Fifth-ranked South Dakota State scored 20 fourth-quarter points to rally past the University of South Dakota, 30-23, in a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at the DakotaDome.
With their third consecutive win, the Jackrabbits improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in league play. USD dropped to 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the MVFC.
Trailing 20-10 entering the fourth quarter, SDSU rallied behind the play of reserve quarterback Zach Lujan. On the first play of the final stanza, Lujan connected with Zach Lujan for a 34-yard gain, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Kyle Paris.
The Jackrabbits gained the lead on their next possession. Again, the Lujan-to-Wieneke connection clicked on a pair of pass plays for nine and 38 yards, the latter giving SDSU first and goal from the 2. Paris scored on the next play, giving the Jackrabbits a 24-20 advantage with 7 minutes, 30 seconds to play.
Wieneke finished the game with six catches for 180 yards.
SDSU tallied the decisive score 73 seconds later as Nick Farina picked off a Ryan Saeger pass and followed a Jackrabbit caravan to the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, putting the score at 30-20.
Miles Bergner made it a one-score game in the closing minutes with his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder. He also made field goals of 50 and 45 yards in the third quarter as USD built its 10-point lead after halftime.
The Coyotes grabbed a 7-0 lead six-plus minutes into the game on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Saeger to Brandt Van Roekel.
The Jackrabbits got on the board late in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Jay Carlson and took a 10-7 lead into halftime after a 10-yard touchdown run by starting quarterback Taryn Christion. Christion completed 9-of-19 passes for 153 yards, while Lujan finished the game 6-of-8 passing for 128 yards.
Saeger, who started the USD turnaround in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, completed 26-of-46 passes for 266 yards. The Coyotes held a 438-374 advantage in total offense, including a 31-carry, 143-yard performance by running back Michael Fredrick.
Paris led the Jackrabbits with 56 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Dallas Brown registered a game-high 12 tackles to lead the Jackrabbit defense, followed by Farina with 10 tackles. Tyson Graham led USD with 10 stops.
