BROOKINGS – Pierre Strong Jr. ran for 253 yards and three touchdowns and Taryn Christion hit the century mark for career TD tosses as fifth-ranked South Dakota State continued its dominance of South Dakota, building a 28-7 lead after a quarter en route to a 49-27 victory on a cold Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
“I’m proud of these guys,” SDSU coach John Stiegelmeier said following a long pause to open his press conference. “I’m really proud of them.
“They work so hard. Unbelievable group of seniors. UNBELIEVABLE group – spell that in capital letters if you quote that. Great leadership.
“Unbelievable fans tonight. It’s a special place to be part of this football program.
“And I’m (happy about) the way we play football. I like the way we take the field. We had a couple times where we were out of control but I’m really proud of the way our team plays football.
“I’m really happy with the win and looking forward to (Sunday).”
Sunday, of course, marked the release of the 24-team FCS Playoffs bracket.
Playoffs
South Dakota State earned a top-eight seed and a first-round bye in the FCS Playoffs for the third consecutive season, ending up at No. 5.
“I think it’s an honor and I’m excited to be listed as the No. 5 team in America,” Stiegelmeier said Sunday at Club 71 following the selection show. “In the end, you want to end up being No. 1 and we have a chance to do that, so let’s embrace that and go after it.”
The Jackrabbits (8-2) finished second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 6-2 mark.
SDSU, which is making its eighth postseason appearance in the Division I era, including seventh consecutively, is host to the Towson/Duquesne winner for a second-round game Saturday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m.
The Tigers (7-4) play host to the Northeast Conference champion Dukes (7-4) in the first round Saturday at 2 p.m.
FCS PLAYOFFS
First round – Saturday, Nov. 24
All games on ESPN3
Incarnate Word (6-4) at Montana State (7-4), 2 p.m.
Delaware (7-4) at James Madison (8-3), 2 p.m.
Duquesne (8-3, Northeast) at Towson (7-4), 1 p.m.
Elon (8-4) at Wofford (8-3, Southern), 1 p.m.
San Diego (9-2, Pioneer) at Nicholls State (8-3, Southland)
Lamar (7-4) at Northern Iowa (6-5), 4 p.m.
East Tennessee State (8-3) at Jacksonville State (8-3, OVC), 6:30 p.m.
Stony Brook (7-4) at Southeast Missouri State (8-3), 1 p.m.
Second round – Saturday, Dec. 1
All games on ESPN3
Montana State/Incarnate Word winner at No. 1 North Dakota State (11-0, MVFC), 2 p.m.
James Madison/Delaware winner at No. 8 Colgate (9-1, Patriot), noon
Towson/Duquesne winner at No. 5 South Dakota State (8-2), 2 p.m.
Wofford/Elon winner at No. 4 Kennesaw State (10-1, Big South), 1 p.m.
Nicholls State/San Diego winner at No. 3 Eastern Washington (9-2), 4 p.m.
Northern Iowa/Lamar winner at No. 6 UC Davis (9-2), 6 p.m.
Jacksonville State/East Tennessee State winner at No. 7 Maine (8-3, CAA), 11 a.m.
Southeast Missouri State/Stony Brook winner at No. 2 Weber State (9-2, Big Sky), 3 p.m.
Note: Team with conference listed is automatic qualifier.
Strong and TC
Strong, a redshirt-freshman from Little Rock, Ark., didn’t seem to mind the frigid temperature and icy field conditions. He needed just 17 carries to rack up the 10th-highest single-game rushing total in school history.
“Just prayer and the guys up front,” he said of his recent play, which has seen him pick up 577 yards on 40 carries – 14.43 average – and eight TDs in the last three games. “I have the greatest O-line in the Valley.”
Added Coach Stig: “I think he’s getting better. That surface was unique, I think, because he knew where he was going and nobody else did. And he’s a good football player. He’s a part of a group of a bunch of guys that are good football players, but he really was special today. … He ran hard, too. He broke a lot of tackles. He did a nice job in that phase of the game, also.”
Christion went 12-of-22 for 172 yards with three touchdown tosses and also ran for a score.
The MVFC and school record-holder in the three big categories threw for his 100th touchdown on a big day.
The senior quarterback from Sioux Falls reflected on his final matchup with the Coyotes after the game – he finished 4-0 (all starts) in such contests.
“You know, it felt really good,” he said. “To come out on Senior Night and just play a full game and put up a lot of points against them, it was just a lot of fun. Obviously, it was just a huge win for playoff implications and all that too, so all-around it was just a great day.”
