Brian Kimmes

The Jackrabbits bring their five-game winning streak and undefeated conference record into Saturday’s final home game of the season versus William Penn University. Saturday’s contest will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Jacks receive a reprieve from their stretch of ranked teams. Beginning in the second game of the season, SDSU played opponents who were ranked in at least one poll at the time of the game. This week’s game is a historical one for the Jackrabbit football program. It is the first time in school history the team enters a game ranked in the top 25 for Division I-AA football. SDSU enters Saturday’s game ranked No. 24, with a 5-4 record.William Penn enters the game with a 4-5 record. The team is associated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and is a member of the Mid-States Football Association.Head Coach John Stiegelmeier said that because William Penn is from a lower level, like UW-La Crosse was, it is the team’s “Super Bowl.”Stiegelmeier said in order to avoid a letdown after playing so many nationally ranked teams, it will be up to each individual to do his part. The team needs to be business-like all week, and work hard to get better.He said the team cannot worry about who it plays, and it just has to take care of business.Stiegelmeier said the offensive and defensive lines are bigger across the board, and he believes his team has an advantage in speed, as well.Last season, the William Penn Statesmen finished the year 6-5, giving the program its first winning season in almost 30 years. This year’s Statesmen squad is led by senior running back James Jackson. Last season, Jackson rushed for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Entering the game with SDSU, Jackson has 999 yards and six touchdowns. He has broken the 200-yard mark twice this season. “Their running back (Jackson) is really good,” said Stiegelmeier.William Penn’s passing attack is led by two freshmen. Quarterback Ryan Van Dalen has thrown for 701 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Wide receiver Skylar Crouch leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns, with 27, 317 and 5.The Statesmen are also young on defense, starting two freshmen in their secondary. They do have some experience, though, with junior linebacker Clint Peery leading the team with 105 tackles, more than twice as many as anybody else on the team. He also leads the team in sacks, with two-and-a-half.The game on Nov. 4 is the final home game for the group of 12 seniors. Stiegelmeier said the game means a lot to the seniors because it is a “special experience” running onto the field at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. All the seniors will start the game.