South Dakota State University kicker Chase Vinatieri was honored Sunday as Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Jackrabbits’ 31-27 road win at Montana State on Sept. 9.
A sophomore from Sioux Falls, Vinatieri booted a career-long 47-yard field goal and scored what proved to be the decisive touchdown on a fake field goal to lift the fourth-ranked Jackrabbits to the victory.
Vinatieri’s field goal gave SDSU an early 10-0 lead, and he lined up for what would be another career long of 48 yards late in the game. Instead, Vinatieri took a pitch from holder Brady Hale and rolled around right end for a 31-yard touchdown run with 4:26 left. He also made all four of his extra-point tries for a total of 13 points and recorded touchbacks on five of his six kickoffs to limit the Montana State return game.