Christion moved up the FCS ranks in the three big passing categories:
• 17th to 15th in total yards of offense (12,461)
• 19th to 18th in touchdown tosses (100)
• To 28th in passing yards (11,064)
Back to the game
The teams exchanged touchdowns on their opening drives.
Strong capped a quick three-play series with a 30-yard TD to get it going.
USD’s Austin Simmons found Brett Samson for a 3-yard score a little later.
They both punted after that, and then the home team took control.
Strong did what he has been doing the last few weeks – finding a hole, making a cut without losing speed and finding paydirt. He scored on a 73-yard run.
The field conditions?
“During pregame, I just went out there and started doing hard cuts in my cleats on the ice and in the game it just happened naturally,” Strong said. “I was just cutting so that was probably the key, a big part of it.”
SDSU outgained USD 495-445 despite running 53 plays to the visitors’ 98.
Cade Johnson took a fly sweep from Christion later in the first quarter and ran 20 yards to the end zone. Marshon Harris picked off Simmons to set up the score.
Christion striped wide-open tight end Blake Kunz for a 59-yard touchdown to make it 28-7.
A low-scoring second quarter saw the SDSU defense come through with the two biggest defense plays of the game.
The Coyotes had a first-and-goal from the 2 and came away scoreless.
Late in the period, Ryan Earith stripped Simmons and pounced on the loose ball at the USD 26.
Two plays later, Christion scampered left for a 16-yard score to make it 35-7 at halftime.
USD challenged after the half but never threatened, as the box score tells the rest.
Jackrabbit junior linebacker Christian Rozeboom tallied 13 tackles.
Simmons was 34-of-58 for 295 yards with two TDs and an INT while running for 79 yards and two more scores.
Notes
SDSU leads USD 54-50-7 in the all-time series. The Jackrabbits have won all seven matchups in the Showdown Series. … Mikey Daniel ran eight times for 40 yards. Preston Tetzlaff had a tackle to push his season total to 14. RG Eddie Miller missed his second consecutive game and third overall this season. … In 10 games, Johnson has 15 touchdowns – one off the league and school records. … Johnson picked up 79 yards on two kick returns versus the Coyotes. … USD’s Mike Johnson was ejected for targeting at the 4:49 mark of the third quarter.
No. 3 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 49, SOUTH DAKOTA 27
USD (4-7, 3-5) 7 0 7 13 – 27
SDSU (8-2, 6-2) 28 7 7 7 – 49
First Quarter
SDSU – Pierre Strong Jr. 30 run (Chase Vinatieri kick), 13:29
USD – Brett Samson 3 pass from Austin Simmons (Mason Lorber kick), 11:27
SDSU – Strong 73 run (Vinatieri kick), 7:24
SDSU – Cade Johnson 20 pass from Taryn Christion (Vinatieri kick), 3:16
SDSU – Blake Kunz 59 pass from Christion (Vinatieri kick), :21
Second Quarter
SDSU – Taryn Christion 16 run (Vinatieri kick), :20
Third Quarter
USD – Simmons 8 run (Lorber kick), 11:23
SDSU – Johnson 10 pass from Christion (Vinatieri kick), 4:41
Fourth Quarter
USD – Simmons 16 run (kick blocked), 12:01
USD – Connor Herrmann 17 pass from Simmons (Lorber kick), 6:09
SDSU – Strong 46 run (Vinatieri kick), 3:33
USD SDSU
First Downs 31 18
Plays-Yards 98-445 53-495
Rushes-Yards 40-150 31-323
C-A-Int.-Yards 34-58-1-295 12-22-0-172
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-71 14-145
Punts-Avg.-I20-TB 5-40.2-1-0 6-42.7-2-1
Kickoffs-Avg.-TB 4-51.2-0 8-54.6-2
Punt Returns-Yards-TD 1-(-1)-0 2-(-4)-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards-TD 4-47-0 4-108-0
Interception Returns-Yards-TD 0-0-0 1-13-0
Fumble Returns-Yards-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards 0 0
Possession Time 33:02 26:58
Third-down Conversions 7-of-19 2-of-10
Fourth-down Conversions 3-of-5 1-of-1
Red Zone Chances-TD-FG 5-4-0 3-3-0
Sacks By-Yards 0-0 1-8
Field Goals 0-for-0 0-for-0
RUSHING: USD – Austin Simmons 17-79, Kai Henry 11-37, Ben Klett 4-26, Canaan Brooks 7-9, TEAM 1-(-1). SDSU – Pierre Strong Jr. 17-253, Mikey Daniel 8-40, Taryn Christion 3-26, Blair Mullholland 1-7, TEAM 1-(-3).
