College football: South Dakota Showdown is back to being a rivalry

Posted

BROOKINGS – The South Dakota Showdown Series had been a rivalry that was dominated by one side up until three years ago. 

That’s when South Dakota pulled off a 24-21 upset win over then No. 5 ranked South Dakota State. It was the first win for USD over SDSU since the Coyotes joined the FCS in 2012 and their first win in the series since 2000. 

The two teams didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID and USD followed up its 2019 win with a 23-20 win in 2021 after a Hail Mary on the final play of the game. 

Up until 2019 SDSU had won 21 of the previous 25 meetings. SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said he thinks USD’s two straight wins have made the rivalry more intense.

“I do [think the rivalry has gotten better]. I think coach [Bob] Nielson has done a great job at USD and I think they prepare for this game as well as anybody that we play. You know, our guys [have gotten into the rivalry more] since the two wins and getting to know them again. Because initially in the Division I era they didn’t go and so we had to reacquaint ourselves because we don’t just recruit the Midwest. Now, we honor [the rivalry] and are excited about it,” Stiegelmeier said.

Both of USD’s past two wins came in the DakotaDome down in Vermillion and this will be the first time since 2018 that the rivalry has been played in Brookings. SDSU won the 2018 meeting, 49-27. Stiegelmeier said he and his team are looking forward to the rivalry returning to Brookings.

“The rivalry brings the excitement and the crowd adds to that. Ideally USD travels well and it is a full stadium. But I’m excited to play at home against whoever it is. I love home games, I love our crowd and I love our stadium. So, we’re looking forward to it,” Stiegelmeier said.

SDSU has 29 players from South Dakota on its roster, while USD has 13. Five of those 29 players from SDSU are seniors and one of them has started in 32 consecutive games at left guard Mason McCormick. 

McCormick is from Sioux Falls and played high school football at Sioux Falls Roosevelt. This will be the third time that he’s played in this rivalry and although it is a big game for him and the Jacks, he doesn’t put extra stock into the rivalry.

“Obviously it’s a rivalry game, but I think that means more to the fans in the state of South Dakota [than the players],” McCormick said. “We want to treat every game like it’s the Super Bowl. [Offensive coordinator Zach] Lujan always says ‘this is the biggest game because it’s this week’s game’, and we say that every single week. 

“We’re going to treat it like we treat every week and come out as prepared as we can be and play as hard as we can. … I play as hard as I can every game. You can say whatever you want with where your mind is at, but I’m giving everything I have to this game every single week. So, I’m just going to go out there and do what I do, and hopefully that results in a victory.”

Senior wide receiver Jadon Janke, who is from Madison, S.D., had some different thoughts on the game against the Coyotes. He said that since it’s a rivalry, he thinks there is more intensity and since the Jacks fell on a Hail Mary last year, he wants to win this one even more.

“I think the rivalry has a little more hype around it and a little more energy this week,” Janke said. “Since I’ve been contributing to the team, we’re 0-2 against [USD], so that has a pretty bad taste in my mouth. 

“… We see nothing but that last play [from last year’s game] on Twitter and everything. The Hail Mary and touchdown. So, we’re just kind of excited to get the right side of the spectrum back on SDSU’s side this year.”

When it comes to the actual game on the field, Stiegelmeier said he thinks there is a more of an intensity when the Jacks and ‘Yotes play against each other. He added that SDSU will need to maintain its composure if it wants to get back in the win column in the series.

“I would hope [that there isn’t more intensity in the rivalry games], but I think it’s natural. I would hope that our players don’t feel more pressure or aren’t too high, if you will. Everybody has an optimal amount of excitement or charge that they should have going into the game and you don’t want to have a rivalry game get them out of their comfort zone. So, we’ll work hard on that this week and again, if we focus on ourselves, we’re not talking about the rivalry all of the time, we’re talking about how can the Jackrabbits get better today,” he said.

Kickoff between the Jackrabbits and Coyotes is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday. You can watch the game on Midco SN or ESPN+.