After beating Augustana 24-3, the No. 1 ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits set their sights on Southeastern Louisiana, their final nonconference matchup of the regular season.
This will be the third time the teams have battled on the football field. The Jacks bested the Lions both times in 2012 and 2013.
Kickoff is set at 6 p.m. inside Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, La.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” said head coach Jimmy Rogers in his weekly press conference. “We’re going to go down there and give it our best shot to compete in what is a different atmosphere and a different location.”
South Dakota State
The Jacks will walk into this matchup at a 2-1 record, losing to FBS Oklahoma State before beating both Incarnate Word and DII Augustana.
This season, the Jacks have averaged 29.67 points per game while allowing opponents 23.67, with the outliers of giving up 44 points to Oklahoma State and allowing only three points to Augustana.
Leading this team on the gridiron is quarterback Mark Gronowski who has thrown for 690 yards this season.
The Illinois native has thrown for six scores this season, but has thrown four inceptions in three games, one-off from where he finished last season with five.
Gronowski has found receiver Griffin Wilde 23 times this season, over double the amount of his second option. Wilde has amounted to 303 yards in three games, the 12th most in the nation.
The sophomore also leads the Jacks in receiving touchdowns on the year with three through three games.
With nine catches on the season, Grahm Goering has proven to be a good company to Wilde, racking up 144 yards so far this season while bringing in two touchdowns.
Since former SDSU back Isaish Davis was drafted, Amar Johnson has filled the role of starting tailback well the for rabbits, leading the team in rushing with 311 yards (103.67 yards per game, 14th highest in the country) on 45 carries and three scores.
Angel Johnson has proved to be a solid backup, resulting in 69 yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, Adam Bock leads the Jacks in tackles with 25 on the season with fellow linebacker Caleb Francl in second on the team with 18.
Safety, Mathew Durrance, has recorded 17 on the season as well (ten solo, seven assisted).
Bock also leads the team in tackles for loss with three on the year while defensive end, Dawson Ripperda, has tallied 1.5 sacks on the season (leads team).
Southeastern Louisiana
The Lions prance into this bout with a 1-2 record on the season, beating Eastern Washington last weekend and losing to Southern Miss and Tulane, two schools at the FBS level.
“We have a challenge ahead of us,” said Rogers. “They have great team speed on both sides of the ball, really physical line and d-line and a bunch of playmakers.”
Running back Anthonio Martin Jr. has made a splash in his sophomore season this year, rushing for 340 yards (8th in the nation) and one touchdown. Martin Jr.’s 63 rushing attempts are the 4th most in the FCS.
Eli Sawyer holds a 59.49% completion percentage (47-79) this season with a pair of touchdowns, as well as interceptions. The redshirt junior has tallied up 324 yards this season.
The Lions have two wide receivers over the 80-yard mark this season in Darius Louis and Jaylon Domingeaux. The redshirt senior Lewis has caught 18 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown this season while teammate Domingeaux has racked up 89 yards on eight receptions.
Coryell Pierce leads the team in tackles with 19 as Donte’ Daniels follows closely with 18. Warren Peeples has tallied two tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season and is tied in first with sacks on the team with one on the year.