PASSING: USD – Austin Simmons 34-58-1-295. SDSU – Taryn Christion 12-22-0-172.
RECEIVING: USD – Shamar Jackson 11-111, Caleb Vander Esch 6-58, Connor Herrmann 4-43, Kody Case 4-35, Brett Samson 3-17, Levi Falck 2-21, Trystn Ducker 2-19, Kai Henry 1-(-4), Ben Klett 1-(1-5). SDSU – Cade Johnson 3-58, Adam Anderson 3-22, Blake Kunz 2-68, Kallan Hart 2-15, Deyon Campbell 1-5, Pierre Strong Jr. 1-4.
DEFENSE: USD – Elijah Reed 7 tackles; Michael Fredrick 6 tackles. SDSU – Christian Rozeboom 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL; Josh Manchigiah 9 tackles; Dalton Cox 8 tackles; Brandon Snyder 7 tackles; Eric Kleinschmidt 7 tackles; Marshon Harris INT; Ryan Earith sack, FF, FR.
A – 8,517.
Jackrabbits – FCS Playoffs
Appearances: 8 (7 consecutively)
Record: 6-7 (4-0 home)
2008
First round – Lost 61-48 at No. 1 Montana
2012
First round – Def. Eastern Illinois 58-10
Second round – Lost 28-3 at No. 1 North Dakota State
2013
First round – Won 26-7 at Northern Arizona
Second round – lost 41-17 at No. 3 Eastern Washington
2014
First round – Won 47-40 at Montana State
Second round – Lost 27-24 at No. 2 North Dakota State
2015
First round – Lost 24-17 at Montana
2016 (No. 8 seed)
First round – BYE
Second round – Def. Villanova 10-7
Quarterfinals – Lost 36-10 at No. 1 North Dakota State
2017 (No. 5 seed)
First round – BYE
Second round – Def. Northern Iowa 37-22
Quarterfinals – Def. New Hampshire 56-14
Semifinals – lost 51-16 at No. 1 James Madison
2018 (No. 5 seed)
First round – BYE
Second round – vs. Towson/Duquesne winner
Missouri Valley Football Conference
MVFC Overall
STATS/Coaches W-L PF/PA W-L PF/PA Strk
A-1/1 North Dakota State 8-0 328/114 11-0 453/134 W17
q-5/5 South Dakota State 6-2 319/203 8-2 454/223 W4
—/24 Indiana State 5-3 238/238 7-4 349/310 W5
q-Northern Iowa 5-3 220/177 6-5 301/241 W1
Western Illinois 4-4 195/199 5-6 263/286 L2
Illinois State 3-5 221/191 6-5 350/220 W1
Youngstown State 3-5 174/217 4-7 254/299 L1
South Dakota 3-5 217/294 4-7 294/376 L1
Missouri State 2-6 144/306 4-7 253/396 L5
Southern Illinoiws 1-7 194/314 2-9 331/448 L3
A-FCS Playoffs automatic qualifier q-FCS Playoffs qualifier
Notes: The following matchups will not take place in 2018: SDSU-WIU, NDSU-InSU, UNI-SIU, YSU-MSU and IlSU-USD. … In addition to being ranked in the STATS poll, InSU (26th) is receiving votes in the Coaches poll. IlSU (36th/29th), UNI (31st/t35th) and WIU (39th/37th) are receiving votes in both polls. … The MVFC went 17-12 in nonconference games, including a 13-5 mark versus FCS schools and a 1-7 record against FBS teams. … The Valley won the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series 5-3 for the second year in a row. *MVFC game
WEEK 12 – Saturday, Nov. 17
*South Dakota State 49, South Dakota 27
*North Dakota State 65, Southern Illinois 17
*Indiana State 15, Western Illinois 13
*Northern Iowa 37, Missouri State 0
*Illinois State 35, Youngstown State 28
Notable games
No. 25 Montana State 29, Montana 25
END OF REGULAR SEASON
• No. 1 North Dakota State 65, Southern Illinois 17
FARGO, N.D. – The Bison racked up 663 yards of offense – 355 rushing and 308 passing – while capping an undefeated regular season and pushing their winning streak to 17 games.
The streak is the 14th-longest in FCS history. NDSU holds the record at 33.
Easton Stick was 16-of-21 for 302 yards with three touchdowns and an interception while adding a rushing score.
Ty Brooks ran for 113 yards, Adam Cofield 84, Bruce Anderson 68 and Saybein Clark 66. Anderson had a pair of TDs and the other three backs each added one. Darrius Shepherd had five catches covering 99 yards with a TD.
