SDSU is now in the midst of a two game losing streak after losing to the unranked, now 3-6 Indiana State Sycamores. The Jacks offense scored only one touchdown in the 12-24 loss.
The opening drive looked decent, as SDSU marched down the field after Luke Marble had 45 passing yards after two completions. After getting to Indiana State’s 30 yard line, however, the offense stalled. An incompletion and two running plays forced the Jacks to send out the kicking team and take a 3-0 lead.
Right away, the Sycamores struck back. Wide receiver Rashad Rochelle ran 95 yards on the kickoff for a special teams touchdown to give them the lead.
Again, Marble would have another chunk play on the next drive, a 25 yard pass to Grahm Goehring getting the Jacks to the Indiana State 35 yard line.
SDSU almost turned the ball over after a fumble following a Marble pass, and then they actually turned the ball over after a pass was intercepted in the end zone.
The Jacks defense would get their first drive of the game going with a three-and-out, forcing a run for loss and an incompletion to get the offense the ball back at the Jack’s 15 yard line following an SDSU penalty. SDSU’s following eight play drive would also end in a turnover.
By the game’s end, SDSU put up 441 offensive yards that equated to one touchdown, two field goals and three turnovers. Defensively, they didn’t force a turnover but kept the Sycamores under 230 total yards. SDSU’s offense would convert 10/19 third downs, have more than 41 minutes of possession and 26 first downs. The offense could pick up yards and convert on third down, but they couldn’t finish their drives. Marble would end the game with 181 passing yards on 17/29 completions.
SOUTH DAKOTA
It’ll be another rivalry game for the Jacks as they head south to Vermillion to play the 6-4 USD Coyotes. Last year, SDSU won in a close, overtime battle against the Coyotes. The Jacks are 33-23-1 in the rivalry.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” said coach Dan Jackson on the rivalry game. “It’s definitely going to bring some added energy, we’re gonna get the best from everybody we play, but you know in this type of game it’s gonna be a slug fest.”
Saturday, the Coyotes defeated the University of North Dakota 26-21 in a game that saw the Coyotes struggle offensively. They were able to fight for the win after going 2/9 on third downs, having more than 100 less offensive yards than UND and committing 11 penalties.
The Fighting Hawks went 6/11 on third downs and had 382 offensive yards. USD was able to get back into the game partly because they were able to force three turnovers, a pair of interceptions and a fumble.
Six foot five quarterback Aiden Bouman leads the USD offense. He’s thrown for nearly 1700 yards this season and has a 58.4% completion percentage. Bouman isn’t much of a rusher, he has -82 rushing yards on the year with 18 attempts.
His top weapon? L.J. Phillips Jr. He has 1296 yards on 206 attempts and leads the entire Missouri Valley Conference in rushing yards. It’s been a breakout season for the sophomore tail back, last season he only had 176 rushing yards.
It’ll be an opportunity for the Jacks to snap their losing streak with a game with an all too familiar opponent. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m in Vermillion.
