State defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Jimmy Rogers has been selected by the American Football Coaches Association to participate in its 2023 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year's class was chosen from a field of more than 150 applicants.

Rogers has been a member of the Jackrabbit coaching staff since 2013 and has worked with the team's linebackers since returning to his alma mater after a standout playing career from 2006-09. He is in his first season as the team's sole defensive coordinator after sharing the role for three seasons, and was elevated to assistant head coach after the 2019 campaign.

The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend a one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.

Members of the 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.

To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1988, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach.

Applicants were required to submit a résumé, five references, and a 1,600-word article or five-minute live instructional video on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant's choosing this past summer.

In addition, Rogers was named last week as one of five finalists for the 2022 FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year.

A LOOK AHEAD: Sunday's championship game marks the end of the 2022 football season.

-GoJacks.com-