The Salukis’ JeQuan Burton took the opening kickoff 100 yards to the house. Brooks answered with a 36-yard TD rush soon thereafter and Stick found paydirt from a yard out later in the first.
SIU’s Matt DeSomer, who ended up 6-of-13 for 144 yards with two picks, hit Raphael Leonard for a 59-yard touchdown at the 8:36 mark of the first as the game was tied at 14-all.
NDSU scored the next 37 points.
Stick had a 60-yard TD toss to Nate Jenson and, after Burton recovered a fumble forced by Dan Marlette on the ensuing kickoff, found Ben Ellefson for a 22-yard score in an 11-second span.
Stick and Shepherd hooked up for a 31-yard touchdown early in the second to push the margin to 35-14.
In the third, Anderson sandwiched TD rushes of 18 and 30 yards around a safety as NDSU moved ahead 51-14.
SIU’s Griffin Cerra kicked a 25-yard FG later in the third.
In the fourth, Clark (19 yards) and Cofield (20) ran for TDs to provide for the final margin.
NDSU’s Robbie Grimsley picked off a pair of passes and Michael Tutsie added an INT. Derrek Tuszka and Marlette both had seven tackles.
The Salukis’ Joe Patterson, who had an INT, and Withney Simon both made seven stops.
Total offense: NDSU 70-663 (48-355 rushing/17-22-308), SIU 58-286 (37-88 rushing/11-21-198 passing). Turnovers: NDSU 1 (1 INT), SIU 4 (3 INT/1 fumble). Possession time: NDSU 34:09, SIU 25:51. A: 18,008.
• No. 24 Indiana State 15, Western Illinois 13
MACOMB, Ill. – Jerry Nunez kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired – his third make in as many tries on the chilly, windy and rainy day – as the Sycamores reached the seven-win mark in a season in which they also snapped a 14-game losing streak.
ISU went 0-11 in 2017 after losing its final three games in 2016. The Sycamores finished tied for third in the MVFC standings in 2018 with a 5-3 mark.
The Sycamores’ Pet Kerlegrand ran for 102 yards. Ryan Boyle was 9-of-17 for 149 yards with an INT and added a touchdown rush.
WIU’s Steve McShane picked up 129 yards on the ground and found the end zone once. Sean McGuire finished 16-of-27 for 202 yards.
WIU’s Sam Crosa (44 yards) and Nunez (26 yards) exchanged first-period field goals. Nunez’s kick was set up by Rex Mosley’s recovery of a fumble, which was forced by Denzel Bonner, at the WIU 11-yard-line.
Boyle plunged to paydirt from a yard out midway through the second to put ISU ahead 10-3.
That’s where the score stood at halftime and McShane quickly tied the game with a 65-yard TD dash on the first play of the third period.
Nunez (18 yards) and Crosa (35 yards) again exchanged kicks, leaving the score at 13-12 in favor of the Leathernecks heading to the fourth.
Indiana State’s Jonas Griffith had nine tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss (one sack).
Western Illinois’ Quentin Moon had 13 tackles (one sack) and Khalen Saunders (two sacks) and Zach Gilsan both added 11. Xavier Rowe picked off a pass.
Total offense: ISU 68-294 (51-145 rushing/9-17-149 passing), WIU 55-356 (28-154 rushing/16-27-202 passing). Turnovers: ISU 1 (1 INT), WIU 1 (1 fumble). Possession time: ISU 33:24, WIU 26:36. A: 1,813.
• Northern Iowa 37, Missouri State 0
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Panthers bookended the league-portion of their schedule with shutouts and provided the FCS Playoffs Committee with something to consider with the victory.
UNI beat Indiana State 33-0 on the road in its MVFC opener Sept. 27 this season.
Eli Dunne was 23-of-34 for 227 yards with two TDs. Marcus Weymiller ran for 91 yards and two scores.
Austin Errthum went 3-of-3 on field goals and 4-of-4 on PAT kicks.
Korby Sander tallied 13 tackles while intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble. Alfonzo Lambert made 12 stops. Duncan Ferch had a pick and A.J. Allen and Bryce Flater both recovered fumbles.
Errthum made a 34-yard field goal 1:34 into the game and Dunne hit Jaylin James for a 16-yard TD soon thereafter to make it 10-0.
Dunne added a 27-yard TD toss to Jalen Rima at the 3:43 mark of the second and Errthum booted a 43-yarder with 30 seconds to go to push the margin to 20-0 at halftime.
Weymiller plunged into the end zone from a yard out early in the third. In the fourth, Errthum connected from 27 yards out and Weymiller scored on another 1-yard rush with 10:17 remaining to provide for the final margin.
