Jackrabbits, Coyotes set for Showdown Series
The injured Coyotes are playing for pride; SDSU seeks a playoff berth
BROOKINGS For the third year in a row, South Dakota State and South Dakota are set to square off in the latter stages of the regular season.
For the third year in a row, the Jackrabbits head into the contest contending for an FCS playoff berth while the injury-decimated Coyotes are playing out the string.
SDSU has won its last two games in impressive fashion and has the luxury of hosting, whereas USD has dropped seven straight – all by double digits – and is winless outdoors since 2010. This game most certainly will be played in the elements with expected wind chills in the 20s and the natural-grass field frozen over for more than a week.
On paper, it's a mismatch as evidenced by offshore odds maker 5dimes installing the No. 16-ranked Jacks as 23-point favorites. Any air of uncertainty about the outcome centers on the notion that this is a rivalry game within the highly competitive Missouri Valley Football Conference. Crazy things could happen.
Right?
"Maybe we've got to beat South Dakota State someday for us to be their rival again," USD coach and alumnus Joe Glenn said earlier this week. "In time, it will be a rivalry again – there's no doubt."
SDSU (7-4, 4-3) has won the last five meetings, covering the last three in the NCAA Division II era and the first two in the FCS, for whatever that's worth.
More pertinent to this meeting, the Coyotes (2-9, 0-7) have allowed at least 500 yards in each of their last four games. They're giving up a touchdown more than anybody else in the Valley this season at 35.5 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Jacks have put up more than 500 yards in back-to-back weeks and are coming off their gaudiest point total (59) since 2005, torching Western Illinois at frigid Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. They're starting to fulfill their preseason potential on the offensive side now that senior quarterback Austin Sumner has returned from an eight-week absence because of a broken foot. He leads a unit that features two-time All-American running back Zach Zenner and two receivers that have had 1,000-yard seasons, senior Jason Schneider and freshman Jake Wieneke.
The 6-foot-5 Sumner – the SDSU career leader in virtually every passing category – threw for six touchdowns and didn't commit a turnover last Saturday.
"You're going to have to watch the play-action pass and try not to let things open up for his receivers," USD junior linebacker Ryan Hillier said. "We'll have an all-around defense, but we're going to have to stop the run first with our tackling on point."
Stopping the run hasn't been a strong point for the Jacks most of this season. They're second to last in the conference – right ahead of USD – in rush defense (182.6 yards per game), whereas they rank 16th in the FCS in pass defense (173.4).
That may be an area the Coyotes could exploit except an attempt to do so will be complicated by injuries. Previously, USD lost starting running back Trevor Bouma for the season due to injury and capable back-ups Jasper Sanders and Jordan Roberts are doubtful for today, according to Glenn. Redshirt freshman Khorey Kilgore could be the only available tailback to take carries behind a patchwork offensive line. His season totals: 29 attempts for 110 yards and no touchdowns.
The Coyotes were in similar straits last year against the Jacks, and wound up being limited to 59 yards on the ground in a 27-12 loss in Vermillion.
Then again, the uncertainty could complicate SDSU's preparation, too. Stiegelmeier noted that he's also struggled to wrap his head around USD's record. He'd been saying since summer that the Coyotes were going to be dangerous this season.
"It's not that they're not a good football team," he said. "It's not because they're not well coached."
Perhaps they'll put together all the pieces today and end the Jacks playoff aspirations. Regardless, there is a rivalry element to this renewed series even if the teams so far haven't been playing for the same stakes.
"There's just a little more intensity to the game," Zenner said. "It reminds me of a North Dakota State kind of game. No matter what the score, there's a little more of an edge to both teams – and regardless of record."
USD (2-9, 0-7) at SDSU (7-4, 4-3)
When/where: 2 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium
Video: Midco Sports Net
Radio: KELO-AM 1320, KELQ-FM 107.9, KQSF-FM 95.7 (Sioux Falls); WNAX-AM 570, KVHT-FM 106.3 (Yankton); KJJQ-AM 910 (Brookings); KORN-AM 1490, KUQL-FM 98.3 (Mitchell); KSDR-AM 1480, KKSD-FM 104.3 (Watertown)
Coaches: SDSU: John Stiegelmeier (18th year, 118-85); USD: Joe Glenn (third year, 7-27)
Series: 50-50-6
Last meeting: The Jacks won 27-12 last season at the DakotaDome.
Last week: SDSU won 59-24 against Western Illinois; USD lost 45-26 to Illinois State
Rankings: SDSU is No. 15 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 16 in the media poll
Live chat: Terry Vandrovec and Mick Garry will host a live chat from the game at argusleader.com