S. Dakota State has top defense

By Pete Mollica

The Jackrabbits lead the Missouri Valley Conference in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.

YOUNGSTOWN — South Dakota State is only in its second season of play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and already the Jackrabbits are contending for the conference crown.

Saturday afternoon the Jackrabbits (6-1, 5-0 MVFC) will invade Stambaugh Stadium to take on Youngstown State in a 4 p.m. kickoff. It is homecoming for the Penguins who will also introduce the newest members of their athletic hall of fame.

The contest will also be televised live as the Missouri Valley Football Conference game of the week. Local fans can see the game over MyYTV, which will pick up the MVFC feed.

South Dakota State comes into the contest off their biggest victory of the season, a 24-14 win over previously No. 3 Northern Iowa in a home contest in Brookings, S.D.

The Jackrabbits are ranked No. 9 in the FCS polls, the first time that they have cracked the polls’ top 10.

This will be the 11th meeting between the team with the series tied at five wins apiece. The series was resumed in 2007 after a 26-year layoff and the Penguins won that game in Youngstown, 23-17. Last year, in the Jackrabbits’ first season in the MVFC, they easily defeated the Penguins 40-7 in Brookings.

Veteran coach John Stiegelmeier, now in his 13th season (81-57) called last week’s victory one of the biggest in the school’s history.

“But there is still a lot of football to be played and this week going to Youngstown State will not be any picnic,” Stiegelmeier said.

The Jackrabbits are tied for first place in the conference standings with Southern Illinois. Both are 5-0 and the two teams will square off in Brookings on Nov. 7.

Stiegelmeier isn’t concerned that his team will be looking ahead to that matchup, which more than likely will decide the conference championship and an automatic bid into the FCS playoffs.

“You look past Youngstown State and you’re in big trouble,” said Stiegelmeier. “They are a dangerous football team and we know what it’s like to play at their house. It definitely won’t be easy and we’ll need our best effort on Saturday.

South Dakota State has been impressive this season. Its only loss came at Cal Poly, 21-14, while the wins have been against Georgia Southern, 44-6; Indiana State, 41-0; Illinois State, 38-17; Missouri State, 24-17; North Dakota State 28-13, and Northern Iowa.

The Jackrabbits top the conference in total defense (275.4 ypg), rushing defense (92.3 ypg) and scoring defense (12.6 ppg.).

Individually the Jackrabbits are led by junior tailback Kyle Minett (5-foot-10, 210 pounds) who has rushed for 799 yards on 160 carries and 10 touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Thomas O’Brien (6-2, 195) has taken over the reigns of the offense and had been outstanding filling in for senior starter Ryan Crawford, who was injured in the loss to Cal Poly.

O’Brien has completed 69 of 105 passes for 744 yards and five touchdowns, while being intercepted just twice. The team’s top receiver is senior wide receiver Glen Fox (6-2, 205) who has caught 36 passes for 455 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively the Jackrabbits are led by junior linebacker Derek Domino (6-3, 230) who has 60 tackles, five for losses and one sack, while senior defensive end Danny Batten (6-4, 245) leads the team with 11 tackles for losses and four sacks and nine quarterback hurries.

The Jackrabbits have picked off 13 passes, including four by junior cornerback General Parnell (5-11, 195).

South Dakota State also has a pair of outstanding kickers. Junior Peter Riefenrath has made 4 of 5 field goals, the longest 26 yards, while sophomore Kyle Harris has made 6 of 10, including a 49-yarder last week that gave the Jackrabbits the lead for good against Northern Iowa.

mollica@vindy.com