The Bears’ Peyton Huslig finished 4-of-14 for 72 yards with two INTs. Jason Randall ran for 55 yards. Angelo Garbutt, Jared Beshore and McNeece Egbim both made 11 stops on defense.
Missouri State lost its final five games following a 4-2 start.
Total offense: UNI 77-375 (43-148 rushing/23-34-227 passing), MSU 58-222 (39-111 rushing/6-19-111 passing). Turnovers: UNI 0, MSU 4 (4 fumbles). Possession time: UNI 35:29, MSU 24:31. A: 10,072.
• Illinois State 35, Youngstown State 28
NORMAL, Ill. – James Robinson ran for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while Kevin Brown scored the tying and go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Redbirds beat the Penguins to snap a four-game losing streak.
Brown scored from 5-yard out with 11:06 remaining and found the end zone for the game-winner on a 16-yarder with 5:47 to go.
Brady Davis went 8-of-20 for 88 yards with a TD.
YSU’s Tevin McCaster ran for 142 yards and a score. Nathan Mays was 6-of-16 for 99 yards with two TDs and an INT. Montgomery VanGorder ended up 5-of-13 with a pick.
Robinson opened the scoring on a 37-yard touchdown dash.
YSU’s Zak Kennedy booted a 41-yard field goal midway through the first.
Davis hit Tylor Petkovich for a 3-yard TD early in the second.
YSU pulled within 14-13 at halftime as Kennedy connected on another 41-yard boot and McCaster plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
Robinson put the Redbirds ahead 21-13 on a 7-yard run at the 8:51 mark of the third.
Mays countered with a 10-yard TD toss to Ryan Emans with 1:21 left in the period. He hit Natavious Payne on the two-point conversion to knot the score at 21-all.
Mays struck again with a 58-yard scoring strike to Miles Joiner that put the Penguins on top 28-21 with 13:12 remaining in the game.
ISU’s Zackary Mathews had nine tackles. Luther Kirk and Tuvone Clark both intercepted a pass and John Ridgeway pounced on a fumble.
YSU’s Armand Dellovade made 11 stops, including four for loss. Donovan McWilson recovered a fumble.
Total yards: ISU 64-420 (44-332 rushing/8-20-88 passing), YSU 75-313 (45-191 rushing/11-30-122). Turnovers: ISU 1 (1 fumble), YSU 3 (2 INT/1 fumble). Possession time: ISU 27:48, YSU 30:30. A: 5,583.
Notable games
• No. 25 Montana State 29, Montana 25
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Bobcats (7-4, 5-3) overcame a 22-0 deficit and used a late goal-line stand to beat the Grizzlies (6-5, 4-4) in the winner-take-all Big Sky Conference rivalry game in front of a crowd of 26,508 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Troy Andersen ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns while going 15-of-24 for 158 yards through the air for Montana State.
Montana’s Dalton Sneed was 22-of-34 for 354 yards with two TDs. Samuel Akem had 147 yards and a score on six catches, while Keenan Curran added 111 yards on eight receptions.
Sneed sandwiched TD tosses of 1 yard to Gabe Sulser and 37 yards to Akem around Adam Eastwood’s 1-yard scoring plunge to make it 22-0 in the middle of the second quarter.
Andersen got the Bobcats on the board with a 3-yard rush with 23 seconds left in the opening half.
That’s where the score stood heading into a wild fourth quarter.
Andersen plunged to paydirt from a yard out with 14:24 showing on the clock and added the two-pointer, cutting the deficit to 22-15.
Montana’s Tim Semenza kicked a 34-yard field goal with 7:46 left.
Andersen’s third TD rush was another 1-yarder with 6:01 to play as MSU pulled within 25-22.
Grant Collins forced and recovered Sneed to fumble and recovered the ball at the at UM 35-yard-line with 5:16 to play.
Logan Jones put the Bobcats on top for the first time – 29-25 – on a 13-yard run with 2:19 remaining.
It wasn’t over, however.
The Grizzlies’ Malik Flowers returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to midfield and the home team quickly moved to the 1-yard-line. But, Eastwood was stuffed on third-and-goal and fumbled – MSU’s Tucker Yates forced it and Derek Marks pounced on the loose ball to seal the massive victory.
FCS history
JOHNSON CITY Tenn. – Samford’s Devlin Hodges broke the FCS record for career passing yards during the Bulldogs’ 38-27 win over playoff-qualifier East Tennessee State on Saturday.
Hodges went 40-of-53 for 404 yards to finish his career with 14,584 yards, breaking the previous record of 14,496 set by the late Steve McNair (1991-94 at Alcorn State).
