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Gameday: Jackrabbits host Incarnate Word in home opener

Sep. 6—INCARNATE WORD (1-0) AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (0-1)

WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings

TV: Midco Sports, ESPN+

RADIO: WNAX-AM 570; Jackrabbit radio affiliates

LINE: xxxxx

RECORD LAST YEAR: SDSU 15-0 (FCS champions); UIW 8-2

SERIES: First meeting

LAST WEEK: UIW beat Northern Colorado 28-7; SDSU lost 44-20 to Oklahoma State

RANKINGS: SDSU is ranked No. 1 in FCS, UIW is No. 12.

COACHES: UIW — Clint Killough (2nd year, 9-2); SDSU — Jimmy Rogers (2nd year, 15-1)

WHAT TO KNOW: Around the same time the Jackrabbits leveled up from regular playoff contender to national champions, Incarnate Word made the jump from Division I newbies to FCS contender. The Cardinals, who launched the program in 2009 and moved to Division I in 2013, have won 31 games since 2021, going 10-3, 12-2 and 8-2 over the last three seasons, which includes falling just three points short of the national championship game in 2022.

This year’s squad has a new look with 19 transfers coming in and several key contributors from last year having moved on, but they looked good in their opener against UNC.

Quarterback Zach Calzada is an all-conference talent, and running backs Isaiah Robinson and Dekalon Taylor each rushed for 79 yards last week. Jalen Walthall and Roy Alexander, two of a half-dozen new pass catchers this year, combined for 11 receptions for more than 160 yards against UNC.

The Cards have a solid D-line and are strong in the second and third levels with All-Southland linebacker Tylan Foster and safeties Ronald Wilson and Mason Chambers, but they did allow more than 200 rushing yards last week, which bodes well for SDSU.

The Jackrabbits are looking to bounce back from their first loss in two years. They didn’t threaten to beat Oklahoma State last week but they did do plenty of good things to suggest they’re going to be…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gameday-jackrabbits-host-incarnate-word-143300679.html

Author : The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.

Publish date : 2024-09-06 14:33:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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