Saturday night’s scheduled football season opener between South Dakota State and Iowa State was canceled due to persistent thunderstorms that rolled into the area shortly after kickoff.
After forcing SDSU to punt on the opening possession of the game, Iowa State scored on its initial drive as Deshaunte Jones slipped through a tackle on a screen pass from Kyle Kempt and rolled 55 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Play was halted before the ensuing kickoff at the 10:55 mark of the first quarter.The two squads remained in their respective locker rooms for more than two hours before the decision to cancel the game was reached.
The cancellation is the first of a Jackrabbit football game since November 2, 1991, when the historic Halloween Blizzard paralyzed the Upper Midwest and prevented SDSU from playing its scheduled game against St. Cloud State.
The Jackrabbits are now slated to open the season next Saturday (Sept. 8) by hosting Montana State in the Fifth Annual Dairy Drive. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
