SDSU has successful season despite semifinal loss

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The Jackrabbits advanced where no team in program history had been before during the 2017 campaign.

They didn’t achieve their ultimate goal – a national championship – but reached double-digit wins for the first time in program history, going 11-3, and made their inaugural appearance in the FCS Playoffs semifinals.

“We took a step forward,” said South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier, whose team has qualified for the postseason six consecutive seasons. “We went further in the playoffs than we ever have.

“The spirit of our football team and the things you don’t measure – I don’t measure, but I feel – is better than it’s ever been.

“If you could have heard the seniors address the team in the locker room, you’d know that we’re going to continue on this path to Frisco, Texas.”

SDSU is 6-7 in the FCS Playoffs.

The Jackrabbits earned a top-eight seed for the first time last year, advancing to the quarterfinals.

They did the same this season and took it one step further with a quarterfinal victory.

“(Our players) mean the world to us,” Stiegelmeier added. “We say goodbye to 15 seniors tonight that have marked South Dakota State football. I’m so proud of what they’ve done, what they’ve accomplished; but there’s more to accomplish.”

All-America center Jacob Ohnesorge started all 53 games in his career, tying a school record.

Wide receiver Jake Wieneke is the school and Missouri Valley recordholder in career touchdown catches (59), receiving yards (5,052) and receptions (288) – he ranks second, third and 17th, respectively, in FCS history.

In all divisions of NCAA football – FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III – Wieneke ended up sixth in receiving yards and tied for ninth in TD grabs.

NCAA ALL DIVISIONS

Receiving yards

Name, school (years) Yds. Rec. Div.

1. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington (2013-16) 6,464 428 FCS

2. Scott Pingel, Westminster Mo. (1996-99) 6,108 436 DIII

3. Michael Zweifel, Wisconsin-River Falls/Dubuque (2007-11) 5,979 463 DIII

4. Corey Davis, Western Michigan (2013-16) 5,285 332 FBS

5. Terrell Hudgins, Elon (2006-09) 5,250 395 FCS

6. Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State (2014-present) 5,157 288 FCS

Touchdown receptions

Name, school (years) TD G Div.

1. Dalton Mall, Bentley (2001-04) 78 44 DII

2. David Kircus, Grand Valley State (1999-2002) 76 43 DII

3. Scott Pingel, Westminster Mo. (1996-99) 75 39 DIII

4. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington (2013-16) 73 52 FCS

5. Cecil Shorts, Mount Union (2007-10) 63 56 DIII

6. Trevor Harman, Shippensburg (2011-14) 61 46 DII

T7. Jarett Dillard, Rice (2005-08) 60 49 FBS

T7. Pierre Garcon, Norwich/Mount Union (2004/2005-07) 60 51 DIII

T9. Casey Allen, Linfield (2002-05) 59 44 DIII

T9. Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State (2014-17) 58 52 FCS

Tight end Dallas Goedert capped his career with a second straight 1,000-yard season. In the SDSU record book, he ended up third in receptions (198), fourth in receiving yards (2,988) and fifth in TD catches (21).

“It hurts a lot; I never thought I was going to be hanging up my pads today,” said an emotional Goedert following the 51-16 loss at James Madison on Saturday. “We played a good football team; we made too many mistakes. But I’m proud of the team and I love them a lot.”

Running back Brady Mengarelli ended up eighth in career rushing yards as a Jackrabbit with 2,677.

SDSU’s starting safeties, Nick Farina (strong) and Chris Balster (free), are seniors. They combined for 133 tackles this year. The Jackrabbits also lose a pair of solid starters in defensive tackle Kellen Soulek and offensive lineman Charlie Harmon.

Other seniors on the roster are cornerback Anthony Washington, offensive lineman Caleb Lang, defensive end Mason Leiseth, quarterback Dalton Douglas, wide receiver Jacob Menage, and fullbacks Thomas Hopp and Kane Louscher.

Sophomore Christian Rozeboom, the team’s leading tackler for the second season in a row, was asked what he thought about the team moving forward.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m not really thinking about that at this point. I’m just going to miss these (guys) so much,” he said.